Specific question for BADA USB converter users.

asindc · Mar 16, 2013

What lengths of USB and SDPIF cables do you use? I'm trying to decide between the BADA and the Audiophilleo w/PurePower converters. One of the issues is how much will i have to spend in cables to get optimum sound. BADA advises 1.5 meters for both cables, which contradicts conventional wisdom with regard to having the USB cable as short as possible. If I ignore BADA's advice, I could buy a 0.3m USB cable with a 0.5 meter AES/EBU cable, which would be more comparable in price to the two 0.3m USB cables I could use on the Audiophilleo.

I'd rather have higher quality shorter cables than longer less effective cables. I would also prefer the shorter cables because they would be easier to install in my planned setup. For those who use shorter lengths on the BADA than what they advise, have you tried the 1.5m lengths before deciding on the shorter cables? I'd like to get the impressions of those who have used/are using the BADA USB converter and have used shorter lengths than advised. This is not a general question about cable lengths, about which there are already several threads on various websites.*

*I have cross-posted this at computeraudiophile.com.

dallasjustice · Mar 20, 2013

The length of the USB cable is not important. The length of the AES cable can be important. The longer the better. They recommend 1.5m. But there's nothing wrong with going even longer. I use a 2 meter AES cable; MIT Oracle MA-X AES. The whole idea is that the shorter spdif cables will have reflections that are more offensive; signal correlated jitter. Whereas, the longer spdif cables effectively delay the reflected signal, which makes the reflected signal more random. In the case of the Berekeley, it really won't matter that much though. The BADA USB is a very well engineered product. The AES output is designed to absorb much of the reflected signal as possible; high "return loss." Some of this will also depend on your DAC. If your DAC has a well designed AES receiver/pulse trafo, it will also greatly reduce the reflected signal; it helps if it's actually 110 ohms.

amirm · Mar 21, 2013

Well said. I tested a couple of cables with the Berkeley and could not see any difference in my jitter measurements. BTW, the Berkeley is cleaner than Audiophilleo. Here is a sample comparison:

Berkeley is in blue, audiophilleo in yellow. As you see the Berkeley has lower amount of noise (the shoulder around the main signal spike) and does not put out those two jitter spikes. I tested them with a number of other DACs/AVRs/Processors and the signature was different with each outboard device but in all cases, the Berkeley was the cleanest.

junker · Mar 28, 2013

Thank you for posting that plot.

Just curious when you say that you tried different cables where they different types, and/or different lengths?

Did you notice any additional jitter with <1.5m cables? The reason I ask is the BADA USB chassis would sit right on the USB chassis and would not need more than 0.3m.

amirm said:
Well said. I tested a couple of cables with the Berkeley and could not see any difference in my jitter measurements. BTW, the Berkeley is cleaner than Audiophilleo. Here is a sample comparison:

Berkeley is in blue, audiophilleo in yellow. As you see the Berkeley has lower amount of noise (the shoulder around the main signal spike) and does not put out those two jitter spikes. I tested them with a number of other DACs/AVRs/Processors and the signature was different with each outboard device but in all cases, the Berkeley was the cleanest.

amirm · Mar 29, 2013

They were different brands and lengths.

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Specific question for BADA USB converter users.

asindc

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junker

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