Right then, AudioQuest Carbon USB. What's it doing?
So I replaced a perfectly good Inakustik Excellence USB cable with one costing about 3x as much. Both are silver-plated copper wires and have extensive shielding, in theory there shouldn't be all that much difference in audible performance.
But there is - and it isn't minor.
Leaving one of the Inakustik cables to run from Tinkerboard to Schiit Wyrd, I have put the AQ Carbon in from the Wyrd USB regenerator to the DAC. This ought to be the most critical place as a freshly-generated datastream needs to be as un-disturbed as possible before it gets into the DAC for conversion.
Inakustik don't say how much silver is used in their cable but the AQ Carbon series has a serious 5% silver layer over OFC copper. It has been found that there is a phenomenon called 'Skin-Effect' where most of the data transmission of High Frequency signals in a wire is done on the outer rim, so putting a layer of highly-conductive silver here means that you can approach the performance of a solid-silver wire at a fraction of the cost.
And then there is shielding - something we are becoming aware of that has a significant effect of the clear transmission of audio data. Both cables claim triple-layer shielding, but the Carbon incorporates AQ's NDS (Noise Dissipation System) technology that is used on the (considerably) more expensive Coffee and Diamond series.
This also makes the Carbon a rather stiff cable - rather like NVA SSP mk2. Not easy to bend around sharp corners. Although it does give the impression you are dealing with something serious here.
Soundwise: straightaway there was a feeling of increased solidity to the sound, weight, presence. And smoothness - I wanted to turn the volume up to hear more. It's not that the system is actually quieter but there is a seductive listenability without glare or 'edge' that just invites you to want ... more.
I was really happy with the Inakustik Excellence, still a great cable for the price, but now you hear that it is a bit bright and untamed. The Carbon also has this big, solid, widescreen bass that got a 'wow' out of me.
The clocks from DSOTM's 'Time' have never sounded so lifelike - as if you're right in your grandparent's sitting-room when the big old clock chimes the hour. Actually everything is more lifelike and deeper in projection. Soundstage is wider and softer, without losing any detail. At one point I thought I was listening with headphones as the sound was so 'between my ears'. Weird, that.
I remember having an AQ Cinnamon USB years ago and finding it a bit too polite and restrained (but that was in combination with a polite and restrained Musical Fidelity DAC). The Carbon is a BIG step up from that in performance. It is a sold, detailed and luscious SQ beast which is going to keep me very happy (for now).
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