[matthew23]

Quote:

 
I have a e10 as well. I'll try to post some impressions/comparisons to both if/when it actually arrives. !_!

Thanks - would be much appreciated!

 

[atomikn00b]

Might this produce the same sound as the ELE Dac?
 
Muse HiFi

wondering because this might be a better deal since it comes with a cable and a different output connection (SPDIF) in addition to regular 3.5mm

 

[Dsnuts]

Ya that is using the same sound chip that is in the Ele. Should have a similar sound.

 

[Alberto01]

I tried my printer cable with my DAC to see if it my DAC sounded the same with this cable, as it did with the stock cable.
 
The DAC's stock cable looks just like this one:
 

 
The printer cable looks just like this one:

Both cables are the same length, which is 2 meters.
 
As soon as I listened to my DAC with the printer cable, there was an obvious difference in the amount of bass or bass impact between both cables.  Bass quantity/impact was lower in the printer cable.  Without saying anything about this difference, I asked someone else to listen to my audio setup with the printer cable first and then the DAC's stock cable.  In fact, I told that person that the sound was supposed to be the same with both cables, because they are digital cables.  After listening with the stock cable for less than a minute, that person said:  "This one is better"  I asked then:  "Why is it better?"  The reply was:  "The other one (printer cable) has got no bass."  Obviously, that was an exaggeration, but I understood what that meant.  We both noticed the most obvious difference in sound between the two cables.  So, now I know that despite the "ones and zeros, all must sound the same"  theory, the USB cable that I use can make a difference in sound quality.
 
Despite having less bass quantity/impact, I liked the bass with the printer cable better than the bass with the DAC's stock cable.  It is tighter and more refined.  The treble sounds better, too.  It is noticeably smoother (less piercing) in the printer cable.  Being used to how tracks sounded with the stock cable, the passages where highs can be appreciated, sound surprisingly different (and better) with the printer cable.  So, I ended up replacing my DAC's cable with the printer cable.
 
Knowing then, that USB cables can make a difference in sound quality, I got interested in getting another cable for my DAC.  I took the time to search online to find out which cable would be the best or close to the best choice for my DAC.  I did a lot of online reading and this is what I found out about USB cables for audio applications:
 
There is a compatibility issue between audio setups (systems) and cables.  The best cable for one audio setup, could easily be far from the best for another audio setup.  So, it is not unlikely that A is better than B, and B is better than C, but C is better than A!.  That could happen.  At the same time, it is more likely that any audio setup will sound better with a cable where more effort has been put into the making of it (and likely pricier) than it would with a simpler (and likely cheaper) cable.  Taking all this into account, the good bang for the buck cables, are those cables that sound better than most of the cables that are lower in price.  The better bang for the buck, are those that sound better than all of the cables that are lower in price.  The best bang for the buck are those that sound better than all of the cables that are lower in price and sound better than several cables that cost much more.
 
Moving up the scale from a generic USB cable, the Belkin Gold is between a good and the best bang for the buck cable.  There was one reviewer on Amazon.com (Marcio Small, from Brazil) that was disappointed with the Audioquest Forest because a Belkin cable sounded better than the much pricier Audioquest Forest cable.  That review has now been removed from Amazon.com.  But, you can do an internet search in your browser with some of the review's content and you will find a link to that review, that obviously, will not work.  But, as good as the Belkin USB cable is, it is not in the audiophile category.  Fortunately, you do not have to go deep (or rise $$$!) into audiophile territory to find a better or the best bang for the buck USB cable.  It is the PANGEA USB-PC cable, which is made of copper and 4% silver.  That is the same one that Dsnuts showed us a few days ago.  Here is a post where it is said that it performed better to the listener than a cable that is ten times the price of the PANGEA cable:
 
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/poll-what-usb-cable-are-you-using-7789/index11.html#post163724
 
Here is another post where the PANGEA cable performed well compared to cables that have a much higher price:
 
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=70int3b2egetc3nf8v48lhlmg4&topic=101157.msg1130256#msg1130256
 
It would be good if you read the whole thread.  It is just one page long and the Belkin cable is placed in perspective in that thread.
 
Here is another post just like the previous ones:
 
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25593
 
Read the whole thread, it is just one page long.
 
The worst reviews that I have read about that cable are like this one:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Pangea-Audio-cable-PCOCC-silver/product-reviews/B005AWT9IM/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
 
I have not read any reviews or comments saying that another cable of similar or lower price, sounded better than this cable, something that happened with other higher priced cables.
 
Word of wisdom:  Get the PANGEA cable.  The Belkin cable is one that you will likely want to upgrade in the future.  The Belkin cable would be a good temporary buy if you think that it is good to turn it into an all purpose spare USB cable, once you upgrade to a better sounding cable.  But, if you are thinking of it as your main audio USB cable for years to come, it is better to buy the upgrade once and for all than buying the Belkin now and the upgrade later.  Besides, the shortest length for the Belkin cable is 6ft, which is too long for the usual computer-DAC setup.  Also, the shorter the cable the better the sound you will get from it.  You can get the PANGEA cable in lengths between 0.5 and 5 meters.  Finally, the PANGEA cable looks better and that counts, too.  Here it is:
 

 
 
 
Do not get the copper + 4% silver PANGEA (USB-PC) cable confused with the pure silver PANGEA (USB-AG) cable.  The pure silver cable is more expensive and there are several negative comments online regarding its sound quality.  Here is the right cable:
 
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=pangea+pcocc+usb+cable
 
I rest my case.

 

[daveyostrow]

wow, goo on you. dont know if i would pay $30 for a cable though.
for those who still want the XBA-3, groupon is having a sale for $130. There are a few different ones so make sure you choose the right one:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-sony-balanced-armature-in-ear-headphones?c=all&p=32
 
maybe sony is already replacing them with something better... hopefully the xba-30 have improved tuning. who knows when they will be available, or even affordable.

 

[Alberto01]

Quote:

wow, goo on you. dont know if i would pay $30 for a cable though.
for those who still want the XBA-3, groupon is having a sale for $130. There are a few different ones so make sure you choose the right one:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-sony-balanced-armature-in-ear-headphones?c=all&p=32
 
maybe sony is already replacing them with something better... hopefully the xba-30 have improved tuning. who knows when they will be available, or even affordable.

I understand your reasoning.   But, why would you not pay $30 for a cable if it affects the sound as much as it would upgrading your headphones by buying a $130 pair of IEMs?  Not only that, the cable would improve the sound of all of your headphones.
 
 
Dsnuts:
 
Have you tried A/B comparisons of your PANGEA cable vs other cable(s)?  I would like to know how the PANGEA cable compares to other cable(s) in your audio setup.

 

[SAM63]

Kwerdenker, May Iask where you bought your XB90s from? I am thinking of buying them and would like to avoid your seller. I live in the UK and am thinking of buying them from accessory jack or on eBay from hk_memory.  

 

[kwerdenker]

Quote:

Kwerdenker, May Iask where you bought your XB90s from? I am thinking of buying them and would like to avoid your seller. I live in the UK and am thinking of buying them from accessory jack or on eBay from hk_memory.  

Friend of mine brought them over directly from Japan. They were ordered via amazon.co.jp.

 

[nihontoman]

Quote:

Kwerdenker, May Iask where you bought your XB90s from? I am thinking of buying them and would like to avoid your seller. I live in the UK and am thinking of buying them from accessory jack or on eBay from hk_memory.  

I for example, bought them from HK-asia mall on ebay. I think that's the same as the hk-memory you posted abut...

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

I understand your reasoning.   But, why would you not pay $30 for a cable if it affects the sound as much as it would upgrading your headphones by buying a $130 pair of IEMs?  Not only that, the cable would improve the sound of all of your headphones.
 
 
Dsnuts:
 
Have you tried A/B comparisons of your PANGEA cable vs other cable(s)?  I would like to know how the PANGEA cable compares to other cable(s) in your audio setup.

Just tried my Pangea vs my external usb generic cable.. I am getting better clarity though the Pangea. It is not night and day different but ya I can tell the sound is cleaner and it sounds like I am getting better resolution in the sound..Also interesting. My generic cable the volume is lower. I have to raise the volume a bit to match the volume output of the Pangea.
 
The sound of the generic one is doable it is not terrible but I can say the Pangea was worth the upgrade.

 

[Xiche]

Can anyone do a brief writeup on how to get the ELE DAC working with a Mac? Just received mine, and plugged it in with the printer cable but the sound still comes out via the laptop speakers - am totally new in this area so any guidance would be nice.

 

[cgrahams]

Was wondering Dsnuts if you used this in conjunction with your ELE dac?  Also, open question for anyone else too:  what are peoples thoughts if I use the ELE and Pangea straight from my laptop without a usb/spdif converter?   Do you folks figure I'd need one?   Waiting for my ELE dac still and just ordered a Pangea cable

 

[Dsnuts]

Hmm. You should be able to choose the output of the sound to your Ele dac.. Anyone with a mac that can help??
 
I can say the Pangea the short version is a good solid buy. I know it cost as much as the Ele dac itself but in the long run you will not wonder if you are getting the best results..I haven't done a head to head comparison until today and I can say the little jump in clarity is completely worth the price to get one.. Just get the short Pangea. As it is all the cable your gonna need.

 

[Alberto01]

Quote:

Hmm. You should be able to choose the output of the sound to your Ele dac.. Anyone with a mac that can help??
 
I can say the Pangea the short version is a good solid buy. I know it cost as much as the Ele dac itself but in the long run you will not wonder if you are getting the best results..I haven't done a head to head comparison until today and I can say the little jump in clarity is completely worth the price to get one.. Just get the short Pangea. As it is all the cable your gonna need.

Remember that the Pangea cable will be stiffer than a generic cable.  That means it will make wider turns, so to speak.  Take that into account when thinking about whether to get the 0.5 or the 1.0 meter version.  I guess that for most laptop-DAC connections a 0.5M will do it.  But, don't take that for granted and get your measurements right before you buy.  Here is a picture of a short one:
 

 
Is that a 0.5M or a 1.0M cable?
 
The Pangea cable will be an investment for life.  It will still be the right cable when you upgrade your audio setup.  The fact that it is just a cable and it costs as much (it costs more!) as the ELE DAC does not matter as much as the difference it makes in sound quality.  The same goes for any other part in the audio chain.  The difference it makes in SQ vs the cost in the long run is what matters.  What is the use in buying a $5-$10 Belkin cable, if you are gonna be wanting to upgrade in six months?  That is wasted money, then.  But, if you are a El Cheapo xtreme kind of Head-Fier and just want something cheap and good and do not think about what could have been the best at a reasonable price, go for the Belkin Gold USB cable, then.  That would be the right cable for that kind of mindset and there is nothing wrong about it.  But, just seeing what you people on this thread have ended up spending in IEMs that can't keep you happy for too long, I would have even recommended a $60+ USB cable if it seemed to be much better than the Pangea cable.  Fortunately, I did not have to go that high to find a great sounding cable that is hard to beat by cables that cost from 5 to 10 times more.  So, I am getting the Pangea.

 

[macbug]

... it's a digital signal, it's sending 1s and 0s, if you have audible issues over that distance you must be in a seriously radioactive environment.  Everything you're reading now is typed on a computer thousands of miles away from you through even longer wires / routers / switches, granted there are error correction checksums in place but if we can reliably send data this way, there is zero reason why you need to pay for a 60 dollar set of USB cable unless it's coated in gold