YFS USB cable tour

[vrao]

Two words
"Dielectric relaxation"
 

[Stanray]

Interesting, can't wait to listen again with the NOS1 transformed into "a".

For completeness, I don't use the Silverstone card anymore and now use an USB 2 mobo connection.

Stanley

[christoffe]

Hi,

lowered the (driver) USB Buffer size from 4ms (since a week) to 8ms (back to the previous setting on the laptop)  and there are improvements (using Blaxius) with

A) $1 USB cable - a better 3D image
B) YFS cable - more "sounds" 

Joachim

Edit: Everything sounds normal again with the YFS

[CoenP]

Thans Joachim,

Great suggestion!

Regards, Coen

[vrao]

Guys,
My experience is that, a lot of things can go wrong when changing cables ... i.e. USB. The same cable can sound all over the place, related to DC, grounding, dielectric relaxation, or other unknowns, some of which might not be related to the cable itself.
When I had 2 models of the YFS, I kept going back and forth between 3-4 cables, and in the end things just did not right, with any cable.
VJ

[boleary]

Just wondering when the YFS touring cable might be back in the US? Am looking forward to hearing it in my system. Currently I'm using a 6 foot, V4 version of the YFS data only cable with very good results. Am looking forward to seeing if there is a difference with the reference version. Since having my DAC upgraded to the "a" there is a huge difference between my YFS cable and my $1 usb cable. The YFS cable just sounds completely natural with no loss whatsoever in detail in all frequency ranges. Another way of saying this is that the sound feels like there is no added electrical hash causing distortion at high volume levels. The result is that it is easier to play way too loud. I guess if your first impression with the YFS cable is that there is something "missing" with the sound, then turn the volume up. What's "missing" returns, but not as distortion.

When I swap in the $1 usb cable, which mostly has been my go-to cable the last few years, the first impression is that it sounds better because the sound seems more fresh or alive (Switching to W8 is very similar). However, within 5 minutes that fresh sound, which feels like a shift in emphasis to a higher frequency range, soon leaves me with a "not right " feeling; I can no longer play "way too loud" because the distortion becomes totally clear and objectionable. So, for me, I think I prefer the slightly dry, woody, but "beautiful" sound of the data only cable to the perky, but noisy sound of the $1 cable.

[PeterSt]

Hi Brian,

I think I completely understand what you are saying.
But what you're also (explicitly) saying is that something which is not in there in the first place, can "luckily not distort". This latter is my own interpretation of course, but it would 100% resemble what I heard from the Reference. Just nothing in there to begin with.

Now of course you can try to tell me that I didn't play loud enough, but ... you have an SPL meter, right ?

Anyway, apples and organges because we're not talking about the same cable. Ehm, for the YFS part of the comparison, that is.
haha

Thanks for sharing, as usual !
Peter

[boleary]

Now of course you can try to tell me that I didn't play loud enough, but ...

I seriously doubt anyone could ever fault you for "not playing loud enough."   

[PeterSt]

You got my point.

And mind you, I was not saying that you are wrong or right. I do tempt to say though that the more "freshness" should be the opposite of being filtered (however that works) and that over here this freshness does not exhibit in distortion.

Of course you forgot that your system is crucially different in one area : the 75R thing. And the difference over here between what you now have to that regard and how it became in final stage over here, I'd call huge. And now exactly in that "distortion" area.
But you will see ! (I hope)

Peter

[manisandher]

I've had the YFS cable here for a while but only got around to trying it this evening. And BTW, I purposely didn't read any comments on this thread beforehand (though I've just skimmed through them now having put the YFS into the system).

I chose track 1 from 'Best Of Vaya Con Dios' because it can sound a bit sharp. I started with my current Tellurium Black Diamond USB because I'm used to its very warm and full sound. The honest truth is that I listened to exactly 10 seconds before stopping the music and taking the cable out. It sounded detailed, but way too forward and 'shouty'. Also, I'm sure there was a haze of distortion around everything. Edgy. Metallic. Listening to Vaya Con Dios's voice, she just didn't sound like a human being.

I don't particularly like the Tellurium cable - it's just too smooth and dark sounding for my liking. But hell, at least it's listenable. The YFS is definitely not for me. I'm sure I could have played around with settings to tame it a little, but quite frankly I just didn't have the inclination.

In any event, I'm going to hang on to the YFS until the Clairixa cable arrives. I'll post a follow-up then... hopefully it'll last longer than 10 seconds.

Mani.

[PeterSt]

I was just asked what I was laughing about in such outbursts. I actually still can't type because of it.
... still ...

[christoffe]

I was just asked what I was laughing about in such outbursts. I actually still can't type because of it.
... still ...

Hi,

Dani Kleins  voice on “The Best Of Vaya Con Dios“  is really a “challenge” for the ears and the system, especially the first track. I’m  listening to this CD on the PC via WIMP and the highs in her voice have a tendency for possible distortions on some tracks in my opinion, but the voice is quite ok to listen to after a longer time.

Voices are always a heavy burden (challenge) for the power amplifier to get all the nuances to the speakers/drivers.

Since I’m most of the time listening to the music in adjacent rooms (toilet) the YFS cable is at present the preferred USB cable and the SQ of the voices is the best I ever had. Very natural whoever I play (Frank Sinatra, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis jun.,  Flora Purim etc. and violins) Two words: Great sound.

Peter wrote in two threads that he heard some new details he didn’t hear before (or remember) in songs using a new cable (Blaxius) a couple of weeks ago (Mannheim Steamroller). My first idea was, strange, very strange, because on my system I had no problems .............. . To be honest, some tweaks at the Orelo MKII amps might not be a bad idea.

I’m curious to listen to the Clairixa in the near future.

Joachim

[boleary]

Since I’m most of the time listening to the music in adjacent rooms (toilet) the YFS cable is at present the preferred USB cable and the SQ of the voices is the best I ever had. Very natural whoever I play (Frank Sinatra, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis jun.,  Flora Purim etc. and violins) Two words: Great sound.

I have to agree, though I'm using he V4 version of the YFS cable. It's incomprensible to me that anyone could find the YFS cable forward or "shouty," metallic or edgy; that is down right bizzare given my experience with the YFS ( see Feb 2, 2015 post above.) Give Claire Martin a listen, incredible vocal nuances. However, I certainly can't doubt Manis's and Peter's respective experiences with the cable as anything but bad. (Well I do feel that even a cable that's broken in needs to settle into a new system, so maybe 10 seconds is a bit too quick?) Is it the amp's? Don't know, but I believe that my BD Design amp is pretty much the same as the ones in the Orelo MKII's.

I'm looking forward to hearing the Clairixa too.

[vrao]

Mani,
The more I listen to different USB cables, the more I feel there are way too many variables to keep track of. I have a pretty good idea where YFS cables may shine, Or fail miserably. A lot will have to do with distortion, it's exaggeration or dimunision. Cables act like conduits or to a certain degree tonal manipulators I.e. Increasing or decreasing distortion.

YFS cable did not work  for me as well, may be it had to do with the above, or a whole host of unavoidable variables in  hifi .. ......
But, I had it for at least 10 hours before I found out the issues,   Lol.... I must have a slower slew rate! Honestly I felt it might have to do with grounding! Who knows?!

Anyways what got me excited was the gain in SNR .... Might seem strange when there is so much distortion, but just generally, proper cable matching will result in at least 6dB gain in SNR. That is just with USB

Regards,
VJ

[PeterSt]

I would have to notice that part of my outburst of laughing was related to the opposite idea Mani put forward. I received a sort of opposite of shouting. And then the 10 seconds thing. So that latter quiter similar, but for very different reasons.

Audio ...