[iFi audio]

Usually copper wire is tinned to protect it from corrosion.

Some of them are just enameled prior to the insulation layer and that keep corrosion away too

 

[F208Frank]

wireworld usb cables cost like 90 at the low ish end they are decent.

 

[adeadcrab]

I'm going to recommend this again.

For the price, I dont think anything is better.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...tewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt&_randl_shipto=US

Someone mentioned that it outperformed their audio sensibility signature silver usb.

First off, it is disingenuous at best and criminal at worst for the shipper to call it a 'Nordost' cable. Nobody is going to dispute that.
However, even considering the cheaper labour costs of the cable being in China, the real deal Nordost must be at an extragavant markup. Whether it's because that's how everyone does it, to recoup R&D, a markup due to a low volume being sold to a niche of consumers - it's still vastly more expensive than the knock-off.
Just seeing it from both sides here. I would be happy to pay 5-6 times more than what I paid for the knock-off, to have a genuine Nordost cable.

Looking it up, the legitimate alternative is the Nordost Valhalla 2 - comprised of 4 silver conductors. Actually - it is silver plated OFC...
For the same length of cable (2M), the legitimate cable is 178.0940594059406 times more expensive. I could buy almost 180 knock-off cables for the price I would pay for the legitimate Nordost USB cable, in Australia.
After doing the math I would even be happy paying 10 times the price of the knock-off for the real deal instead.

I have been using this cable exclusively for a good 2 weeks. It is a mile better than the Cardas Clear USB cable. Wider, cleaner, clearer.
It is 5-10% behind my QED Reference Optical Toslink cable. Sometimes you can say the Toslink is trailling this knock-off USB cable by 5-10%.
The QED Toslink has a larger and wider soundstage, is slightly more resolving in the fine-grained details, and has a touch more upper treble erergy. It sounds leaner than the knock-off cable also. I believe the QED Toslink is as clean as it gets; maybe it's my DAC's implementation of USB but I doubt it... both the Cardas and the knock-off cable are copper at its core. The knock-off just has silver coating which helps brighten the tonality.
The knock off Nordost is a bit faster and snappier (The Cardas Clear is also) compared to Toslink.


There is a solid silver USB cable that I think would be a good contender - Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8.
The QED is too soft. The knock-off Nordost is slightly warm and throws a smaller image than the QED.
The Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 may be just right.

 

[feverfive]

After many years, thinking about treading back onto desktop gear, thus USB coming into play for me. Surprised how difficult it's been (for me) to find USB-C to USB-B cables that are neither of the cheap printer variety nor uber expensive boutique ones.

I just want a well-made, not overly stiff 1.5 meter USB-C to USB-B cable below $100. Is that too much to ask?, hahaha

 

[The1Signature]

After many years, thinking about treading back onto desktop gear, thus USB coming into play for me. Surprised how difficult it's been (for me) to find USB-C to USB-B cables that are neither of the cheap printer variety nor uber expensive boutique ones.

I just want a well-made, not overly stiff 1.5 meter USB-C to USB-B cable below $100. Is that too much to ask?, hahaha

a used aq carbon?

 

[ScrapIron]

USB-C to USB-B... descent quality, under $100? I'd like to find one as well! Currently using a Supra Excalibur with an Apple adapter from my Macbook... but will most likely move my Allo DigitalOne to the headphone setup.

FYI- Supra is brand new and I'll do some comparisons later this week. I will say the cable seems very well built and the packaging is top notch.

 

[iFi audio]

I just want a well-made, not overly stiff 1.5 meter USB-C to USB-B cable below $100. Is that too much to ask?, hahaha

You could ask @Matez at Forza AudioWorks to make you one. They're nice and start from 89 Euros

 

[LowBeat91]

Is there a better usb cable for around 150$ than the excalibure?

 

[TheR0v3r]

Is there a better usb cable for around 150$ than the excalibure?

No and IMHO hard to beat at ANY price.

I’ve tried alot of USB cables and at a certain level (not price!) they become different rather than better or worse.

Just for the record, of those that I’ve auditioned my two favourite USB cables are the Shunyata Sigma and Supra Excalibur. They have different qualities but I can’t say that one is better than the other.

YMMV.

 

[lator]

Just for the record, of those that I’ve auditioned my two favourite USB cables are the Shunyata Sigma and Supra Excalibur. They have different qualities but I can’t say that one is better than the other.

What have you tried in comparison?

 

[TheR0v3r]

What have you tried in comparison?

Here are some of the more noteworthy:

FTA Callisto
Neotech NEUB-1020
Oyaide Neo d+ class A*
Purist Audio Ultimate
Shunyata Venom
Shunyata Delta
Shunyata Alpha
Shunyata Sigma*
Shunyata Omega*
Supra High-speed
Supra Excalibur*

* = favourites

The Shunyatas are really great but VERY expensive. The Oyaide has excellent tonality and is superb value. The Supra Excalibur is close enough to the Shunyatas to be my pick.

PS. I’ve heard AQ and Nordost in other systems (not my own) so can’t/won’t comment on those.

 

[lator]

Here are some of the more noteworthy:

Excellent thank you for the summary. My own subjective comparisons were posted earlier over here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/whats-the-best-usb-audio-cable-for-the-money.718548/post-17341653

If we forget price performance ratio, my Top 3 would be:
1) Intona Ultimate
2) Sablon Evo
3) JCAT Signature

Haven't tried the Excalibur or Shunyatas yet.

 

[TheR0v3r]

Excellent thank you for the summary. My own subjective comparisons were posted earlier over here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/whats-the-best-usb-audio-cable-for-the-money.718548/post-17341653

If we forget price performance ratio, my Top 3 would be:
1) Intona Ultimate
2) Sablon Evo
3) JCAT Signature

Haven't tried the Excalibur or Shunyatas yet.

Brilliant

Funny thing is that I was looking at the Intona just the other day!

Where to you buy them? I thing that one can buy the isolator’s directly but not the cables…

 

[lator]

Brilliant

Funny thing is that I was looking at the Intona just the other day!

Where to you buy them? I thing that one can buy the isolator’s directly but not the cables…

I sent e-mail support@intona.eu and requested a pricelist.

 

[DouglasM]

I’m having a harder time finding a very good quality USB-C to USB-C audio cable. Can someone recommend a good one without spending a ton? Thanks!