First and foremost, I would like to address on that Psycho-audio babble talk you had brought up in one of your original posts previously.
Psychobabble which is closest to the above meaning was originally defined by a writer called R.D. Rosen. It is used to describe
speeches or writings that uses psychological jargon or buzzwords in order to create an impression of truth or plausibility.
When I initially came across this term under your post, I thought the way you had put across your own words while at the same time asserting your own disbelief of the various differences/importance of investing in USB digital cables was alittle presumptuous and judgemental, especially since you have also admitted yourself via one of your earlier posts mentioning that you have never ventured and experimented with higher-end stuffs in regards to USB cable products. (as compared to some of the local bros including me here)
So IMO you are actually opening up a huge can of worms and pointing fingers stating that some USB cable products out there that some of us here have heard has alot to do with psychological gibberish or pseudoscience, since they only seem to carry 1's and 0's digital signals according to yourself. Based on your earlier posts regarding that I was honestly caught alittle amused while reading it, but I have to emphasize you do have freedom of making yr own judgements here so of course that is simply your choice.
I would just like to pass on a small suggestion to you, to read up more abt how USB DACs and cable implementation work in general, via some online resources out there such as this
Head-fi thread. You may begrudingly hold certain disdain for the community peeps over there, but it doesn't deny the fact that HF sometimes does have some pretty good informative resources under their Cable Tweaks or Sound Science sub-forum sections which I have personally saved under my bookmarks subscriptions under my HF acct for my own references.
The internal constructions of a typical boutique maker USB cable is not so simple. Go take a look on post #3 based on what Head-fier oddity had posted on that thread. A blown-up anatomy internals of a cable reveals there are insulating materials surrounding the core conductors, and before the diaelectric layer there is usually another additional layer of shielding/dampening tubing materials made up of varying exotic materials depending on each respective boutique cable maker. Depending on the design basis of the cable, some USB cable's transmission speed/jitter timings may also reach faster or slower to the USB DAC, thus causing an effect on it's overall tonality/sound signature.
Independent signal lines and GND lines for USB cables tends to also yield some SQ improvements from my personal findings. Take note this would depend on how resolving are the headphones/speakers you are using, and the DAC/amplifier u are pairing with as some DAC designs does not reveal that well the real potential of what yr upstream components are capable of, the same applies for the sort of output gears you will be pairing up with the DAC or amplifier as some headphone models/monitor speakers will not showcase excellent transparency and will always display their own form of inherent signature.
There is simply a reason why there are some companies out there such as
iFi Audio and
Acoustic Revive who produces and make such dual-headed USB products mean for niche audiophiles. (though personally, I would say the Gemini cables are quite a mismatch with the DAC I am currently using based on real life impressions, as via my own findings I tend to prefer the synergy pairing of the USB 1.0SPS by Acoustic Revive more personally with the HP-A8 from the demo sessions)
Solid core vs Stranded wired for cables typically also introduces and makes up for some SQ differences as well, although how significant this is I am unable to elaborate more deeply at this point because I only have a pair of USB cables atm under my possession that are constructed of Solid core conductors. Solid core does have its own advantages over Stranded. But the latter is commonly found and used for consumer-range aftermarket IEM cables and some mid-priced entry level USB digital interconnects as they tend to offer more flexibility for owners.
You may claim that the above findings from me may just be some form of psychological theories based on lack of objectivity or pseudoscientific talk. I prefer to call it inductive reasoning if I may, because at least I have tried with not one, but several of my own gear setups and was able to discern and reveal such findings. And none of my gears are sponsored at all so, neither am I considered MoT over at Head-fi so there are no reason for me to shill certain cable products over here to other members or individuals of the public.
Thank you for being patient with me reading my long post, please have a nice (late) evening.
