WireWorld set to launch two new high-end USB Audio cables
New from WireWorld are two new USB Audio cables, designed to sit somewhat above the Award-winning Ultraviolet 5.
Due on sale in January, the new models are the Silver Starlight, which starts at £249 for a 1m length, and Platinum Starlight, at £499 for a metre. Both cables will be available in lengths of up to 10m.
WireWorld says that both cables use a new 'DNA Helix' conductor layout, using six signal conductors 'arranged in an innovative symmetrical geometry that provides precisely balanced 90-ohm impedance that far exceeds the official USB specification.
'The DNA Helix design maximises transmission speed while minimising noise, thus reducing digital jitter to provide substantial overall improvements in sound quality.
'Another special feature of the cables is a power conductor that is fully isolated from the signal conductors to preserve signal purity.'
The Platinum Starlight cable uses moulded carbon fibre connectors and solid silver conductors, while Silver Starlight has aluminium connectors and silver-plated OFC conductors.
WireWorld founder David Salz says that 'When I first began testing [them] a few years ago, I was surprised by how easy it was to hear the sonic differences between various USB cables.
'Of course, a direct connection between the computer and DAC sounded much cleaner and more lifelike than any of the cables, so I proceeded to develop cables that approached that level of sonic purity.
'I am confident that the uniquely lifelike sound quality of these new cables will be well received.'
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Comments
I started out with a cheapish £1.99 0.5m Belkin USB cable from ebay after hearing great things about it, I had no complaints...But always wondered what the Wireworld Starlight (red cable) at £90 0.5m would be like...I went ahead and pushed the button on one...I can't honestly detect any difference between the 2 of them, even when playing 24Bit/192Khz files...I decided to leave the Wireworld Starlight in place between the W4S Dac2 and my (2010) Mac Mini and put the Belkin cable on the Samsung S2 1TB Ext HDD feed to the Mac Mini.
IMHO - Bottom line is I will not be bothering to upgrade to the Platinum version...If money is tight go with the Belkin ebay cheapy and don't lose to much sleep over it...Try to keep the cable length as short as possibe...That I believe is the secret.
It might be worth trying the cables between the devices intended (PC - DAC) before shooting the principle down. Streaming lossless or 24BIT/192K audio in realtime ALWAYS involves some level of error correction at the recieving end with standard cables (otherwise why have error correction in the first place!)
The SATA argument is pointless as you're talking about a stage in the hardware architecture where data can be read (and re-read)millions of times before reaching it's destination.
Of course sticking one of these USBs on a printer or such-like would be an invitation for an AR*E kicking!!!
That is funny.
Next there will be £250 sata cables to complete the digital route.
They're 'aving a laf
The world is going completely mad