USB Audio connector. Connection diagram of the front panel of the computer (F_PANEL, F_AUDIO and F_USB). How to activate the front panel connection in bios

Few of novice users are resolved to implement the assembly process computer system Predit. Nevertheless, such a "acquisition option" is considered to be the most profitable. Since the user itself decides, which one should be the hardware configuration of its computing device. However, proper connection The front panel to the motherboard is a very important moment in the overall assembly process. Some intricateness of the mentioned operation requires the practice of knowledge and accurate actions. However, about everything in more detail from the following article.

Instead of administration: paws, forks and plug connectors

After you dropped the central processor, the main element of its cooling was sent and secured the main element of its cooling - the cooler inserted into special slots of RAM and equipped the "motherboard" hard disk (In general, I installed important PC components), the moment occurs when it is necessary to connect the front panel to the motherboard. However, for many novice users, the last operation becomes sometimes insoluble. After all, the systemic block has a bunch of incomprehensible wires. In some cases, their "quantity" amazes with their emissivity and mysteriousness of the destination. Since the manufacturer of the enclosures is not always adhered to generally accepted standards, changing the labeling of cables and their location. However, everything is easily allowed if the user carefully studied the technical documentation for the acquired device and will definitely follow the instructions in the installation.

Start and Indication Elements

So, before you make a direct process - connecting the front panel to the motherboard, you need to visual inspection of the main system part for accumulation of plug-type contacts. In other words, it is necessary to find out where the connecting platform is located through which the computer starts. After all, the majority of "motherboards", in addition to the main start / off site and reboot, has in its own, so to speak, a configuration arsenal and a number of additional connectors, which will also be specified within the framework of the submitted article.

  • After connecting the front panel to the ASUS motherboard (the brand is indicated as an example), find the plug-in site designated as "Front Panel".
  • Focus on color marking contact pads and their designation.
  • The two-pin Wire "Power SW" should enter the corresponding socket, as, however, the remaining control cables: "Reset SW", "HDD LED" and "Power LED". By the way, when connecting the last group of contacts, the polarity must be observed (on the board there are signs "+" and "-").
  • SPEAKER sound sensor is also connected according to the above-described principle.

An important digression

If for any reason you confused polarity or made an incorrect positioning of the mentioned controls, the computer may not start at all, or there will be no light indication of the working equipment.

Therefore, be extremely attentive, making the front panel to the motherboard. However, it is not necessary to be overly worried if something went wrong. You can always correct the connection error by rearning the wrong connected wires to the position corresponding to the working circuit.

Additional interface connectors

Modern system blocksIn addition to the "POWER" and "RESET" buttons made on the front of the housing, are often equipped with additional Audio and USB ports. In some cases, a card reader may be present (a device for reading / record memory cards) and even the IEEE 1394 connector, by which various peripheral devices can be connected. In any case, to improve the comfort of work on the PC, additional interface connectors must be activated. That is, first of all, they need to be physically connected to the system board and, if necessary, make some changes to the BIOS firmware parameters. However, we will not get ahead ...

Connecting the Front Panel USB

To the motherboard (when you get it directly in the store) always attached a technical passport, which indicates the location of a certain connector and its purpose. However, in the documentation, the user can always find a graphically displayed diagram of connecting the desired device.

  • Find the pin connector with the USB marking on the system board. Most likely, you will find them several. By the way, in multifunctional modifications of computers of such ports, up to ten pieces can be counted.
  • Connect the connector from the front panel to the ninth-poster socket.
  • Make sure that the locations of the plastic parts are tightly adjacent to each other.

In the case when the USB connector connected to the board has a non-holistic structure, for example, has a branched to four pin-win, use the following instructions.

Let me resolve the difficulty: USB-"pinout"

As a rule, each of four pins has its own designation in the form of an inscription:

  • "VCC" is the wire to which the +5 volt food comes.
  • "DATA -" or "D -" - data of the negative value.
  • "Data +" or abbreviated "D +" is the opposite of the previous item.
  • "GND" - Earth (mass).

When the user connects the front panel connectors to the motherboard, it must remember that with incorrectly involved "pinout" there is a risk of increasing any system component. As you understand, a hurry and rapid actions can cost you expensive. Therefore, connect each wire into a strictly defined place on the mother connector.

  • "VCC" is the first.
  • Then, "Data -".
  • Third PIN - "Data +".
  • The latter goes "GND".

By the way, after the "land", an unoccupied PIN of the first port remains the following connectors, the following connectors are connected according to the instructions described above. However, the "superfluous" pin after the mass will not be. As you can see, everything is simple!

Agree, it is convenient when the entrance for the microphone and the Audio-outlet for headphones is located on the front side of the PC housing. However, despite the simplicity of the immediate moment of connecting the additional audio jack to the motherboard of your PC, still often the user faces incomprehensible effect - the connectors do not work properly or do not function at all. To avoid such an unpleasant situation or deal with the true causes of "digital silence", you need to do the following:

  • Make sure that the front audio inbox corresponds to the "sound" standard of your system board and is connected to the corresponding "F-Audio" connector.

For example, if your motherboard supports "HD Audio", then, most likely, this mode is activated by default, and therefore the external Module "AC'97" will not work. If the refractable condition can be corrected by reconfiguring some of the program components, then in the case of consideration of the situation described above in the context of the opposites, it will be necessary to produce full replacement External audio modulus. The fact is that the HD Audio standard uses other codecs than "AC'97", and incompatible to use with the latest due to some technical differences.

How to activate the front panel connection to BIOS?

Enough to enter the BIOS firmware and find the appropriate section of the settings of the audio devices. As a rule, you can make the necessary changes by using the Advanced tab, and, by going to check-box, changes in the "Front Panel SELECT" parameters, set the desired work value. It is worth noting that a specific manufacturer of computing equipment equips its devices with the original version of the basic system. Therefore, some names of the BSEV control interface points can be designated differently.

Change settings in sound manager

Sometimes it happens like this: despite the properly implemented (physically) connecting the front panel to the maternal gigabyte boardThe audio device connected to the frontal connectors do not work.

Sound "snag" is allowed as follows:

  • Go to " Realtek Manager HD "and activate the" Disable front panel jack definition "option.
  • Perhaps in the main settings "Connector parameters" it is necessary to use the "item" corresponding to the audio standard of an external audio modulo.

Finally

So, if you, dear reader, there is a diagram of connecting the front panel to the motherboard (and it is not difficult to figure out, looking into the technical documentation of your device), positive result Guaranteed. Remember that the wrong connector involved can cause the "universal" breakage of your computer. On this - rational solutions and full achievements!

Since the start of use of computers, the problem of accurate data transmission on the audio system has occurred. Currently, the most popular interface for such a compound is USB, which means that a high-quality USB cable is also necessary.

At first glance, anyone will suit anyone to connect the PC and DAC uSB wireEquipped with the necessary connectors, but in fact it is not. Unlike other computer peripherals, the connection of which via USB is not sensitive to errors and loss of information (up to certain limits, of course), in the case of transmission of audio signals, they can lead to an audible reduction in sound quality.

USB cableUsed in audio systems should provide undischarged (ultimate) transmission of digital data, therefore, with its manufacture, we use conductors with low self-resistance and high-quality isolation. It is very important to keep the initial steepness of the digital signal fronts, since their "challenge" can lead to errors in the operation of the digital-analog converter.

Most models of DACs are completed with USB connectors, but, as in the case of any other audio engineering, in the future, Melomanana should buy a USB audio cable from a specialized manufacturing company. Such an upgrade leads to an increase in the perceived sound quality, so the investment in a good USB cable for DAC is more than justified.

As soon as rumors about, some major and minor manufacturers have launched their devices without this traditional port. This is motivated by the fact that without a 3.5-millimeter audio jack smartphones with tablets will be thinner, and the sound quality in the mains with USB Type-C is much better. But is it true? We tried to figure out our article.

In the mobile industry and in general in the field of electronics, the imaginary revolution is brewing. Large companies want to abandon the traditional port of 3.5 mm for connecting headphones and other audio accessories. Cirrus Logic, which supplies DAC and codecs, has already prepared its platform to go to USB audio. Headphone manufacturers themselves are not in a hurry to go to a new connector. In the fall, Apple is likely to introduce an iPhone 7 without a port 3.5 mm. Does it need an ordinary user?

How are things going now

Before talking about USB audio, it is worth telling about the device. sound subsystem In the current smartphones, at least in most of them. Typical mobile device On its motherboard has the so-called audio codec. This is a small chip in which there is a digital-analog converter (DAC), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and amplifier. All sound signals are processed in this codec.


Light green: Apple / Cirrus Logic audio codec on the iPhone 6S card

The audio codec is mainly installed separately from the processor and other components on the smartphone board. The DAC is responsible for outgoing audio signals (sounds in headphones and speakers), the ADC converts an analog signal from microphones into digital, transmitting it to the processor. The amplifier, how can I understand from the name, enhances the power of the audio signal so that it sounds normally in the speakers, headphones and other accessories. All this works in this way: the processor sends a digital signal into the codec; There it is converted to analog and enhanced, after which it is sent directly to the headphones through a 3.5mm port. Headphones remain only to lead the drivers to create sound.



Combination of DCA ES9018K2M and OPA1612 amplifier in Meizu MX4 Pro

Most manufacturers use cheap Qualcomm audio codecs, but some companies buy chips from Cirrus Logic and Wolfson. Latest are famous high quality Sounds that give them codecs. Moreover, every year chips are improved and become better, approaching the quality of individual players. Speaking of sound quality, it is worth remembering some smartphones that are positioned as the sources of studio sound. They often establish codecs with support for higher sampling frequency and a separate amplifier. The latter not only improves the sound quality, but also pumps headphones with a high impedance. Among such smartphones: Meizu MX4 Pro, Highscreen BOOST 3, HTC BOOOMSOUND ruler devices.


What is good port 3.5 mm:

  • The connector is small in size.
  • Universal connector - you can insert anything and even blindly.
  • Used in most modern electronics.
  • Compatibility with a professional port of 6.2 mm through universal adapters.
  • Almost all headphones are made under the 3.5 mm connector.

How will be with USB

In the case of using USB Type-C or Lightning as ports for transmitting an audio signal, the situation changes greatly. The processor sends a digital signal directly via USB to headphones, where the same audio codec is present with DAC, ADC and amplifier. Headphones or any other accessory must convert a digital signal to analog to play it. Thus, any headphones must have an audio codec, which is often located in the USB connector itself, or on the wire - in the element with the playback control buttons.



The audio codec system in the headphones that Cirrus Logic offers



What can be good USB / LIGHTNING for audio:

  • Better sound quality (in theory).
  • Opportunity thin setting Digital signal using applications.
  • In the future, it may also be replaced with HDMI, that is, the USB will become a universal standard for audio and video.
  • Smartphones and tablets can be thinner and cheaper.
  • Headphone manufacturers will start actively competing with each other.

That bad in USB audio

The first disadvantage that the user comes to the head is the inability to simultaneously listen to music and charge the device. Of course, in theory, the Chinese may come up with some "double" to listen to music and charging at the same time, but it will be inconvenient and it will hardly come to this at all.


Headphones will definitely become more expensive, as large companies will need to create a new design, buy audio codecs and collect it all at the factory. It is due to the complexity of the design of a Bluetooth headset, always such expensive. The same thing will happen with ordinary headphones. At the same time, smartphones are hardly cheaper.

Go to USB if it takes place, it will take place very slowly. Conservative manufacturers of Hi-Fi devices are unlikely to appreciate the idea and minor devices manufacturers too. Thus, most equipment will be incompatible with USB audio.



Such adapters are already sold

Those who do not want to change their headphones on the fresh with the USB or Lightning connector will still be forced to spend money on the adapter if they want to use an accessory with a new smartphone.

It is noteworthy that devices with iOS have long been transmitted audio through Lightning. The same, smartphones and tablets under android management 5.0 Lollipop and newer. But who uses it? If there are such people, then their units. However, companies still want to push this idea.


It is noteworthy that the USB audio transmission specification in the operating android system Expose sending an adaptive or asynchronous PCM format. This means that MP3 and FLAC files need to be recoded on the device side, and then send to headphones via USB. That is why the Chinese company LEECO, together with its own generally introduced its own CDLA audio format. It is possible that other manufacturers, including Apple, come up with their formats for music. But who needs them when are already full of music in FLAC, DSD and other high-resolution formats?

And how is Bluetooth?

If the era of discord in the field of portable audio is still comes, then helping. For a long time, these accessories were unacceptable for listening to music - they were except for calls and podcasts. However, over the past few years, LDAC and APTX technologies have appeared, which allow you to transmit an audio signal via Bluetooth without loss. Yes, wireless headphones and headsets are still not an equivalent wired, but they can be viewed as an alternative, because they are compatible with almost all devices.


However, they have one big drawback - they also need to be charged, because they have their own battery. Many people have several smartphones and another tablet, so the additional charging device can be a burden.

What is the result?

It can be said for sure that the next Apple revolution will not pass so smoothly as a failure from the CD / DVD drive in Mac or a decrease in the size of SIM cards. Most people have become accustomed to what the headphones say - it means that we mean the port of 3.5 mm. The transition will be painful, slow and unwanted. Is it necessary? The usual user is definitely not, and large companies - yes.

Those people who get tired of wires will certainly make a choice in favor of Bluetooth. This will definitely be a faithful solution.


In the electronics industry, it is certainly formed split, because some Hi-Fi hardware manufacturers will not want to go to USB, while the company like Apple will actively promote this idea.

Do I want to transition to USB? It is definitely not and can hardly buy a device without port 3.5 mm. What do you think about this? We discovered about this.

The connectors are displayed in this picture. motherboard To connect connectors.

Basically (there are exceptions) under connectors small font written the order of connecting connections and polarity. In my case it is indicated:

PWR_LED (three details) - indication of the enabled computer;

PW- (PWRSW) - PC power button;

Res + (Reset) - Button to restart the PC;

HD- (IDE_LED, HDD_LED) - LED access to the hard disk;

SPEAK- (SPEAKER) is the same signal (s), which publishes the computer when turned on, if an error is detected.

Connectors look like this (see screenshots)

Two wires are suitable for each connector:

Power LED (green, white);

H.d.d. LED (yellow, white);

Power SW (black, white);

RESET SW (orange, white);

SPEAKER (black, red).

In this case, it is a white minus "-" or Ground (Earth), and color "+". Connector Speaker (black, red) - black "+", and red "-". To determine the polarity of the connectors, it is enough to turn it up onto the back side - we see a small black triangle on one wiring against one wiring is "+".


Go to the next step, connecting the front additional USB - connections and cartriders in F_USB2 and F_USB1 connectors (no difference, but it is better to start in order). If already connector "Savior", i.e. All wiring are collected in one block - the process is greatly simplified.


We simply connect this "large" connector consisting of: eight wiring, one empty and one sealed connector (only ten) so that the empty detachor coincides with the sealed socket in the connector. (see screenshots)


And, that's if you have a bunch of wires as in the picture - a painting visual scheme :)


Here we see: Power (food - 2 pcs.), GND (Ground - "Earth" 2pcs.), D3 + (plus), D3- (minus) to one USB and D2 + port + (plus), D2- (minus) on Another port. As you already guessed, two power connector is identical and can be changed in places between themselves, as well as GND. The main thing is not to confuse Power and GND places.


So now it remains to deal with connecting F_Audio connectors for microphone and headphones.

Again, if you are lucky and from the front panel there is a large block with a 10-point jacks, just insert (here you definitely do not go wrong). I have a more interesting case ... :) A, it is the connectors: SPK R (output of the right channel to the front panel), SPK L (left-channel output to the front panel), MIC (microphone output to the front panel) and GND.

Today, many build their system in such a way that the computer plays the role of the source from which the USB cable is a digital stream to an external DAC, whether it is a separate device or the converter is built into the integrated amplifier. Many cable manufacturers reacted to this tendency by the release of USB cables of different class and cost. So it's time for us to figure out how really these wires are significant in the system and whether to get into the audio-book.

Criteria for evaluation

17 cables from the test different manufacturers. All of them are identical according to the standard - this is USB 2.0 type A-B A length from 1 to 3 m. We assume that this spread in length is not so critical, as in the case of inter-block, acoustic and network cables. For the test, one DAC was used with a USB-input and two specially prepared for playback. music files computer - one with operating system Windows and FOOBAR player with a practically basic bundle, the second - Mac Mini with Audirvana player. As test tracks, the same set of noncompressed files, both 16/44 and 24/96, was used. All Rips 16/44 with CDs were made to the same type, from the branded disks by the Exact Audio Copy program on the Plextor drive, and there was no error in the copying process. According to genres, I listened to jazz, and symphonic music, and electronics, and metal. The difference in the sound of the used digital transports is well known to me, so you can try to determine the effect of the cable. Three cables were used as a control group - "Unnamed" USB, cable externally more recently, from semi-professional sound card (Although also without specifying the manufacturer), and the Oyaide Continental 5S cable is 1.2 m long. In terms of the same process, everything is as usual - thoughtful, unhurried, blind testing and learning the results.

QED PERFORMANCE GRAPHITE USB 1.0 M (* Sympathy Prize)


Design

Bern, flexible, slightly spring cable. Externally neat, but made so to be committed invisible. Conductors are made of 5n oxygen-free copper. Triple shielding used in the design. And the word Graphite in the title is clearly present not just like that - apparently, inserted inside the cable in small graphite granules. The presence of damping backfill is heard if the cable is vigorously. Gold-plated connectors, pressed in plastic cases. Cable is manufactured in China. Available variants of length - 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

The sound with this cable is obtained deep and transparent, air. It is immediately noticeable and good detail, and the dynamics. Very good bass - neat, structured and fast. The middle and upper frequencies are smooth and open, without grip or sharpness. In general, any color, the skews of the tone balance is not felt. The sound is comfortable and tireless. The scene is wide, deep, with exactly defined images and well-separated correctly proportionate plans. There is also a fusion, in the sense that the sound does not understand part and detail, but without sharpness. Equally exactly reproduce different genres without any audible preferences. With an emotional feed, everything is also in perfect order, which implies a musical work, then felt.

Supra USB 1.0 m


Design

Fat but soft cable. The appearance is incomprehensible, it is assumed that this connector will not be in sight. The material of the conductors is not specified, but most likely it is copper. Dielectric - polyethylene. Signal and feeding conductors are taken separately. The sloping connectors pressed into durable plastic cases. Made cable in Sweden. Available variants of length - 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 m, which for USB cables is unusually - length is more than 5 m high.

Sound

Rather, smooth unpainted feeding with good dynamics and detail. The bass is neat, slightly softened. The middle of the pure, delicately non-market, it is also possible to characterize the upper frequencies. In general, the sound is quite even and stable, but a little dull - lacks thin nuances, details, overflows and the embassying, this is somehow leveled. The rest is very smooth, stable result on completely different records. The scene is not wide, but deep, the plans are well read in depth, the images are completely proportionate, but everything is stretched into depth, besides somehow it does not feel the air, as if the movement occurs in vacuo. The nature of the sound is generally correct, if you do not consider the nuances, monitor-smooth, but without detail, airiness. Emotionally everything seems to be clear, but it goes to sound.

NUFORCE IMPULSE 1.0 m


Design

Thin, flexible, slightly spring cable. About the design and materials The manufacturer does not provide any information, but indicates a causticism of the cable. Gold-plated connectors, pressed in plastic cases, convenient in that they have a matte, non-slip surface. As the country's country, Taiwan is specified. Available cable length options - 0.5, 1 and 1.8 m. The choice is quite modest, but these sizes can be quite enough.

Sound

The sound seems to be a little quieter, such a dramatic feeling occurs from the first minutes of listening. Everything is slightly compacted and simplified, hears easier and formal, rather than I would like. In this case, the supply of power, assertive. Bass Horses, large-scale and energetic, on his background the rest of the frequency range as if it becomes a little dull. The scene is very wide, but not at all deep and not air, the images are built as if they were projected onto the screen. The sound can attract his pressure, but not nuances. The detail is slightly reduced due to the explicit emphasis of the main tones and the rapid extinction of the embassying. Despite its simplistic, the supply of emotional, the main promise of the musical work is always heard clearly and unequivocally and it does not depend on the genre.

Wireworld Ultraviolet USB 3.0 m (* Sympathy Prize)


Design

Flat in shape, moderately rigid, spring cable. Hard not in principle, but rather due to its flat form. The form is due to the fact that the signal and supply lines in the cable are separated and separately imported. Conductor material - silver plated oxless copper, dielectric material is unknown. The connectors are gilded, filthyled in the housing of the hard plastic. Made cable in China. Available options are long - 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 m.

Sound

Neat and at the same time multifaceted, multicolored sound with extended embonslable. The bass is deep and accurate, the middle open, transparent. Top frequencies are overflow-detailed, but without sharpness. In general, the sound is quick, easy and detailed, but without coldness or lightness. Music, integrity and mucifice are clearly present. With all emotionality, there is no excess brightness, and the sound does not tire with long listening. The scene is slightly wider and deeper by the average, but it is impossible to consider excessively wide or deeply. Everything is proportionally true, accurately and neatly, the plans are readable, and images of three-dimensional and textures. In general, a very good result, except that on rare recordings from somewhere excessive brightness is manifested, the neutrality of the feed occurs.

ATLAS ELEMENT USB 1.0 m (* Prize of Sympathy)


Design

Central and moderately flexible cable. This model is the first USB cable released by ATLAS. Materials and design are unknown, but, remembering that it is known about the company approaches to the construction of HDMI cables, it can be assumed that inside the silver-plated copper and microporous teflon. Gold-plated connectors, pressed in very small solid plastic cases. The cable is manufactured, like all other ATLAS products, on their own production in Scotland. Available variants of length 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

Slightly cool, slightly removed and very clean, detailed sound. Partly arises a feeling of crystal in the air. In general, in detail, dynamics, elaboration of textures and nuances, the results are very good. The entire frequency range is passed quite exactly - bass, medium frequencies, tops, breaks or distortions are not felt. True, some records are obtained too rescued, but absolutely without rudeness or obsession. The middle width scene, deep and multifaceted, although not very air. Plans are perfectly separated in depth, and images are defined solely exactly, you can even say, sharply. In general, the handwriting is clearly interesting and analytical, emotionally restrained-strict.

Chord USB Silverplus 1.5 m (* Test Winner)


Design

The cable is quite thick, but flexible and soft. About the design It is known that the conductors are made of silver plated copper, polyethylene is used as dielectrics. Geometry is unknown, but there is an indication of dual shielding. Gold-plated connectors, pressed in plastic cases. In general, a completely neat and high-quality externally cable. Country of manufacture - Taiwan. Length variants - 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

The sound is gentle, neat and transparent. There are both details, and transparency, but tenderness does not at all mean warmth - coloring as such is not heard. The sound is rich in nuances, shades, faulty and multifaceted. The flow of smooth, bass, the middle is slightly emphasized in the nuances or, for example, in the articulation of vocal parties, the upper frequencies of multifaceted and delicate. In sound with very good detail and dynamics, emotions and nuances are dominated. The scene is obtained by an average width, deep, movable and overflow, with good localization and filled images, but simultaneously with a sufficient amount of air and the sensation of free space. On complex records, the handwriting changes slightly, except that sometimes the fibes in the sound turns out to be a little more than I would like.

Real Cable Univers 2.0 m


Design

Thin, flexible cable, quite convenient in use. Conductors are made of 4N oxless silver-plated copper. Dielectric unknown. Triple shielding applied in the design. Gold-plated connectors have metal housings, and, not quite usually, the manufacturer indicates the use of manual soldering. Reliable data about the country's production is not specified. Available length options - 1 and 2 m.

Sound

Pressure-open, very air, a little cool sound with a generally good detail and dynamics. A lot of air and a lot of bass, it is probably the main thing that heard from the first minutes. Emotional feed saturated, a bit bright. The bass is thick and larger than the usual, the same applies to the lower middle. The middle herself goes away a bit in the background, and the upper frequencies are quite bright. The character as a whole emotionally-clockwork, bright, sometimes may seem tedious. The scene of the average width, but deep, images are bright and clear, but they lack fullness, volume, texture, especially this is noticeable on vocals or soloing tools. The genre is almost all the same, but complex records sound more straightforwardly and not so paralleling, as I would like, on the rest of the records, a completely stable handwriting is noticeable with all its features and nuances.

AudioQuest Cinnamon USB 3.0 m


Design

Thin, but hard (apparently, at the expense of braid) cable. And I must say, the appearance is very spectacular. Everything is swallow and high quality. Conductors are made of silver plated copper, dielectric - polyethylene. Gold-plated connectors are enclosed in small plastic enclosures. Also, the manufacturer indicates that the cable is separated using soldering. Made in China. Available variants of length - 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

Mygings and rather dark, a little warm sound, slightly compacted. There is a small focus on low frequencies - on bass and lower middle. The bass itself is simultaneously softened, and thick, and not badly controlled - an interesting combination. The middle is slightly raised, large-scale, but not painted. Upper frequencies are inappropriate, neat, you can even say, gentle. The supply is expressive, not very fast. The detail is not bad, however, the embassying is masked by the main colors and are riveted slightly. The scene is very wide, deep, dense, not very air. The sound is obtained large, large-scale and accurately slightly slow. It is more noticeable on symphonic music and high-resolution formats. Emotional fullness is pronounced, but friendly and non-aggressive.

Furutech GT2 USB 1.8 m (* Test Winner)


Design

Very neatly manufactured cable, moderately thick and flexible, enclosed in a tissue braid. Conductors are made from Silver Plated Copper Alpha OCC. Dielectric - polyethylene. There is also triple shielding. Gold-plated connectors are pressed into plastic cases. A cable is manufactured in Japan, and I must say, this model appeared in the market of audible USB cables of one of the first and is not produced. Available variants of length - 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 3.6 and 5 m.

Sound

Feed Completely smooth, inadequate and transparent. There is a good qualitative and quantitative volumetric factory bass, bright, transparent and unpainted middle and detailed, fast, but non-hard high frequencies. Detality is high, the embassying is not lost and sound as much as you need, at the same time the balance between the main colors and the embassying and the correct one. The speaker is very good, regardless of the format of the file or the complexity of the musical product, no difficulty occurs. The sound can be in one case gentle and melodious, in another sharp and aggressive - it all depends on the music itself. The scene of the medium width and depth, exceptionally correct and proportional, with sufficient air and natural, physically textural images.

CARDAS CLEAR SERIAL BUS 1.5 m


Design

Cable medium thickness, flexible and soft. It is known little about materials or design, it is probably a traditional literature from supercounted copper, teflon and an unusual geometry characteristic of Cardas. Connectors are not gilded, and their plastic cases are tightened in heat shrinking tubes. Made cable, like all other Cardas products, in the USA. Available variants of length - 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, and 6 m.

Sound

Sound of migration, gentle, light and transparent. Feeding a slightly suspended, but not cold and quite live, natural. The bass is not very large quantitative, but the whistest, fast and folding. The average frequencies are clear, open, slightly removed. The top is a bit emphasized quantitatively, but in general the correct, transparent and multifaceted. With a good dynamics and detail, the sound is a little lack of the rootality, it is too air-movable, a bit unstable. Emotional coloring is not heard, and according to formal signs, different genres and formats sound similar, but it is impressed with some gravity to light, mobile, tool music. The scene is deep, but not very wide. Plans are separated well, but images or commensurate, or sometimes, which happens noticeably on the same vocal, are slightly emphasized and considered as if under the non-aged magnifying glass.

XLO UP4U USB 2.0 m (* Test Winner)


Design

The cable is quite thick, medium hardness, spring. Conductors are made of silver plated oxless copper, dielectric - Teflon. The design uses a complex branded geometry that meets the concepts of developers on how everything should be done. The connectors are gilded, in small plastic cases with metal (rather decorative) overlays. The country of manufacture is not specified. Available length options - from 1 to 5 m, but the intermediate step is not specified.

Sound

Detailed, transparent-neutral, calm and very smooth sound. The feed is exclusively delicate and accurate, with an excellent balance between the main colors and the embassy. In this case, there is no dependence on the complexity of the recording or a reproducible format. The bass is neat, whisk and accurate, without unnatural pressure or bloody. The middle is smooth, open and unpainted, the top is accurate and the same transparent. The entire range is reproduced exactly and accurately. The sound is discreet, but not cold and completely unselected, on the contrary, it is perceived as completely natural and neutral. Scene of medium width and depth, accurate, multifaceted, movable and air. Solo instrumental and vocal buses are prescribed almost perfectly both in terms of volume and by proportions and texture.

Nordost Blue Heaven USB 2.0 m (* Test Winner)


Design

A mediative, rigid and spring cable. A corporate micromonophilamentary design, conductors from silver plated oxless copper and fluoroplast as a dielectric is used. There is double shielding. Gold-plated connectors are pressed into plastic cases, which are additionally closed with heat shrink tubes. Made cable, like all other products of Nordost, in the USA. Available length options - 1, 2, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

The handwriting is slightly softened, cool, but very melodic and at the same time detailed. The sound is detailed, detailed and comfortable even for long-lasting listening of completely different genres. The tone balance is smooth, the entire frequency range is being worked out confidently. Is there a very small quantitative emphasis on low frequencies, but without any loss of quality and control. What is especially nice - absolutely no sharpness, the sound is natural and neat. And with such a handwriting there are no drops or degradation of detail depending on genres or formats. The scene as if the rounded is bulk, but it does not want to divide it on the width and depth. Plans are drawn accurately and clearly, and images are movable, naturally bodies and proportionate.

AUDIOQUEST COFFEE USB 1.5 m


Design

The same tough, like the younger model, cable, with the same small gilded connectors in small plastic enclosures. Difference in terms of conductors in a thicker layer of silver covering them. Dielectric is also polyethylene. But the main difference is that the cable applied to the AudioQuest DBS technology - the dielectric jam. To do this, the battery pack is fixed on the braid, outstanding the total 72 V DC. The manufacturer indicates that the cable is separated using soldering. Made in China. Available variants of length - 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 5 m.

Sound

Compared with the younger model, the sound is not such a bass, but still saturated and energetic. Just feeding more even and balanced. Although the nature can be traced - the bass is powerful, volumetric, but noticeably better structured, the middle is more smooth and detailed, the upper frequencies are non-hard, but there is no weakness or lethargy in the feed. Rather, there is a confident energetic, speed and emotional saturation. The scene is deep, medium width, images are very fundamental and precisely defined. The dynamics are good, but in general the sound is felt as unhurried, although even difficult records are formally without flaws.

PURIST AUDIO DESIGN USB CABLE 2.0 M


Design

Cable of medium flexibility and thickness, slightly spring. Nothing is known about the design or materials, except that it is indicated for the use of double shielding. Connectors, which are surprising, not gilded, and their plastic housings are tightened in heat shrink tubes. The cable has individual serial numberManufactured in the USA. Available length options - from 1 to 5 m, though it is not clear, with what step.

Sound

Dense, but simultaneously movable and transfusion sound, rather the slope is dark in nature. The bass is deep, power, completely folding and detailed, somewhat dominating over the other frequency range. The average frequencies, being completely legible, are somewhat disguised and departed into the background. The top is clean and even with some brightness, underlined. The sound is unprecedented, impacted and power, slightly compacted, but there is no sensation of heavyness or badness. Just as with dominant low frequencies and emphasis on top there is no sense of power supply or any kind of rudeness. Detail and dynamics are not the highest, but against the background of the general picture they look quite harmonious. The scene is wide, deep and large-scale. It may not be very air, but at the same time mobile, with a slightly increased solo-soluble images.

Van Den Hul The USB Ultimate 1.5 m


Design

The cable is flat and flexible if it takes into account its shape, easily bends and does not spring at all. The conductors are made of silver-plated oxless copper, and nothing more about the design and materials is known. The connectors are gilded, in small metal housings. Externally neat and high-quality cable, except for causing color. There is no accurate indication of the country of production. Available variants of length - 1, 1.5, 2, 2; 5, 3, 4 and 5 m.

Sound

Light, transparent sound, without excessive factories, but with good dynamics, detail and common balance between the main colors and the embassy. Bass structural and whisst, but quantitatively rather small. The middle is smooth, neutral. The upper frequencies are insensitive and practically devoid of sharpness, but fast and movable. The detail is good, but a little bit felt limited in the thinnest nuances. The dynamics are very good, but there is no feeling of a rush, as there are also pronounced accents on the main colors. In general, the feed is rather delicate than sharp, but not so air and solid, as if I wanted. The price of medium depth and width, moderately air, movable and deprived of excessive density. In terms of sounding different records, everything is very comfortable, but the abundance appears sharpness.

SILTECH CLASSIC ANNIVERSARY MODEL USB 1.0 m


Design

Fat, quite hard cable, besides with traditional metal supplements for Siltech. Nothing is known about the materials, but, given the peculiarity of the entire Classic Anniversary series, it can be assumed that the conductors are a silver alloy with gold, and dielectric is Teflon. A cable is made very high quality, traditionally has an individual serial number, and a passport in the box. But I was a little confused by the connectors - they are not gilded, but some unusual, plus it is placed in very massive metal housings. Made cable in Holland. Available variants of length - 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 m.

Sound

Volumetric, transparent, slightly bright sound with very good detail. Sometimes it even seems to be tightened and accentuted somewhat more than need. Feed a little softened, textured and in its own elegant, easy. Bass deep, multifaceted, but soft. The same is traced in the middle and upper frequencies. The character of the sound is softened, rounded-soft, delicate, but with due attention to nuances and details. The scene of the average width and depth, slightly dense and movable at the same time. An explicit pressure is not felt, but also to say that the dynamics are not sufficient, it is impossible. Just calm and neat sound.

PURIST AUDIO DESIGN USB ULTIMATE CABLE 1.5 m


Design

Cable of medium flexibility and thickness, slightly spring. In this regard, it does not differ from the younger model. About the design or materials and in this case nothing is known, except about the double screen. True, there is one point - the manufacturer mentions the use of additional passive filtering, and indeed, under the braid there are three small thickening, but what it is unclear. Connectors, like the younger model, not gilded, plastic cases are tightened in heat shrink tubes. The cable also has an individual serial number, manufactured in the USA. Available length options - from 1 to 5 m.

Sound

Deep and juicy sound with a pronounced bass component, the bass moderately soft, volumetric. The middle is slightly raised, and the upper frequencies are neuropric and neat. There is a little bit of delicate warmth. The dynamics are slightly smoothed, including due to a little tightened, accented after. Detality is very high, but on a general background, this fact is leveled by merging into the general and very fancy, albeit an interesting sound picture. The scene is wide and very deep, with bulk, slightly enlarged images. But in general, the sound is deprived of excessive density, all images and plans are well outlined and natural.

results

The following models were determined as the test winners: Chord USB Silverplus, Furutech GT2 USB, XLO UP4U USB, Nordost Blue Heaven USB. The criteria for choosing exactly these cables are the most stable and even behavior in various conditions and is clearly a good effect on the sound according to parameters such as detail, dynamics, smooth study of the frequency range and the correctness of the construction of the scene in all its nuances. Although it would probably be more correct to assume that this is not so much a positive effect on the sound as the absence of the influence of the negative. The models marked with the sympathy prize - QED Performance Graphite USB, Wireworld Ultraviolet USB, Atlas Element USB, showed or close to most indicators the result, or have some interesting characteristics of the character, which can also be used in practice. And of course, in the case of all cables, it was simply impossible not to pay attention to the price. When the cable is worth, for example, 2600 rubles in the test process at all stages turns out to be better than the cable worth ten thousand rubles, it is unexpectedly, and definitely deserves attention.

I have not had so unusual and interesting test for a long time. But there are several important points that distinguish it seems to me is a cable family from all other familiar and used audiophiles.

The test results in general have become a surprise for me. There were no such large and detailed comparisons of USB cables before, in my system, playing from a computer playing a third-friendly role, and this is the only case when I did not pick up the cable, and immediately put a decent one, in my opinion, the option, just on the principle "to" It was". However, it turned out that the influence on the sound in this case is very distinct. Of course, in any case, it is much less significant than the effect of acoustic and inter-block cables, but there is definitely effect. How can this be explained? Many options are most likely due to the interaction structures between the signal and supply lines, as well as the effects of interaction on the supply of transport and DAC. And maybe something else. I think that not all the developers of tested cables have a complete picture of the processes occurring. You still need to affect the theme of the work, "warming up". Of course, some processes occur, but clearly formalize them for hearing and hear such pronounced differences, like analog connectors and even networks, I did not work.

But, reading this test, it is worth remembering that in relation to the playback of files, factors such as the quality of the rips, the reproducible format used by the software and its settings, the implementation of the file transport, in the amount is much more important and significant than the cable connecting the transport and DAC.