Hi All,

 

Was thinking of going down the Mac Mini (as a media player) route but then started to wonder whether I just could connect my iMac direct to my DAC via a long run? Realistically I would need at least  5 mtrs but more likely to be 7 mtr's, is this too long?

 

If not, can anyone recommend a good value for money cable pls?

 

Cheers

Matt

The USB regulations define 5m.

 

Some manufacturers (eg Wireworld ) say that they can do 7m without problems for USB2.

 

Therefore it will depend on your individual set-up.  5m is at the boundary grey area and therefore may or may not be successful.

 

(I use an old 5m printer USB cable from Mac to Audiophilleo Pure Power followed by another 0.75m from PP to Audiophilleo proper.  So that is 5.75m.  It works fine - no dropouts or glitches.  Try with a cheap generic USB cable first.)

I've measured again & it looks like it's closer to 7 mtrs. Happy to trial but not spending hundreds on a cable as I may as well buy a Mac mini & use as media hub. Is it worth spending 50-70 bucks on a cheaply USB cable?

I've had printers work up to 20 metres but I haven't tried audio over more than 5.

I have a 5 metre USB cable between my PC and DAC which works fine. Haven't tried anything longer.

Hi all,

 

I went into dick smiths & found a 5 mtr active extension cable & I then added a 3 mtr USB to it & it works but I'm noticing static interference in-between songs? This could be the demo version of Pure Music I'm trialling?

 

Still, sounds pretty damn good into my New PS Audio NuWave DAC.

 

Cheers

Matt

Hi All,

 

It seems I have an issue with the demo version of Pure Music as whenever a track changes, about half a second into the new song I hear awful static & then it's fine again?

 

Anyone else had this issue & solved it as I can't really use it otherwise & the music straight from iTunes over the long run USB cable isn't great.

 

Cheers

Matt

I've worked it out, whenever I select to upscale to 192 it introduces this static when a new song starts. Not sure if this is an issue with the demo s/ware or part of the longer run of USB cable?

Try another player and see if does it............like itunes or something.

It is to do with the longer run.

Assuming it doesn't happen at lower rates.

Hi Guys,

 

It doesn't do it when playing iTunes direct into the DAC (i.e.with Pure Music not engaged), even when upscaling by the DAC (PS Audio NuWave) so I'm thinking it's more to do with how the DAC handles up-sampled music from the Pure Music s/ware?

 

I'm just sending it native & upscaling at the DAC & it's working better than I expected from dick smith 5 mtr active extension + an additional 3 mtr USB cables!

 

Cheers

Matt

 

PS now for a Mac Mini & audiophillio & a 0.5 mtr USB cable!

Sounds like the cable is OK......................maybe.

l was running an "active" 10m usb ( Officeworks)  + 3m usb to my dac , but l was only doing premium spotify tunes at the time ....no worries with it though

Edited July 23, 201312 yr by kesa32

I had a similar problem (length of USB cable run) and ended up using a USB to coaxial converter. The longer coaxial cables do not have problems in transmitting the signal. From my iMac I run a short USB cable into a M2Tech Hi Face converter ($200) and then a coaxial cable from it to the dac. Works a treat and the sound quality is fine.

7m is a painful distance, 70m would be better , 2m out of the 'recommended' distance of USB. Charles Hansen of Ayre did some experiments in the early days when USB2.0 was released and found 2m generic cables were fine (for fs greater than 96/24), but anything longer started to create some havoc, dropouts, clicks and so on.

 

You can only try for the right cable that won't give you drops, USB extenders work, the ones with the sep power supplies, but only a few support true 480MB/s devices what you need for 192/24.

Why not move the computer, and run longer keyboard, mouse, monitor and power cables as necessary?  I guess it depends if you are a believer in digital cables affecting sound quality, but personally I avoid using excessively long digital cable wherever possible.

I think I've found the limit for my system as I replaced the 3mtr cable with a Supra 5mtr so I didn't have a USB cable running along the carpet to my DAC making the total length of the 10 mtrs & hello jitter.... Music just doesn't time or sound right.

Not a worry as I've just purchased a MM & will now move to a .75 mtr USB or shorter.

Any recommendations up to $150 ish?

Cheers

matt

The only cheapy usb cable I tried was the Elijah Isolaate which performed quite well against much more expensive competition.  MichaelP here on SNA makes them.  Depending on whether your dac needs usb power you may be able to eliminate that wire from the cable.

 

Cheers,

 

Anthony

Hi

 

In the July Hi-fi News there was a USB Group Test with the Chord Silver Plus being the 'best' and cheapest, Apollo Hifi have them for $99 plus post, Furutech ADL Formula 2 also did well, and are about $100 delivered on eBay  .....

 

JJ

Edited August 28, 201312 yr by Janjuc

Don't mention Apollo!

It's just arounf the corner and I try to stay away from there!

Thanks Guys,

Will investigate

Hi All,

I will contact Michael fron Elijah Audio as they've reviewed we'll & he's local so I'd like to support.

For best sound, I recommend short USB cable (as short as possible) & long SPDIF or analogue cables.

Your static/clicks/dropouts with your long cable at higher samplerates is evidence of less than quality USB signalling arriving at the DAC.

Hi jkeny,

 

Agreed & the reason why I've moved (or should I say moving as it's not rives as yet) to a Mac Mini with a very short USB cable.

 

The long length was only an experiment / stop gap until I sourced a 2009 MM.

 

Funnily enough, I played it again last night & it sounded ok?

 

Cheers

Matt