[atsq17]

One thing I'd like to mention is that even when I say there is noticeable difference... it takes me a lot of back and forth testing to discern it... if it wasn't for others verifying the same thing without me telling them... I'd actually half-doubt my own judgment and wonder if it's all just some form of proverbial kool-aid that I am on. In other words, while there is a difference, I've never noticed it to be day and night so to speak. If somebody switched cables on me... it'd probably take me a few hours to actually wonder if there was perhaps something different. While I still pour in tonnes of money in the quest for small improvements and to get that little bit closer to my definition of perfection, I acknowledge that USB cable for me has been more of a fine tuning exercise than a game changer. 
 
Having said that, I really can't wait til my new DAC arrives so I can test my Black Cat Silverstar on it. If that isn't an obvious improvement I will be very disappointed given how much I spent on it. 

 

[misha0209]

yeah, am into this audio thing..
but it always comes down to $
also, i do like bass, but i also like details, and soundstage, hence my choice of headphones the hd800
but they are bass shy.
i will be changing the cable with a black dragon or alo audio in the near future, but i would like to avoid anything that will make my setup bass shy
so i get starlight.. i don't like it.. i want to sell it. if i can not, the game stops there sadly for about a year, as i have other more important investments to make, both for audio, and in real life. if i would have got me a cinnamon, i could live happier until i had the moolah to upgrade that part of the system again, that's all.
thanks for the comparison, i will post a comparison of my no name cable, and the starlight7 when i get it. best i can do, maybe it will help someone make a more documented decision
thank you

 

[Lappy27]

  yeah, am into this audio thing..
but it always comes down to $
also, i do like bass, but i also like details, and soundstage, hence my choice of headphones the hd800
but they are bass shy.
i will be changing the cable with a black dragon or alo audio in the near future, but i would like to avoid anything that will make my setup bass shy
so i get starlight.. i don't like it.. i want to sell it. if i can not, the game stops there sadly for about a year, as i have other more important investments to make, both for audio, and in real life. if i would have got me a cinnamon, i could live happier until i had the moolah to upgrade that part of the system again, that's all.
thanks for the comparison, i will post a comparison of my no name cable, and the starlight7 when i get it. best i can do, maybe it will help someone make a more documented decision
thank you

If you have HD 800, and you are looking in the $100 Starlight price range, I can definitly recommand you the Transparent Performance cable. A much, much more robust sounding in the low end register than the Starlight. But less resolute also. A good trade off with the hyper detailed HD 800 IMHO.

 

[misha0209]

thanks for the recommendation.
i was going to upgrade the cable eventually, when i'm done with the setup.
currently just got the x-sabre to replace my meier stagedac, and the upcoming upgrades are: headphone audio cable, then the BH-1, going fully balanced.
after this i was planning on upgrading to the audioquest carbon.
so in case i do not like the starlight, if i can get it sold easily enough, i might take the advice you gave
if i can not sell it, i live with it until the time comes when i can get the carbon

 

[Paolo Jose]

USB 3.0 transmits faster compared to 2.0 therefore there will be more parasitic noise and chances of jitter. 

 

[sep90]

WW starlight is slightly warmer and more emphasize on lower register.
However the usb 3 starlight has more midrange bass compare to usb 2 version.
Must be 3x the conductors in usb3 compare to older version.

 

[audioguy67]

Digital signal  is going through cables in form of 0 and 1 but that does not mean anything.
Those zeros and ones are represented by regular current and voltage so it is like analog audio signal which is again current and voltage.
I think good USB cable is better than inexpensive one but again if one does not hear difference it does not make any sense to buy more expensive cable.

 

[Noobzilla]

Gotta say.. this is one of the better USB threads I found here on head-fi. I was thinking of getting Audioquest Cinnamon, but now curious about higher end other cables. I like my bass so it looks like Starlight 7 is out :/ other recommended cables is definitely above my budget 

 

[Happy Camper]

All these bass shy comments makes me think your amps are weak. Ever try a speaker amp for your headphones?

 

[allhifi]

An interesting question.

I've often wondered whether USB 3.0 would offer any advantages over USB 2. This hobby, or passion of ours, is chock full of discussions of improvements to sound quality based on the most meagre of differences in technical specification. I have to imagine that it is only a question of time before the advantages of USB 3.0 get touted.

On USB cables, I bought my first audiophile USB cable nearly 3 years ago (from a specialist hifi shop in Singapore). I am unconvinced about the subjective qualities of USB cables. My attempts at evaluating the differences flounder after I have my first glass of wine. Now I can recommend a fine Merlot that makes nearly all cables sound great....

Lol -the wine. But, I suggest you indulge a bit deeper into the Merlot; loosen up, relax, and listen again -SQ distinctions (between any USB cable -of any value) are blatantly obvious.

pj

 

[allhifi]

All these bass shy comments makes me think your amps are weak. Ever try a speaker amp for your headphones?

Or that he loves bloated bass -and believes it's a sign of superior hi-fi ?

Low Frequency Resolution (LFR) 'performance' is paramount in defining superb SQ.

pj

 

[Dan Fuentes]

Guy was selling a bunch of older starlight clearance usb cables on eBay for like $30 .5 meter have that going to Eitr with Starlight 7 coax coming out and its a very good thing.

 

[allhifi]

hi all,
just bought me a starlight7, and after reading this, thread, i'm thinking i might have made a mistake
i plan on using it with my new X-Sabre DAC.
could you please elaborate on the "thin" and "harsh" sound?
what are you using the cable for (link directly to usb input of the DAC, or do you use it for a usb to spdif transmitter).
is it that thin compared to other cables? i like bass as much as the next fellow, but if my sound is vailed, then no thanks
could someone recommend a cable has more low end than the starlight7, but is transparent, and 3d? (within the same price range ~100$$ - someone here was talking audioquest diamond.. i have no doubt it is better )

More "low-end" than (X-Y-Z) is simply a LF coloration that ruins the performance of any product category that imparts this excessive low-frequency bloat/coloration. Proof ? Listen to vocal clarity, to begin. Follow the 'words' easily. Or not so much. Continue listening for (electric) bass guitar clarity/definition, hall/studio ambiance, the 'snap' of snare drum strikes; all of it is severely impaired with any component/cable demonstrating poor low-frequency performance/ articulation.

pj

 

[allhifi]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

As are comments otherwise reserved for the wise.

pj

 

[allhifi]

I would love to do some double-blind testing on the folks who hear a difference between various USB cables. I simply do NOT see how the digital path can have any real effect on the audio unless it is simply failing (i.e. bad cable.)

Since the only path that can really be affected by the cable is the analog +5v/GND power path, a double blind study would really allow you to identify the differences without any placebo effect.

tl;dr: never trust your own brain too much.

In your case, I must agree (RE: "...never trust your own brain too much")

pj