Unmasking the Truth - Do Audiophile USB Cables Really Make a Difference? ddHiFi TC07BA Review
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- Опубліковано 30 жов 2023
- Welcome to my in-depth exploration of the world of audiophile USB cables. In this video, we dissect the controversial realm of high-end USB cables, focusing on the ddHiFi TC07BA. We'll examine the claimed benefits of audiophile USB cables, including enhanced audio quality, reduced interference, and craftsmanship.
However, I don't shy away from addressing skeptics' concerns, who argue that these cables might offer only modest improvements, lack scientific evidence, and might be overpriced. My goal is to help you make an informed decision, considering your unique needs and budget.
Join me as we set aside the rhetoric and dig into the facts. Are audiophile USB cables a valuable addition to your audio setup, or are they just another example of industry hype? Stay tuned to discover the truth.
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful audio gear reviews and discussions.
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B-roll; thanks to Mikhail Nilov and Thirdman from pexels.com - Наука та технологія
I cannot believe it would make any difference. Hard measurements conclude this also. Yes jitter would be a thing, but can be fixed by either a reclocking dac or setting the the DAC to be the master clock, but ALL the data still gets transmitted. If a digital stream fails, there will be NO AUDIO at all. If a digital cable would impact audio in any way, an HDMI cable would also impact image quality. If a digital cable would impact audio in any way, we would have lossy audio when streaming digital data with Qobuz or Tidal. Placebo is a real thing. I was finishing my self built amplifier last week and installed a VU meter with driver. I thought I heard negative impact on audio and could swear I could hear a difference when enabling it on or off. I asked a friend to switch it for me and so I would have a blind test and suddenly I was completely unable to tell any difference at all. If noise from a cable is an issue and the quality of the audio gets impacted that way, then consider buying a DAC which has proper filtering.
That is a great point, however the thing with monitor/TV cables is you can quite literally buy HDMI/DP cables that provide better image quality with different filtering techniques or whatever it may be. The other thing is that visual and audio are completely different a can't be compared, so a cheap HDMI and an expensive one isn't the same as comparing a cheap USB audio cable to an expensive one. You could also argue each person's ears vary more than each person's eyes, but I have no proof, I just know hearing is a much more debated topic compared to vision. I haven't experienced any of this stuff for myself, it's all just what others say, but I keep and open mind.
Than stick with your Bose Waveradio and stop cluttering up the comment section.
Power conditioning can improve audio and visuals.
Of course they do. In the bank accounts of seller and buyer...
I wish I was ruthless enough to sell them, would make me a pretty penny....
I literally recorded both USB cable sections at 4k resolution (which gives the best Audio youtube can offer), and played it back on 2 sources to conduct an A/B test, which was done on me and vice-versa, I did it on my wife. I replayed both sections 8 times for each test. 1st test was with a pair of Focal Bathys connected via USB (DAC mode) to my PC, the 2nd test was via my home stereo setup - Triangle Signature Delta speakers, Dynavoice T-12 sub, Yamaha A-S2100 amp and Cambridge Audio CXN V2 Streamer/DAC (all cables are Van den Hul). I am telling you, concretely - there is NO DIFFERENCE in the way the cables "sound". At first I just listened to it on my Focals while watching your vide and jumping with the cursor. And I literally couldn't tell any difference but I thought I was mistaken because you clearly said at the end there is a difference. So I had to conduct this test myself. NO difference whatsoever my man. I'm telling you. And no, we don't have "bad hearing". We're both 32 years old.
There was another video where they did a test by flipping the phase of the test cable and putting it over the original. When they did original over original, there was silence from cancellation. Then, with the cable being tested, there was a signal.. I thought ok a difference. Later, I realised the signal was just at a lot lower level and complete. Which is not what I would have expected. I suspect the outputs were not equal to fake the apparent result.
You will probably be told your gear doesn't have the resolving power or you don't know how to listen.
Nothing new here. The problem is due to galvanic connection between miniPC and DAC through Ground and +5V wires. Some of the 'noise' coming from miniPC is transferred to DAC and will have more or less perceivable effect on final sound. Different USB cables will have different resistances and capacitances and different effects. But there are different solutions, depending of specific of each case. An expensive cable is NOT always a solution.
@e.g.2000
You've highlighted a crucial aspect: the galvanic connection between a PC and a DAC can indeed introduce noise into the audio signal. Various USB cables can have varying impacts on this noise transfer. It's a complex issue, and there's no universal solution. You're absolutely correct that an expensive cable isn't always the answer. The key is to discover the optimal solution for your particular setup and requirements, achieving a balance between the components in your audio chain. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge and contributing to the discussion. Wishing you a wonderful day. Best regards, Yuri.
My DAC as well as many newer Dacs have galvanic isolation. And I think this is only a problem if your sou8is a PC and a cheap DAC. Maybe. I may get the ddhifi cable because it's pretty more than I think it will have any impact on sound.
I'm looking for a cable for my neo dsd ifi, USB port B to C cable, I can't find you'll have a link
I notice these USB cables do not come with audiophile cable ties; there is room for further improvement.
Also, try to use these cables for your printer. You'll see deeper blacks and more vibrant colours on the print-out I am sure.
Sarcasm aside, any discussion on how these cables could affect the sound quality (from a _theoretical_ perspective) needs to consider the distinction between synchronous vs asynchronous data connections, and DAC grounding topology, especially ground interference between the digital and analog circuitry inside the DAC. Just doing non-double blind comparisons is far too susceptible to confirmation bias.
Awesome video! thank you so much! i could hear a huge difference. it's like the generic cable lacked depth of sound field
Thank you for tuning in! I'm thrilled to hear that you found the video helpful and noticed a significant improvement in sound quality. In real life, the difference is profound, and I wasn't sure how much of it would still be noticeable via UA-cam.
A bad USB cable can make a difference. The cable carries 5v and PCM audio signal. The lack of quality on the computer side can add noise and jitter to the signal. Designers are well aware of this issue, so they add filters and asynchronous precision clocks on the DAC side. The cable needs to be as short as possible and of decent quality. There are excellent USB cables for under 20 dollars.
Absolutely, @tedmingolla2847! Your insights are spot on. A quality USB cable can indeed impact the audio signal. It's great that you highlighted the importance of minimizing noise and jitter. And you're right, there are fantastic USB cables available at reasonable prices. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emphasizing the key factors in USB cable quality!
If people can hear differences in this video it should be easy to measure the difference
I wonder how would these cables perform compared to Curious usb cables. Any idea?
The ddHiFi TC07BA is a great cable, I use it in my desktop setup. The Curious Evolved USB cable remains my reference and sits in my main system.
@@YuriBrus Thanks for the information. I think this is expected considering the difference in price
These are much more rhythmic and spatial, especially in the mid range
it might have some coloration on the material
most logical would be reduced potential noise & signal loss, which would be quite impactful
@iikatinggangsengii2471
You bring up a valid point. Some cables can indeed impart a certain "coloration" to the sound, which may or may not be to one's preference. Reducing potential noise and signal loss is a fundamental aim in using such cables, and it can have a significant impact on the overall audio quality. It's all about finding the balance that suits your personal preferences and system requirements.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights on this topic. Your contribution is much appreciated!
I have tried several usb cables between a desktop pc and a nearly 500 dollar geshelli dac. USB sound sucks, period. Perhaps your mini pc is less noisy. However, using a wiim pro streamer and either coax or optical output, the sound is amazing.
DD cable had much more meat in the sound even via UA-cam 👏🏻
@Level42Man
At first, I was somewhat disheartened by the less pronounced differences in sound quality when listening through UA-cam compared to real-life experience. However, it's truly exciting to note that even amid UA-cam's compression, the ddHiFi cable manages to make its positive impact on sound quality noticeable. Keep enjoying the music, and I genuinely appreciate your valuable feedback! 🎧👍🏻
Thanks for this video! Which USB cable you like best DD ddHiFi TC07BA or Curious USB cable? I got Curious USB US$350 for 0.8m🤔
Hey there! I appreciate your question. Personally, I have a preference for the Curious USB cable, and it's the one I use in my main system. However, I must say, for the price point, the ddHiFi TC07BA holds its own and offers great value. It's a fantastic alternative if you're looking for excellent performance without breaking the bank.
@@YuriBrus Thanks😁
@YuriBrus i bought myself a Supra Excalibur USB. I really don't know how that cable is holding up against the Curious cable. I know its a lot better than the standard Supra 2.0
@@jakobgooijer Wow! I'm going to have to look into Supra. I've heard that Tubulus Concentus USB is up there with Curious Cables. Some say Tubulus has somewhat same sound as Curious but better.
Haven't heard the Excalibur USB yet, but here's a very positive review: www.lite-magazin.de/2021/11/supra-cables-usb-excalibur-edle-datenleitung-fuer-digitale-musikfiles/
Excellent video, thanks 😊 👍
@pip4free80
Thank you so much, Pip4Free80! I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the video. Your positive feedback is greatly appreciated. If you ever have more questions or topics you'd like me to cover, feel free to let me know. Happy listening! 🎶😊👍
Given that the cable is transmitting digital information, it would be interesting if the actual numbers the cheaper cable was transmitting were in any way different. There are always going to be reasons why analogue cables sound different but I want more investigation into why digital cables sound different.
My experience is that whenever an A and B comparison is made, the B sample almost always sounds better than the A, so it would be instructive to see if after a few days, you reverse he procedure and do a B then A comparison as well. Psychoacoustics is a real thing and can often colour ones listening experience.
@chrisantoniou4366
You bring up an excellent point, Chris. Digital cables indeed transmit a stream of 1s and 0s, and in theory, there should be no difference in the data transmitted between cables. However, the debate surrounding audiophile USB cables centers on various factors that could affect the quality of the signal transmission.
Your suggestion of a reverse A and B comparison after a few days is quite interesting, and it's true that psychoacoustics can influence our perception of sound. I intend to implement your idea into my next experiments.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and have a great day, Yuri
@@YuriBrus Thanks for replying... 😊 I used to work for a HiFi retailer a while ago and we used to demonstrate psychoacoustics like this - We would have a good set up in our listening room and sit people on or near the "sweet spot" and then play a piece of music they were familiar with or brought in themselves. We would then turn off the lights and claim we were making some "adjustments" which would improve the sound and play the music again with the lights off. Without exception, the gasps and "oohs" and "ahs" were immediate and unanimous 😲- the sound was MUCH better, the soundstage deeper and wider, and subtle details that were obscured or even unnoticed before became clear!
We actually didn't do anything to the system itself, all we did was turn off the lights... The experiments led us to believe that what was happening was when you listen to music in the dark with your eyes open (this is important because it won't work just by closing your eyes) your listening skills improve as a survival instinct from our stone age days, our brains kick our hearing up a notch when our eyes can't see but our eyes are open. Even we, who knew exactly what was going on, found it difficult not to believe the system itself sounded better. It's certainly worth a try and so easy to do - listen to some music, then turn the lights off, keep your eyes open, and listen again... 👍
Zeroes and ones are transferred accurately or not. End of story.
@chrisantoniou4366
> There are always going to be reasons why analogue cables sound different but I want more investigation into why digital cables sound different.
Check my comment, I tried to explain this.
@@xlockdoggx I agree with you... However I couldn't "check your comment" before replying because you posted it three hours ago whereas my post was two weeks ago.
In many years, never hear a cable sounds better or worse even with stax headphones!
Dont buy the cheap or expensive ones.
Thanks for the topic and your video about it.
Everything in the source matters, as does how to deliver the power to the entire system. Love plugging a new thing into the system and after a few days swapping back to the old part. My biggest revelation was an audiophile switch. Maybe it just felt that way because it was the last real weak link. A good ddc is always great between a PC and dac;)
So I should add in my Topping D10s from USB to Coaxial...... 😅
@@jungtarcphSomething with a high precision clocks, and/or maybe a USB-B adapter cable for DC, for good clean 5v power, not the 5v pc noise power...
@kennethmajland
I agree, every component in the audio chain plays a crucial role in the overall sound quality. It's amazing how even seemingly small changes can make a noticeable difference in the listening experience. Your experience with an audiophile switch is a great example of how refining one element can have a significant impact. It's often those last weak links that can make the most substantial improvements.
Thanks for sharing your insights, and I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the video. Have a great day and best regards, Yuri.
i have been waiting for this
@rolandd5397
I'm thrilled to hear that you've been eagerly anticipating this video, Rolandd5397! Your enthusiasm means a lot, and I'm delighted to have delivered the content you were looking forward to. If you have any more questions or specific topics you'd like to see in the future, feel free to share. Thanks for your support! 🎧👍👂
@@YuriBrus Thank you as well. Because of this video now I believe cable really matters :D
4:50 5:45
I mean the sound will be the same as it is digital. HOWEVER. The quality of this cable and it's style like is like a piece of jewelry and part of the hobby and experience for me. At less than 100 this is beautiful option compared to what I have seen out there.
I can't help but notice that you are playing a 96/24 track as 96/16. IMHO not good if you are comparing USB cable quality, the playback has to be bit perfect in this context for this test be be meaningful. Unless of course you did it on purpose to affect the result. ;-)
Audiophile wifi air
nice ad
they sound the same to me
Thank you to the author for the video. However, it's unfortunate that you didn't dig a little deeper and reveal the second half of the information about why there is a difference in sound between ALL digital cables. Let's take the USB cable as an example.
Skeptics argue that the USB cable carries a digital signal, those same 0s and 1s, and it's supposedly IMPOSSIBLE to alter due to checksum verification.
If you open and read the USB protocol documentation, you'll find that the protocol has four types of data transmission. The details here are important, please read them yourself.
When audio signals are sent to a DAC, they aren't actually 'transmitting data', but streaming the signal in one direction, WITHOUT checksum verification. In USB protocol documentation, this is called 'Isochronous Transfer'.
In conclusion, during the streaming of audio/video signals, there are NO checks. Digital cables differ from analog cables only in the type of wave and all the problems of analog cables are relevant for digital ones as well, but only when streaming audio and video.
It's true that Isochronous Transfer disables error correction, but if a cable is not capable of transferring digital audio without introducing errors (random bit errors will cause very noticeable audio cracking sounds, not just very subtle changes), that same cable will produce errors when transferring other data. That is, this only happens when the cable is bad.
What is the use of making someone listen to whatever over on youtube?
There is no way anyone can hear the difference.
Since a USB cable is carrying ones and zeros while the USB protocole is correcting errors, any good conductor that respect the hardware specifications of the said USB protocol will be enough.
audiophilia is an illness whereas your wallet suffers unjustified leakage of money. (moneyphilia?)
No need to put a capital "T" on the word "truth.
In fact, you should stop to use that word altogether.
Stop misleading people.