I am anxious to order the new IFI Gemini Dual Head USB cable which is said to further better the performance of the IUSB. This will be out later this year. The cable looks to be a very interesting design.
https://www.facebook.com/iFiAudio/posts/215026178631142#!/notes/ifi-audio/ifi-gemini-dual-headed-usb-cable/483148201720927
End Feb., unfortunately, as I am champing at the bit for one. See my post from CA here:
Check out the soon to be released iFi Audio Gemini cable. I can be used as a straight USB cable or with the twin heads with the iUSB power. It apparently exceeds USB standards in some areas.
Excerpts:
Many USB DAC's or other USB Audio devices draw power from the USB bus for some functions (regardless of price).
This is the raison d'être for our iUSB Power supply. The USB cable complements and extends this and maximises system performance.
If you are 100% sure that your DAC does not use USB Bus power at all than you are lucky enough not to need any of this and you can use a normal cable.
Or you can use our Gemini Cable and just not connect the power section at all, or connect it and enjoy even lower ground resistance.
==========================
The Gemini Dual-Headed USB cable will ship in short/long lengths. The pricing will be in-line with the rest of the iFi range. Our beta testers have pitched the Gemini Dual-Headed cable against cables all the way up to 10x the price. Let's just say the Big Guns went home crying 'mummy'. Another iFi product with 'off the chart' performance!
=================================
iFi Audio's Notes
iFi Gemini Dual Headed USB Cable
Sunday
Features
Dual-headed (Gemini) connection USB design
Asymmetric Ground return and power line design (3 times more ground area)*
Adjustable RF Filter to tune cable to environment*
Multiple RF filters*
Heavy OFHC continues cast copper (up to 5A)
Double shields with different effective range
Custom PE insulation
*: iFi exclusive, world first.
=====================
Q: People like Steve Nugent say that 1.5m is the ideal length. O.5m is too short, so I pick 1 and 1.5m!
Monday at 9:11pm · Like
A: (iFi Audio) ‘Ideal’ length/s is NOT relevant for USB signal transfer... this comes from SPDIF and is only valid in cases where impedance mismatches occur. For High-Speed USB it simply either works or it does not. The Gemini USB-Cable strictly adheres to 90 ohm throughout which is one key USB.org specification (among many other things). Therefore, you only have to select the relevant length/s to suit your needs!
===========
The reason why some "handmade" USB Cables do not work with the iUSB is simple, they are not of sufficiently accurate impedance.
With a single short cable this is less damaging and the makers of such contraptions often can almost get away with murder.
However, as with the iUSB Power you in effect couple two cables together. In this case, if one cable has correct USB Impedance (e.g. the short blue tail included with the device) and the other has a different impedance additional reflections (on top of those at both ends of the cable) will be generated.
And even a robust system data transmission system like USB will eventually experience packet loss...
Sadly, the more expensive and exotic a cable is the less likely it is to be mass produced on machinery made for precisely mass producing USB spec cables.
It's not that we do not know how to make better USB cables, the problem is modifying standard cables for improved performance in ways that are compatible with industrial production methods and then finding someone to make such cables in moderate quantities.
=====================
Hi, sonic differences are indistinguishable between the shortest and longest. They all adhere to the strict USB data transfer standards (why we can offer longer lengths). Please see the 'iFi Gemini Notes' for an in-depth outline of how+why the Gemini USB cable differs.
=============
