I tried the USB input on the pwd a couple of times in the past but always preferred the bridge.
Now I have a new pc with i7 processor, 8 gig, ssd hdd and it is battery powered. (New macbook air)
Using audirvana plus and jriver as my playback software.
The sound is close now, but still prefer the bridge.
What I am using is a standard USB printer cable.
Want to upgrade the cable to a decent USB cable.
I would like to know if any forum members have good results with USB?
Which cable are you using and what is the length?
(I don’t want to start a discussion IF a USB cable technically can make a difference. There are enough discussions on the internet already between the believers and dibelievers)
Freek
I found Audioquest USB cables to be superior to the standard issue ones that come with computer peripherals.
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The only nice USB cable that I have tried was the Nordost. I did not care for it because, in my system, it seemed to accentuate a grainy quality in the sound.
I have not done a comparison of quality cables, however, my Wireworld Ultraviolet is clearly superior to a cheap generic.
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@afridi
did you use a specific audioquest cable?
I read good things about the audioquest carbon cable.
should I use a 75 cm cable or the 1,5 meter cable?
Also the Wireworld gets good reviews.
And the mapleshade clearlink. But I cannot try that one before I buy, because it is not available in europe.
The Clarus Crimson Cables sound excellent. I can vouch for the IFi cables as well.
I use the Audioquest Diamond, .75mt My understanding from speaking with a few industry types is that shorter is better.
If you are in the USA you could borrow a few from The Cable Company and decide for yourself
www.thecableco.com
thank you erik.
I live in Holland, but my dealer does Audioquest so it will be possible to test them. Did you try the Diamond together with the coffee and the carbon?
I prefer the Transparent Premium with Empirical Audio’s Short Block over Audioquest Diamond or the Bridge, more analogue for me. Best cheap cable I tried is Belkin Gold for $5-6.
Freek- Nope bought it based on the reviews ( all outstanding) and the recommendation of Gordon Rankin, of Wavelength Audio
I have several hi quality USB cables.
The most expensive is the audio quest diamond. It uses two triple a batteries that connect to the cable . I have no idea what it is for. The cable sounds very good. I also have wire world cables the flat purple ones.
Also I have one from imperical audio it came with the offramp. When using the offramp with the short block
I cannot tell one cable from another. Without it. The three I hAve compared stock ones there is a small change . It’s a cleaner sound with the better ones. I feel if you use a good USB converter it does not matter .
Just my two cents
Al
I use the Audioquest Carbon to connectmy Logitech Touch and was very surprised by the difference it made. Mine’s a 1.5 meter.
T
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Won’t it be great if, as Ted mentioned, front end cables become much less important with the new DS.
This will be interesting to experiment with.
Getting rid of some of these “Hi-End” cables would help greatly in paying for the DS upgrade kit.
Of course, I want to know what brand coat hangers Ted’s been testing the system out with. :-))
T
Just to give you an idea: I use all USB2 devices with stock USB cables. I first use a cheapo 25’ active usb cable extension so I never accidentally pull a cable out, then a 4 port cheapo Belkin hub. Out of that hub goes my music library on two 2T USB powered portable drives and a cheap cable to a Toshiba USB Docking station. The docking station has two levels of USB hubs in it and I use the Ethernet out of it, my USB oscilloscope, my USB MicroChip ICD3 for uP development, my USB for the NuWave Phono Converter, my M2Tech HiFace Two USB -> S/PDIF converter, some other USB crap and finally the USB for the DirectStream.
I keep reading people saying you need to put your music library on … drives and, if they are USB connect them directly to you computer. I read that you shouldn’t share your audio USB circuit with other USB devices, especially any USB disk drives. …
To heck with it. Plug things in how it’s convenient and enjoy the music.
Perhaps I should admit that I can see the scope packets on the scope when I use the scope so the USB chain does make some difference. I only hear it with extremely soft music or when I turn the volume way up when debugging. Things like the refrigerator upstairs, fans on computers in other rooms, etc. are much more significant.
This sounds good. Now I am also hoping the P10 ,s would negate power cable .? Any thoughts on this .
Al
Not thoughts from me 
In my personal system I have a raft of power cords and various power cord accommodations that I search thru every time I add or change equipment. I can sort of predict what cord will work with what, but often I am surprised. I tried to have the power cords not matter at all for the DirectStream, but tho I’m not embarrassed at the differences they may make I wasn’t quite as successful with them as I was with input cables.
Ok thanks for the honesty.
Al
I have a Roon Nucleus + running on a 19V Sbooster LPS, with USB to a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 2, and WireWorld Silver Sphere HDMI running I2S to my Directstream dac. I have the BHK Pre and BHK 300s going to Amphion Krypton 3 speakers. There is an Uptone Audio 7.5V adaptor to the Matrix until my Farad Super 3 arrives. I have an AfterDark LPS going to my EtherREGEN, with custom AfterDark Cat8 cables to the Nucleus. All run off a P20.
A printer USB cable was un-listenable.
The upgraded Matrix Audio USB that I bought with the X-SPDIF was great, but I was asked to beta test a USB cable under development by Sonic Art. Simply incredible. It is truly a big component level upgrade. He is NOT getting this cable back. It is not so much a veil being lifted but a curtain, and my setup is a revealing one. The music sounds so effortless, musical and incredibly detailed in a way that is truly engaging and entrancing. It blows the Matrix Audio USB out of the water, which may go to printer duties. I haven’t compared it to other high end USB cables, but what it has done to my system is breathtaking.
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I also have a MacBook Air and am using an Audioquest Cinnamon 1Meter with USB C on one end so no need for a hub
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