[goodolcheez]

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I am planning on building my very first desktop rig when I have enough dough. The headphones would be the lcd3's the dac would probably be a nad m51 or maybe schiit's new upcoming statement dac. I really want to bring out the best detail and clarity from the lcd3 with nice airy highs, I dont want any component in the chain to be holding back the potential of the lcd3's. I will probably be getting a silver cable from toxic cables in the future for the lcd3's. But is the usb cable really as important as the headphone cable? 

Yes, the USB cable (synchronous) also provide unique sound signatures depending on what you get.  Jitter affects timing and the resulting sound is different.  The material (conductors) used in the cable affects timing as well in addition to other electrical noise that carry.
 
LCD3 is a nice headphone. What you want to try is compare the cables yourself. Try the generic USB cable and try out one of the mid grade part silver part copper conductor USB cable. If you don't like it, you can return it.  The best way for you to try it as everyone has different ears and hearing capabilities... Don't limit yourself because others tell you there is no difference. They are not you.  And yes, I am also experienced in USB cables for DAC's as well.

 

[Coltrane]

There is no need to try it out, just as there is no need to 'try for yourself' what the boiling point of water is. There are many things that we know, and certainly the frailty of the human mind is one of them.
 
Just go to monoprice and be done with it.

 

[comperic2003]

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I have an Angel cable (full solid 100% silver w/ FEP air-tube) from Audioquest and it is worth every penny.  These cables have their own sound signatures and are very, very distinctive. The difference is huge.   Diamond (for USB) is a very good one too.  Be glad those only run around 700 USD. I paid nearly double, $1200 for my Angel.   If you have some money to spare be prepared to spend at least 200 or more if you want nice butter low end details and moderate highs.  If you want more and crisper highs (better treble extensions) with more details the solid silver is the key.
 
What kind of sound signature are you looking for?  Try to be as detail as possible.

 
$1200?  Did you seriously spend $1200 on a USB cable?  Wow.

 

[goodolcheez]

They do provide differences in sound.  it's not boiling point.  It would do no good when a person is deaf or hearing impaired. 
 
Don't limit yourself because they tell you to go with cheap cable. They are not you.
 

 

[Matt head 777]

Daddy must be rich, Johnny must be insane!
 

 

[goodolcheez]

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$1200?  Did you seriously spend $1200 on a USB cable?  Wow.

Yes.   No, it's an analog cable.  USB ones are a bit cheaper.

 

[goodolcheez]

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Daddy must be rich, Johnny must be insane!
 

My Dad makes $100k a year.  My Mom, $35k.   I make $42k.
 
But I don't live with them and get no help on anything.
 
I own a house, brand new.  I have a new car that costs near $50k.  Nope, no co-signs.  The cable too was purchased by me, under my bank account all out of my pocket. No charging.
 
Not that I'm trying to show off I have money and know how to manage money.  It's the immense sound differences you get from cables, which is why I had to get them.

 

[goodolcheez]

If you are really short on the money at least get one with high quality high purity copper conductor cable.  The price range anywhere from $150 and up. 
 
Those monocables and bluejeans are junk. No better than some generic cables which sound quite foggy and the details don't pop.
 
 
Yes, the silver will give you airy sound too.

 

[Coltrane]

I hope the recommendation of an 'at least' $150 cable to go with a $110 DAC should speak for itself.

 

[firev1]

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If you are really short on the money at least get one with high quality high purity copper conductor cable.  The price range anywhere from $150 and up. 
 
Those monocables and bluejeans are junk. No better than some generic cables which sound quite foggy and the details don't pop.
 
 
Yes, the silver will give you airy sound too.

Wow man, what kind of DAC are you using that cables should have such a bad effect on your system.

 

[Rawrbington]

i got a good chuckle out of this thread.
 
my USB cable is pure gold.  and it sounds better than any of you poor people could believe

 

[goodolcheez]

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I hope the recommendation of an 'at least' $150 cable to go with a $110 DAC should speak for itself.

 
That depends on the DAC. You don't have to have expensive DAC to use a $150 cable.  
 
Quote:

Wow man, what kind of DAC are you using that cables should have such a bad effect on your system.

 
Currently, none.  Just straight out of headphone port, using $1200 analog cable because it sounds better.  You don't have to have a killer system to use a nice cable. There is so much of gain to be had even with no external DAC or amp.   And this setup obliterated my $200 DAC w/ $200 cable because the DAC was the bottleneck.

 

[goodolcheez]

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i got a good chuckle out of this thread.
 
my USB cable is pure gold.  and it sounds better than any of you poor people could believe

 
You are heading the wrong direction.  The gold isn't a good conductor of choice.  It is worse than the copper.

 

[Matt head 777]

Quote:

i got a good chuckle out of this thread.
 
my USB cable is pure gold.  and it sounds better than any of you poor people could believe

I suppose your computer is made of gold too, gold hard drive contacts etc, they're expensive..

 

[goodolcheez]

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I suppose your computer is made of gold too, gold hard drive contacts etc, they're expensive..

 
Hard drive connectors in the computer doesn't apply in affecting sound. Unless the cable is cut or defect and unable to transfer data.