I use a Revelation Audio Prophecy CryoSilver Reference DualConduit USB 2.0 Digital Link between my Melco and the Matrix. It works so well (e.g., no signal interruptions or connection malfunctions) and sounds so good that I have not thought about trying other USB cables.
Hello Matrix afficianodos - looking to get into this game affordability.
Any thoughts on the Shunyata Research Shunyata - Venom HDMI Cable? Eyeing the 1m length for $50.
Or any better ideas in this price range?
One of my Uptone LPS-1’s quit working. When I called to have it serviced, Alex Crespi, the head honcho at Uptone offered to replace it with an LPS 1.2 for $260. Needless to say, I jumped on it. Alex is a very astute and reasonable businessman. -Nice guy as well who actually answers the phone. Kudos to him.
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Based upon my own reading of countless threads on the topic of HDMI cables, I feel qualified to say that the Venom is OK for the price, and a good value. But obviously, with it you’ll find yourself looking up Jack’s very tall beanstalk of progressively more expensive and better options. The Venom can be purchase through Amazon or Music Direct, giving you a nice return window. The most important thing is “does it sound good to you”?
The Venom always seems to get replaced by something better eventually, so in the long run, stepping up to a better WireWorld (or Audioquest, et al) option, while more expensive initially, may prove to be a better value in the long run.
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Wireworld Starlight 5.2 closeout on Audiogon for $48 shipped for a 1 meter. This is a couple series old but was a fairly expensive option then.
The seller has a Paypal icon for payment but doesn’t take it…says it’s a default option and he can’t change it.
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Yes I tried the Venom and didn’t like it at all. Veiled\Soft sounding and kind of lifeless. Returned to Cable Co and tried the WW Silver Starlight based on their recommendation. The WW was the complete opposite. It’s a great cable. Their less expensive cables seem to be very good also.
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Thank you all for your responses. Good info and insight! I REALLY appreciate the WireWorld Starlight recommendation. I will probably jump on that.
I’ll likely be running my setup, at least initially, as follows:
Router (Bluejeans ethernet cable) > SOtM SMS 200 (iFi powered 9v with Audioquest Forrest usb) > Matrix (Ultrabooster 9v powered with Starlight mentioned above) > ps audio GCD. All being run through Audirvana Upsampling to dsd via Tidal.
Can’t wait to hear what all the buzz is about! Probably a poor figure of speach to use… 
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Man, I’m looking at picking up the SonicTransporter i5/UltraRendu combo to upgrade from the laptop going to my Matrix 2 to DS Sr since I just moved into a much bigger space where I’m actually going to use Roon and a legit roon core to run multiple zones…
You definitely notice a legit sound improvement? Why can’t there just be a streamer with an I2s output(I’m not paying that much for a pink faun)? Is anything else out there yet?
Yes, the sound quality improvement going from a laptop/Matrix/DAC setup to one using a sonicTransporter i5/ultraRendu/Matrix/DAC will not be small.
I have not found a streamer with I2S out that I am willing to try. But, I need a unit that will act as an NAA for HQPlayer. The Matrix has been great so I am quite content.
Mano makes a unit that might work for you. It is based on the RPi which gives me pause.
See discussion of this topic at https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/38240-network-streamers-with-i2s-output/ .
Thanks for the reply. I skimmed the last couple pages earlier on that thread, and I still don’t see a legit solution. The Metrum doesn’t appear to use the hdmi format.
I haven’t played with any of these chained systems. Are you still able to use roon remote?
Yes. Roon works great with the ultraRendu with or without HQPlayer.
Thanks for the quick replies. I love this community. I’l probably break down and get something in the next couple of weeks. Looking at the SotM stuff as well. I had been hoping that by the time I was ready to start burning money again that a better I2S option would be out there…but alas it was not meant to be.
I can attest to the sound quality upgrade from switching from a W10 laptop running Audirvana via USB straight into my Gain Cell DAC to now my SOtM-sMS-200 powered by an Sbooster.
That being said, the aforementioned upgrade still sounded better than my laptop even without the S booster. Further, both of these sounded better than my bluesound node 2 ran into the gain cell DAC with the latter doing the dac work.
I would wholeheartedly recommend forgoing the laptop and getting a streamer. Heck, I went the cheap route into this with my SOtM-sMS-200 and it was only about $380 as I got it on sale. Not too bad.
I have yet to use a seperate power suppply, but so far my system sounds better with my LanRover ( mac to LanRover ) with a Jitter bug with a 3 dollar usb cable, then cat 8 to LanRovers other half with Ifi USB iso with Cardas clear usb.
That so far sounds better! I’m puzzled so far.
Did u get a matrix Darren?
Yes I did. So far, not blown away at all. Maybe it isn’t going to jive with my set up??
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Hmm interesting. Have you tried to go naked with it? 
nothing in between it and your player? I had a wyred recovery unit that I took out of the chain which for whatever reason seemed to deaden the sound. Just a thought. Not sure if your setup
Yes, that was the way I first tried it. That was actually the worst sound from it. I am using the LanRover ( no bridge II in Dac anymore ), the Lan sounds better. I will have a Uptone power cable tomorrow to try. I have a Uptone linear power supply with dual output. One side is powering my modded mac mini, so the other output will power the Matrix. I hope then to be happy with it?
Fingers crossed.