[stereoal]

I recently purchased a BDA-3 for my Bryston system to stream Spotify premium from a laptop. I also have my BCD playing through the DAC via a Bryston balanced cable. The sound from the CD player is slightly better than Spotify and I'm wondering if a new USB cable might even the score. Basically, the sound from Spotify is flatter and less detailed, likely because the files stream at only 320Kbps.  I'm now using a $15 Belkin Gold cable. My budget for a new  USB cable is about $200. Does anyone have any recommendations for a cable in my price range? I'm assuming a new laptop won't make a difference. I'm also trying to avoid switching to Tidal lossless because it costs twice as much.
Thanks for your help.

My system: BP-26, 7B2, BCD, BDA-3, B&W 803D, Bryston balanced cables, Chord speaker cable.

By the way, I compared Spotify premium to Apple Music. Spotify sounds better.

[Anonamemouse]

Stick with your $15 Belkin Gold cable. Spending $200 on some exotic cable won't make a difference.

[Armaegis]

A usb cable is not going to magically improve anything. If you're really intent on spending money on something like that, maybe consider a Schiit Wyrd or Uptone Regen or Audioquest Jitterbug or some other manner of usb fixer or perhaps a spdif bridge to convert the usb into coax/optical. The Bryston BUC is a bit outside your budget, but might be worth considering down the road if you're keeping everything within the family.

[srb]

Basically, the sound from Spotify is flatter and less detailed, likely because the files stream at only 320Kbps.

That's the major reason for the difference in sound quality.  I also doubt a USB cable will make much of a difference.  It's possible a USB re-clocker or jitter eliminator might make a noticeable but subtle difference in this application, but it's equally possible it may not.  I would only spend the money for one of those with a return policy.

By the way, I compared Spotify premium to Apple Music. Spotify sounds better.

I'm not surprised.  Here again, there's a smaller but incremental increase in bitrate - 320kbps vs. 256kbps.

I have known some Spotify users who switched from USB to Airport Express (optical to DAC) for physical convenience reasons and claimed a side benefit of better sound quality, but that was with a Mac laptop where Airplay is native.

On a Windows laptop you would need to additionally employ the third-party software Airfoil to be able to use Airplay with Spotify, and in that case there might not be any sonic benefit over USB.

Steve

[bacobits1]

Went through all this too. NO need to spend tons of $$
I use a 3m Supra USB cable with the  recommended 90 ohms from here. Many cables don't even mention the 90 ohms requirement.
This cable was used and recommended by Uptone Audio for the Regen.

https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/wire/cable/supra-high-speed-usb-2.0-a-minib/

Used on a Schiit Yiggy through an Itona, sounds nice and never had any connection problems.
It replaced a Transparent "Performance" USB cable that was much more $$.

[CanadianMaestro]

*yawn*  here we go again.....

Maybe read this.

http://archimago.blogspot.ca/2013/04/measurements-usb-cables-for-dacs.html

cheers

[bacobits1]

Yup love "Archi" he shakes things up!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

We did a usb cable shoot out at my house.  The cables used were the $120 Wire World Starlight Red,  a $600 WW Platinum, a $600 Light Speed cable and a Pangea.  We tried the cables in my system- Pass X250 amp, BAT VK51-se preamp, Luxman DA-06 DAC and Magnepan 1.6 speakers.  I also have an Regen and tried the cables with and without the Regen. Bug Head was the music player.

There were marked differences in the sound.

The WW Platinum sounded the best, very detailed, neutral to a slight hint of warmth, full bodied.  The Light Speed sounded a bit more detailed but it was painfully bright and irritating much to our surprise because it did not sound that way in my friends system who owns both the Platinum and Light Speed.  He uses the Light Speed.  Even my friend was shocked at how the LS sounded in my system.

The WW Red was warmer but rolled off.  The Pangea was the worst of the lot.  It was thin sounding, bright and not very musical.

The kicker here is that when we used the Regen, it was the great equalizer.  It made all the cables sound fairly similar except for the Pangea which still sounded thin but less bright.

If I had the money I would get the WW Platinum for my system but the WW Starlight Red sounds great with the Regen.

My advice, get a WW starlight red and a Regen.   Or contact- The Cable Company as they let you take several cables on loan to try out and see what fits your system and tastes best.

https://www.thecableco.com/Catalog/USB-Cable

[audioguy213]

Triode Pete just release a USB cable,

I use his cables throughout my system and every single one is a bargain for what it brings value and sonics wise IMO,
I do not use USB, but I would certainly try his cables if you do!

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=143777.msg1536350#msg1536350

[charmerci]

Surprisingly, my new laptop improved the sound! (Same external HD through JRiver/Jitterbug on both machines.)

[zoom25]

BUC-1 could be a good solution to getting better sound from the computer. I also use Spotify and have a BDP-1.

The best case scenario is to have Bryston develop support for Spotify like they did with Tidal. Then stream Spotify from BDP-1/2 to the DAC via AES.

Has there been any updates from Bryston about Spotify?

[zoom25]

Also, the recent Retina Macbook Pro's with SSD and optimizations can produce great sound from the USB. Definitely better than older PC and Macs.