Time to review my FTA AES/EBU after running it for almost 150 hours. This AES/EBU version has exactly the same character of its USB cable sibling. I use this between Forsell Air Reference CDT and Lampizator Pacific. It gives the same result like USB..very expansive sound stage, deeper bass, pin point monster but also very musical. I replaced my JPS Aluminata AES/EBU with FTA and never look back. I am going to sell my JPS Aluminata both spdif and AES/EBU cables now.
USB cable suggestions
- Thread starter Drikus
- Start date
Same here.
Very liquid, lively and palpable I would add to Johns description of the Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable.
Not only for the Price it is an absolute bomb
Nice to know - I find puzzling that a cable manufacturer can get the same character to an USB (asynchronous) and a AES/EBU (synchronous) cable. But it seems they manage to do it.
Can I ask what is the server you are using in your system with the USB cable?
Currently, I am using Auralic Aries which soon will be replaced with a much better music server.
I just installed a Triode Wire Labs "Split Power & Data" USB cable. With about 6 hours use I think it's a great sounding cable. The maker states the cabe needs 100 hours to settle in. Compared to the AudioQuest Black Diamond cable I have, the TWL has a fuller sound.
I just wanted to briefly let you all know about my experience with the FTA Callisto USB cable. I have compared numerous USB cables in my system and started the USB Cable comparison thread on CA that now has a life of its own.
I compared this cable to the Light Harmonic Lightspeed 10G and the entry-level Gekko USB cables in my system. The Gekko had replaced the Lightspeed in my system because of a more resolved and quiet midrange. Nonetheless, the LF and HF of the Lightspeed were better than the Gekko and I started to look for something that would have the best of both worlds. I had the opportunity to get to know this cable and can now say that I found what I was looking for. It did take a while though.
The first cable I received was clearly inferior to both my cables and after a burn-in process I concluded that there either had to be a defect or it was simply plain bad. I reached out and they were extremely forthcoming in sending me a new one, trusting that I would compare both and send either one or both back, the latter in case it was not a defect.
After receiving the second one I inserted it without any burn-in into the system and compared right away with the Lightspeed, since that was the one which would need to be surpassed on all levels to make it worth my while. Right from the start it was on par with the LS, which was very surprising, since all USB cables have benefited from burn-in here at home, which bode well for a future comparison. 150 + hours later I sat down to do the real comparison and here are my findings:
Hope this helps someone. I do know it won't help me sell my Lightspeed, but I'll find another use for it.
I compared this cable to the Light Harmonic Lightspeed 10G and the entry-level Gekko USB cables in my system. The Gekko had replaced the Lightspeed in my system because of a more resolved and quiet midrange. Nonetheless, the LF and HF of the Lightspeed were better than the Gekko and I started to look for something that would have the best of both worlds. I had the opportunity to get to know this cable and can now say that I found what I was looking for. It did take a while though.
The first cable I received was clearly inferior to both my cables and after a burn-in process I concluded that there either had to be a defect or it was simply plain bad. I reached out and they were extremely forthcoming in sending me a new one, trusting that I would compare both and send either one or both back, the latter in case it was not a defect.
After receiving the second one I inserted it without any burn-in into the system and compared right away with the Lightspeed, since that was the one which would need to be surpassed on all levels to make it worth my while. Right from the start it was on par with the LS, which was very surprising, since all USB cables have benefited from burn-in here at home, which bode well for a future comparison. 150 + hours later I sat down to do the real comparison and here are my findings:
- much better LF than the LS. not only deeper, but more accurate and, at the same time, more natural. transient attack was on the same level, but now had a more real texture and body
- mids were far more resolved, more calm, settled and poised. I gained considerable depth, a little bit more even than with the Gekko, which had been its major selling point for me. texture was more refined and even tone was better.
- the whole sound picture was now more integrated and cohesive
- HF on the LS, which had always been unsurpassed, now sounded slightly smeared, more specifically in the HF bloom and decay of harmonics, which now were more natural and well-reproduced.
Hope this helps someone. I do know it won't help me sell my Lightspeed, but I'll find another use for it.
Reverendo, could I like the FTA Callisto more than my AQ Diamond? I know you've tested the Diamond on several occasions and it was against some serious competition...
The FTA is two categories above the Diamond, which I had for quite a while, but was clearly surpassed by the light speed 10G. The FTA clearly surpassed the 10G in my system, hence I feel very secure to say that it will easily best your diamond, unless that superiority reveals other shortcomings that are intrinsic to your system.
What's your system, btw?
+ 1 on the WW Platinum cable. Fyi, In lieu of the above solution, you could use an Akiko Audio USB tuning stick @ €129 which reduces the high frequency electromagnetic noise in pc's and laptops & improves signal noise, creating a cleaner, more natural rendering of the music. You can also add two to increase the effect, though one is probably enough for a laptop.
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Don't dismiss Audio Sensibility because it's not a high end brand that's known to everyone. Folks, this is the real deal. If you read the description below of the Signature USB cable, there's some very good engineering going on. Since Steven has his own facility, the margins passed on to the customer are far less than what you would pay elsewhere. It made my system reach another level of detail and correct harmonics. For $699 Cdn, it's a bargain.
Brand: Audio Sensibility
Weight (kg)0.5
Cryogenically Treated by Audio Sensibility
Units of Measure single
The Signature USB 2.0 cable provides state-of performance for the very best music server systems.
This USB cable uses 99.99998% (7N) Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver signal conductors. Power is also supplied by 99.99998% (7N) Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver conductors. The signal and power cables are kept completely separate to ensure that source generated noise does not disturb the digital cable
The Signature USB Cable comes with standard A and B connectors.
Cable Geometry: The signal cable uses a twisted pair of 22AWG 99.99998% (7N) Teflon-insulated Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver conductors for each of the D+ and D-, 4 X 22AWG conductors in total. Noise is virtually eliminated with a 100% coverage braided copper shield. The power power cable uses an identical configuration for power and GND, 4 X 22AWG conductors in total..
Connectors: Gold-plated USB A and B connectors.
Covering: Both the signal and power cables are separately finished with Techflex expandable sleeving.
Other Details: The wire and connectors have been cryogenically treated. Mundorf Silver-Gold Supreme Solder is used for all solder connections.
Brand: Audio Sensibility
Weight (kg)0.5
Cryogenically Treated by Audio Sensibility
Units of Measure single
The Signature USB 2.0 cable provides state-of performance for the very best music server systems.
This USB cable uses 99.99998% (7N) Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver signal conductors. Power is also supplied by 99.99998% (7N) Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver conductors. The signal and power cables are kept completely separate to ensure that source generated noise does not disturb the digital cable
The Signature USB Cable comes with standard A and B connectors.
Cable Geometry: The signal cable uses a twisted pair of 22AWG 99.99998% (7N) Teflon-insulated Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) silver conductors for each of the D+ and D-, 4 X 22AWG conductors in total. Noise is virtually eliminated with a 100% coverage braided copper shield. The power power cable uses an identical configuration for power and GND, 4 X 22AWG conductors in total..
Connectors: Gold-plated USB A and B connectors.
Covering: Both the signal and power cables are separately finished with Techflex expandable sleeving.
Other Details: The wire and connectors have been cryogenically treated. Mundorf Silver-Gold Supreme Solder is used for all solder connections.
I am waiting for a Shunyata Alpha USB to compare against my Wireworld Platinum starlight USB and expecting / hoping to be blown away.
The Wireworld Platinum sounded broken compared to the Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable when we compared them. I begged my friend to take out the WW Platinum and re-insert the FTA Callisto
I think it is obvious what USB is the winner.
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/fta-final-touch-audio-callisto-usb-cable.26632/
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/fta-final-touch-audio-callisto-usb-cable.26632/
Interesting review. In that review, he still rates the Curious USB as more 'exciting' or as he calls it 'rocking'. I use the curious and will be hard to convince it can be beat, unless I hear otherwise. I like it's transparency and speed. My DAC is super smooth and has no digital edge issues, which is possibly why some USB cables perform better in respective systems, they are 'fixing' certain traits the owner is trying to address?
IMO it is key to try before you buy in the case of USB cables, as one cable may sound just right with one DAC, and not with another.
IMO it is key to try before you buy in the case of USB cables, as one cable may sound just right with one DAC, and not with another.
Hi Julian
I own the Curious as well and believe me, the FTA Callisto is way better sounding than the Curious in every aspect
Can you describe the difference? Does it still have the Curious transparency and speed? How is the soundstage? I have tried many USB cables, and a lot tend to slow things down and create a 'mud' type of presentation, adding false weight and trying to hide any digital hash. Some are very transparent like the AQ Titanium but sound cold and unrealistic.Hi Julian
I own the Curious as well and believe me, the FTA Callisto is way better sounding than the Curious in every aspect
Any feedback would be great v curious Christoph.
Compared to the FTA, the Curious is veiled, slow and boring and definitely not as transparent and airy as the FTA. The Cuious is a decent cable but the FTA is outstandingly excellent. The FTA combines aspects that normally don't go together like extremely transparent yet juicy and organic or very clean bass but heavy and articulate at the same time.
I'm very sure you would like the FTA more than your Curious by a big margin
Just order one.
You can thank me later (in Munich)
PS: Order the one without power lead. If the DAC doesn't need the power lead, it will sound eben better. Your Kassandra doesn't need the power for the handshake
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