[SearchOfSub]

Not double blind tests. Not really tests at all, just my continued experience of my equipment.
My definition of 'better' comes down simply to how much I enjoy listening to the music.

I spend about 4-6 hours a day listening to music while I work, the setup I use depends on my location and what I have with me that day. 
I have listened to most of the above combinations for many days/weeks/months each.

I have listened to the Mojo over USB from the AK380 solidly for the last two days now, and enjoyed it. However, today I switched back to AK380 direct to JHA Layla (outside office, not much pocket space) and was immediately struck by the more natural sound that the AK380 always has. The Mojo always sounded a bit like it is trying to impress - a very good sound, but not as natural as the AK380.

The last paragraph. I remember when I first got Mojo and tried Mojo through USB with supplied stock usb cable vs. a $250.00 optical cable through optical port on mojo I thought usb sounded better with stock cable. Only to find out the next few hours later it was only the initial dynamics on the usb port that jumped out at me made it seem that way. Never used usb port on Mojo again after going back to optical. You should atleast listen to it a day or two before making decision.

 

[sharon124]

The last paragraph. I remember when I first got Mojo and tried Mojo through USB with supplied stock usb cable vs. a $250.00 optical cable through optical port on mojo I thought usb sounded better with stock cable. Only to find out the next few hours later it was only the initial dynamics on the usb port that jumped out at me made it seem that way. Never used usb port on Mojo again after going back to optical. You should atleast listen to it a day or two before making decision.

Hi, That means rather using provided usb cable , using silver usb cable will improve sound quality.
Note: if use it with cck with apple device

 

[onsionsi]

Headphones or speakers?
I'm listening now to a headphone rig, swapping between Schiit Gungnir Multibit and Chord Mojo.

Which one do you preferred eventually?
And can you elaborate the difference between two devices?

 

[SearchOfSub]

Hi, That means rather using provided usb cable , using silver usb cable will improve sound quality.
Note: if use it with cck with apple device

Now I use Lifatec Glass cable so it's not the silver cable I used before into optical port. In both cases it sounds better through optical than usb. I've tried different usb cables into Mojo and the higher quality cable always sound better to me. (obviously comes with higher price tag tho). So I do not think it's always the silver material that is making sound better. The diff. usb cables were all copper.

 

[RPB65]

So, what would be a decent USB cable via CCK to iPhone 6S+? IMHO, surely if you are buying an expensive USB cable, then that is wasted by the fact it has to go through the CCK cable anyway? That CCK cable is nothing special, certainly not when compared to a supposedly 'good' USB cable.

 

[jmills8]

Now I use Lifatec Glass cable so it's not the silver cable I used before into optical port. In both cases it sounds better through optical than usb. I've tried different usb cables into Mojo and the higher quality cable always sound better to me. (obviously comes with higher price tag tho). So I do not think it's always the silver material that is making sound better. The diff. usb cables were all copper.

By "better" you mean the sound was brighter? More sub bass ? Wider sound stage?

 

[SearchOfSub]

By "better" you mean the sound was brighter? More sub bass ? Wider sound stage?

The sound was calmer and more smooth and better details, imaging etc. Kind of like the difference from mp3 file and as you go up to DSD kind of difference you hear with same setup.

 

[cirodts]

Onkyo dp x1 or samsung s3 + mojo, with which solution will have a more suitable sound to rock sound detailed warm sound and especially non-fatiguing.

 

[Mython]

 

Now I use Lifatec Glass cable so it's not the silver cable I used before into optical port. In both cases it sounds better through optical than usb. I've tried different usb cables into Mojo and the higher quality cable always sound better to me. (obviously comes with higher price tag tho). So I do not think it's always the silver material that is making sound better. The diff. usb cables were all copper.

By "better" you mean the sound was brighter? More sub bass ? Wider sound stage?

 
The sound was calmer and more smooth and better details, imaging etc. Kind of like the difference from mp3 file and as you go up to DSD kind of difference you hear with same setup.

 
 
Rob has discussed the (relative**) immunity of optical connections to RF, and the influences of undesirable RF on analogue circuitry. A USB cable may well be carrying a digital signal, but it can also, inadvertently, carry RF noise which may manage to influence analogue components on the PCB (any DAC; not just Mojo).  (**relative since although the connection itself is 'immune', it does not immunise the DAC circuitry from other avenues of RF intrusion, so an optically-connected DAC should not casually be assumed to be immune from RF intrusion)
 
 
I quoted some of Rob's comments on this topic, in the 'informative posts' section of post #3; a couple of which are as follows:
 

  The reasons why sources and digital interconnects sound different are well understood - see some of my posts. In a nutshell it is not jitter (all my DACs are source jitter intolerant) but down to RF noise and distorted currents from the source flowing into the DAC's ground plane. The RF noise inter-modulates with the analogue electronics, creating random noise as a by product, which creates noise floor modulation, and that makes it sound brighter or harder. The correlated or distorted currents very subtly add or subtract to small signals, thus changing the fundamental linearity, which in turn mucks up depth perception.
 
But I also agree in that lots of people hear changes that are not there - I for one have never heard any difference with optical cables (assuming all are bit perfect) with my DAC's, but lots of folks claim big differences. Placebo, or listening with your wallet, plays a part here. Then there are cases of people preferring more distortion... Listening tests must be done in a very controlled and careful fashion, particularly if you are trying to design and develop things.
 
Rob

 

 

At the risk of being flamed, I don't see how the composition of the USB cable wire can add warmth to digital data from whatever device is being used as a transport

I understand those concerns to - after all the data is the same. But there are solid scientific reasons why they can make a difference.

 
In the 1980's, people started talking about mains cables making a difference to the sound quality - and I didn't believe it either - particularly as my pre-amp had 300 dB of PSU rejection in the power supply. But I did a listening test, and yes I could hear a difference. Frankly I still could not believe the evidence of my own ears, so did a blind listening test with my girl friend. She reported exactly the same observation - mains cables did make a difference to SQ.
 
To cut a long story short, I proved the problem was down to RF noise. RF noise inter-modulates with the wanted audio signal within the analogue electronics, and if the RF noise is random, then the distortion is random too and you get a increase in noise floor with signal. This increase in noise floor is noise floor modulation, and the brain is very sensitive to it; you can perceive tiny amounts of noise floor modulation as a brightening or hardening of the sound. By tiny I mean the noise floor modulation needs to be well below -200 dB, so the brain is very sensitive to it. With the right test equipment, you (APX5555 is only test equipment that has no innate noise floor modulation) can easily measure the effect.
 

The RF characteristics of the cable can change the RF noise that gets injected into Mojo's ground plane, and this is the mechanism for changes in smoothness. You may say why can't you make it insensitive to it; well I go to silly lengths to RF filter and decouple, and use dual solid ground planes on the PCB, but you can't remove the problem. For Dave, Hugo TT and 2 Qute I have galvanic isolation, and this eliminates the problem (along with other SQ problems such as sound-stage depth). But I can't do this with portable devices, as it draws power from the 'phone. That said it's less of an issue with portable electronics as they are less power hungry and create less noise.

 

So what are the best USB cables? Firstly, be careful. A lot of audiophile USB cables actually increase RF noise and make it sound brighter, and superficially impressive - but this is just distortion brightening things up. Go for USB cables that have ferrites in the cable is a good idea - it may also solve any RF issues from the mobile that you may have too.

 

Rob

 

[rkt31]

though I have tried the optical route but a good usb cable with Android in airplane mode is better than coaxial. adding a small ferrite clip on core improves the usb input on mojo and you get the advantage of asynchronous streaming. may be due to asynchronous streaming via usb the sound has better transients and overall more fluid and open than coaxial.

 

[rkt31]

'I have not tried ' ( sorry,using my phone so edit option is not there in mobile version)

 

[Mython]

'I have not tried ' ( sorry,using my phone so edit option is not there in mobile version)

 
 
No worries.
 
By the way, have you tried switching the website into desktop mode?  Last time I looked, it was possible, on my Samsung GS2.

 

[warrior1975]

Edit is there on mobile for me. I always use mobile, never a problem. Even so, scroll all the way down, and you can see the options for desktop/mobile.

On mobile it looks like a little pen button. Just used it now to add this. In between the flag post and quote options.

 

[sharon124]

Rob has discussed the (relative**) immunity of optical connections to RF, and the influences of undesirable RF on analogue circuitry. A USB cable may well be carrying a digital signal, but it can also, inadvertently, carry RF noise which may manage to influence analogue components on the PCB (any DAC; not just Mojo).  (**relative since although the connection itself is 'immune', it does not immunise the DAC circuitry from other avenues of RF intrusion, so an optically-connected DAC should not casually be assumed to be immune from RF intrusion)


I quoted some of Rob's comments on this topic, in the 'informative posts' section of post #3; a couple of which are as follows:

Can anyone pls let me know what does mean by "......USB cables that have ferrites in the cable is a good idea ....."?
From where i can buy such a cable?
Pls help me?

 

[miketlse]

Most USB cables for printers and other PC accessories contain ferrite chokes to stop RFI.
 
You can always buy the loose ferrite chokes, and clip them onto any USB cable.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/784602/chord-mojo-the-official-thread-please-read-the-3rd-post/19605#post_12705722