I've just started in this computer audio business and bought a cheapish usb DAC (Teac UDH01) and connected it to my laptop (employing JRiver Media Center) with the usb cable that came with it, which was thicker then your normal PC usb cable.
On first listening (on headphones), the sound was very disapointing - congested and smudged. I thought it might be that the DAC needed burning in but tried a £55 Furutech Formula 2 usb cable. The difference was obvious - wider soundstage, more detail. I added a second Furutech cable between the Hard Drive and laptop and that made an improvement in detail, but nothing of the magnitude of the laptop to DAC change.
So, in my (limited) experience, I would recommend it.