I would bet you that if you were to try that USB cable you just might forget Ethernet and renderers
Steve, that would be one approach I could take, but then I would bypass what I think to be an important question of the whole digital front end design. which I want to figure out objectively.
so respectfully; upgrading those cables now is not the path I'm taking. not that I don't respect what cable performance can do. and I realize that my perception of differences will be influenced by cables. I just have to do the best I can with it.
the Select II I've purchased has XLR outputs, but they will also send me the RCA output module, so I will be able to compare them directly. once done i'll optimize that cable run.....likely with my choice of interconnects, the Tara Labs Grandmaster Evolution w/HFX grounding. I love how that cable sounds with the grounding (working with my Tripoint Troy Signature) and the air tube dialectic.
when I get the digital interface issue behind me i'll deal with the question of cable upgrades for that.
will I even think about a 5-figure list price USB cable? hard to imagine I would but time will tell.