HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Since I have accumulated several differing USB cables in recent months I was curious about how they fared in direct comparison to each other. So I have just had a intensive cable-switching frenzy and given the main contenders a blast.

Main system.
Input to Oehlbach Masterclock via DH Labs Silver Sonic.
Test cables all running from Masterclock to DAC.

Volume on amps unchanged through test.
Listening notes in italics.
Cable lengths also noted.

Tracks played:
Gilgamesh 'Darker Brighter' ('Another Fine Tune You've Gotten Me Into')
Tangerine Dream 'Poland' from 4-minute mark to about 7 mins ('Poland')
Clannad 'Ri Na Cruinne' (from 'Anam')





1) Oehlbach USB Plus (1.5m)



Nice wide soundstage & well-defined
Bass a bit flabby
Pleasant, mellow, enjoyable
Detail pretty good - slight blurring

This lead was a giveaway at the Oehlbach webshop for only 7 euro.
A fine entry-level performer.




2) Inakustik Premium (2.0m)



Narrow soundstage
Flat sound - 2D
Dull & blurred detail
Pleasant but uninvolved

Used in my office system for years
Don't bother with this.


3) Inakustik Excellence (1.0m)



Big, wide sound
Clear & sharp
Detail lacks a bit of 'edge'
Bit 3D - but not much
Excellent 'Hifi' sound

A fine cable for a reasonable price.


4) AudioQuest Carbon (0.75m)



Physically very stiff
BIG sound in definition, separation, Bass control, 3D, imaging
Fine detail - really crisp & sharp
Elegant audiophile sound

What can you say?
Superb.


5) DH Labs Silver Sonic (0.5m)



Controlled presentation
Rich, solid, round sound
Wide & deep 3D soundfield
Sharper & more integrated than AQ Carbon
Lovely full sound

Really close to the Carbon in overall SQ - but one-third of the price.



6) DH Labs Mirage (1.0m)



Huge, full, authoritative soundfield
Silky smooth
Complete 'Next Level' detail & integration
Crisp, pinpoint imaging
WOW!

I think that speaks for itself.

USB bargain hunters might want to get over to Parts Connexion in Canada.
They have a special 65% reduction on the high-end Wireworld Silver Starlight 7 USB (30cm)
and some other types / lengths as well.

Fast service, reasonable shipping rates.

https://www.partsconnexion.com/WWORLD-87054.html

Previously used Wirewold Ultraviolet which was lower down the range, good for the price but bettered by AQ Carbon at greater expense. My streamer is USB A, dont know what I was thinking of before. Starlight and Mirage are providing food for thought at the offer prices.

If only I had the money, but I've wasted it all on instruments and recording gear.
I'm using WW Starlight 7 cables between my streamer and the Oehlbach, and the Oehlbach and the Wyrd and I'd love to try the Silvers in their places.

This pandemic is saving me a lot of money and until there is a vaccine this is likely to continue. Home entertainment has never been more important. After doing more reading up I pulled the trigger on the Mirage. The favourable review on Amazon was in comparison with AQ Coffee (who ever thought up that name ) which costs a lot more than Carbon.

During the past 18 months, on the evidence of what I am hearing, I have become more and more aware of the importance of the digital source and by that its purity and authentencity before it enters the DAC. If the the components further down the chain are transparant enough great benefits are to be had. Cables play a big part all through the chain.

Interested to hear your opinion on the Mirage, CN.

Damn you, Fretless!

Two 0.3M Silver Starlight 7 USB Cables have been ordered. The postage stung a bit though, at USD $35.95 (£27.59 / €30.53)

slinger wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:32 pm Damn you, Fretless!

Glad to be of service.

Bollox!

The following item(s) are currently out of stock, please let me know if there are subs that you can use, thank you.
WWORLD-87054 WireWorld - Silver Starlight 7 USB 2.0 A-B Flat Cable 0.3Meter—1 in stock

Sincerely,
Stephanie Shcherban – Sales Administrator

1504377 Ontario Limited O/A:
PARTS CONNEXION / AUDIO CONNEXION
5403 Harvester Road, Unit 1
Burlington, Ontario
CANADA L7L 5J7

Toll-Free at 1-866-681-9602 (US & Canada)
Tel: 905-681-9602 Fax: 905-631-5777

Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6; Thurs 10-8; Fri 10-6; Sat 10-5 EST pcX accepts VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Paypal, Debit & EMT

I can recommend DH Labs Mirage USB ....