USB C cable for DAC to Laptop

[Hummer]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a USB C to USB C cable to hook up a DAC to MacBook Laptop. Preferably low budget.

 

[Nestor Turton]

This one should work
https://www.qed.co.uk/connect-usb-c-to-c-cable.html

i have used their USB C to mini USB and it worked fine with a Chord Hugo DAC.

i am not one for audiophile boutique cables, but like nicely made ones.

 

[bencat]

I am not a Mac user so they may well be different but as far as I am aware there needs to be different plugs at either end for a proper connection so at either the DAC end but normally at the computer end it is a A type socket or B type on the DAC to A on the computer C to C will be just a through connection .

 

[orbscure]

I run an Anker USB cable bwteen my Macbook and DAC without any issues whatsoever... and they're even cheaper than normal due to Black Friday:

Amazon product

I also have positive first hand experience of Anker and their excellent customer support and lifetime guarantee too...

 

[bencat]

See should never answer Mac questions .

 

[Hummer]

Thanks chaps I will take a look at those. I only have the option of USB C (MacBook Air 2019) to SMSL DAC which has a USB C input so I will have to stick with this type of cable.

One thing I am not sure of is USB C cables may sometimes be for charging power only but I need the USB C cable to supply power and data or is that a given with USB C?

 

[tuga]

Thanks chaps I will take a look at those. I only have the option of USB C (MacBook Air 2019) to SMSL DAC which has a USB C input so I will have to stick with this type of cable.

One thing I am not sure of is USB C cables may sometimes be for charging power only but I need the USB C cable to supply power and data or is that a given with USB C?

All USB-C compliant cables are identical.
Some Audiophile USB cables are not compliant.
I get my digital and power cables from Lindy (they also sell on Amazon).

 

[Nestor Turton]

Yes any of the cables recommended should work. QED work well enough, but I would avoid the majority of audiophile brands: it’s not just they are overpriced, but as @tuga points out many do not meet the USB specification.

With my Hugo portable, it doesn’t use USB to power the DAC, but senses the presence of power over USB to wake up. So it needs a compliant cable rather than a boutique one.

I have a MacBook Pro which uses USB C - no Ethernet or optical ports any longer, which is a shame. I use an Anker USB dock to provide the missing ports (not optical). I agree with @orbscure regarding the excellent support.

 

[rdale]

All USB-C compliant cables are identical.
Some Audiophile USB cables are not compliant.
I get my digital and power cables from Lindy (they also sell on Amazon).

As usual IMHO is missing.

 

[rdale]

As usual IMHO is missing.

Perhaps I should explain more. There are several types of USBC cables. Some are for charging purposes only, some are for data use at normal data rates, and some are for use with Thunderbolt compatible ports at high data rates.

Then of course there are cables optimized for audio use. Any well known reputable audiophile brand will conform to the relevant standards. I would personally recommend AudioQuest Forest or Pearl as being good value.

 

[tuga]

Some are for charging purposes only

Power only, no data?

 

[glenhb]

Power only, no data?

Yes
https://www.cuidevices.com/blog/an-introduction-to-power-only-usb-type-c-connectors

 

[Hummer]

I will have a look at the Anker cables.

How about Belkin as they are sold on the Apple site?

 

[Nestor Turton]

Then of course there are cables optimized for audio use. Any well known reputable audiophile brand will conform to the relevant standards. I would personally recommend AudioQuest Forest or Pearl as being good value.

Not USB, but Ethernet. 75p Connectix Cat 5e cable (manufactured in Braintree) outperformed AQ Vodka Ethernet (?) cable in every respect. Not simply opinion, but Fluke tested both and AQ failed. Never had Connectix cable fail compliance test. Hence I lack confidence in AQ.