Hi Deftone,
Usually, they are two groups of people with different thinking and philosophy to answer your question. On one side are the scientists, the bits are bits people who are going to ridiculize any person who dare to spend more than a couple of bucks for an audiophile USB cable. These peoples from experience and reading lots of their arguments are for a very vast majority individuals who never dare to really compare cheap USB cables vs expensive ones.
On the other side, there are peoples who prefered to try and compare to make their own judgment on the question. These peoples called fools by the other group should be willing to spend time and money to get an enlightened answer. Guess where I am?
In the last three years, I tried about ten differents USB cable ranging from generic to 750$. I compared lots of them to other cables in the same price (or so) range. And you know what? ALL THE CABLES SOUNDS DIFFERENT IN MY SYSTEM. From subtle to really obvious. The best example I experienced that can convince the most hard head scientists is the comparison between the Wireworld Starlight 7 (the red one) to the Transparent Performance. Both cables are about the same price (100$) but boy oh boy do they sound differents! I dare any scientists group to invest 200$ for the cause (the cables could be resale afterward without loosing too much) and buy and compare these two specifics cables in a good system and to come back here to let us know their findings. For the records, the Starlight was clear, edgy, thin and fatiguing. The Transparent was thick, smooth, and a lot more enjoyable than the starlight but lack resolution..
I absolutely agree with Cornan regarding the reward you usually get when you're stepping up the ladder. My current cable (for the last year or so) was the most expensive one. Coincidence? Placebo effect? No. Simply a lenghty comparison with my second best cable. For several weeks I compared The Transparent Premium (a really fantastic cable) at the time my resident cable to a beta cable made by a canadian highly regarded cable maker. M. Steven Huang from Audiosensibility. previously, I was really impressed by Steven knowledge and products. As I was raving about how the Transparent Premium bested easily all other cables I compared to (including Audioquest Diamond, Silnote Poseidon and Oyaide Continental 5S) he proposed me to compare his current Statement USB cable to the Transparent Premium for a couple of weeks. He was curious to see how his cable will fare against a top dog. Take note that his Statement cable was 279$ and the Premium 565$, not a really fair battle in theory but since Steven is a good guy and the experience will only cost me the shipping back. I was up for a really big surprise. After about two weeks of comparison each night, the Premium best the Statement at the end but really by a nose. The statement had much of the refinment, analog musicality and details of the Premium but the later had the more body to ths sound. But it was really close.I sent back the cable to Steven but not without telling him how much his cable was good. More especially for the price. In fact, it was better than the Audioquest Diamond by a good margin. And we are talking of a cable selling for more than 550$. Steven adore challenges even more than his own products. So he offered me to build a Signature version of his Statement USB cable to compare to the Premium. Without any obligation of purchase. I accepted his offer. The cable will have 4 times the OCC silver of the Statement and will be a double header cable. That will bring the bass in spade while retaining all other qualities of the Statement. A couple of months later (Steven is really a busy man), the cable arrive at my workplace. As always, beautiful well made product with top notch material.It didn't took too long to realize that I will have to part with my beloved Transparent Premium. The Signature had even more body to the sound than the Premium despite that being the strenght of the Premium. But the Signature have a wonderful sense of ease, fluidity to the music flow. No other cables I tried can touch it.I,M since really happy for more than a year and I'm not planning any upgrade soon.
Don't hesitate to try and make your own judgment.Trust your ears and do not worry about brain tricking you and placebo effect. You will be surprised by the sound differences between some cables. Buy used, you will save money. BTW I'm now sold to silver vs copper after much experimentation with IC, headphone cable and USB cable. You don't need to spend 750$ to get fantastic result. But IMHO the 250-400$ range is a good sweet spot.
Good luck.
