About USB cables in general

[Greg]

That’s good to know. Please can you supply links to these knowledge sources?

I ask because my general view sides with the OP. I have always been a sceptic but recently bought a reasonable quality USB cable and I was convinced it improved the sound. My ITC friend rubbished my perception. I’m now in a quandary as to whether that was an ‘expectation bias’ experience or whether it really did make a difference.

Like, I expect, every other streaming listener, I just want to create the best sound to listen to, so look forward to your reply. No axe to grind here. I just want straight facts and information.

One thing I like about being an engineer is learning about new and interesting topics, and having my firmly held ideas challenged by new research. I usually squirm a bit when I hear/read something like what Greg posted: knowledge sources, straight facts and information are at your fingertips, and asking others for them sounds like a case for lmgtfy.com! It is just as easy to search for information about the USB protocol, physical layer and testing tools as it is to search for audiophile quality high end USB cables (wired in the right direction, of course). This being said, there are some cases that are a bit more nuanced... I feel this is one of them.


Oh well, I had nothing else to do on a Sunday afternoon...

Thank you for your condescending reply. I am sorry you had to waste your Sunday afternoon in order to patronise me in your second post on this forum.

My understanding of forums that work well are that they are communities of people with a variety of life skills, knowledge and abilities and the members are happy to share their knowledge for the benefit of all.

I have carried out www searches as you have suggested but invariably can never come to any conclusion, mainly because I don’t understand what I read. I have no doubt that the majority of audio enthusiasts have the same experience. By way of example, I don’t understand the bulk of what you wrote in your reply. This is another of the reasons why marketing can grip the industry, and we all know marketing represents the opposite of honesty.

People like me will always be dependent on the knowledge of others who know the science. We also want those who know to share their conclusions. I and others have to depend on trusting what others who seem to know (such as yourself) say. Of course, our own ears will always be the final arbiter, but it is good to have a path to follow before making that arbitrary conclusion as it should save us a pile of money in the meantime. The bottom line for those of us who do not understand the intricate science is, we need to have trust and belief in our advisors and only independent versions will do, of which I know there are many out there.

As you have joined here, I hope you want to contribute constructively for the benefit of the community. Are you independent? Are you connected to the Hi-Fi industry? Can you see the dilemma so many of us are in? As ever, it’s the ears that have it, but with the help of people like you, if impartial, those of us dependant on our ears in this way could find a relative easy and probably much more affordable passage in the pursuit of our hobby.

What do you think?