Eliminating USB noise

Computers inject their noise into our DACs via USB. Paul helps us fix that. That noise isn't directly audible as noise. It is too high in frequency. Rather, that ultrasonic noise impacts digital signals in ways not helpful to sound quality.

[iphughesy]

I wish this video would have came out a few months ago. I built an all-tube preamp and when I used it, there would always be this white/RF kind of noise going on that was very noticeable. I was doing every trick in the book to improve things within my preamp and nothing seemed to make a legitimate difference. Finally I turned off my iMac (that is powered by the same Furman Elite 15 PFI that powers the other equipment) and the noise completely disappeared. I plugged the iMac into another outlet (instead of using the Furman) and there's still a little bit of noise but nowhere near the amount I had before. The crazy thing was too, when I would play records, the noise would be there even though the iMac wasn't in the signal path at all. I'm just thrilled it wasn't my workmanship that was causing the noise!

[sonicscientific]

Not only the USB port noise is the issue, but also the supplying power is also the problem. None of the USB ports are created equal, even from the same brand. Most of them are "cheap made", or very much "budget concerned" for a consumer product. Therefore, the USB ports on any consumer products are not designed for good quality of supplying decent grades of audiophile requirements. That's the reason why you are hearing different quality of sound from different USB ports, even on the same computers.

[davidfromamerica]

Paul has all the Audiophile’s going crazy putting their ears against their USB cables to see if they can hear any electricity running through their USB cables. 😀😀😀

[HEDNOD-Official]

I never had any issues until I bought a USB audio interface. Firewire and Thunderbolts and PCI cards never gave me any noise issues and they all connected directly to the PC.

[Cpt.Zer]

As a computer guy that build PCs for gaming, I do agree. But like all other things in life, you get what you pay for. New PSUs with platinum ratings from well known brands are very good isolated. The new standard (ATX 3.0) seperate the voltage much better.

[dell]

Paul i listen to your videos daily but I think you went a little off track with the separating power from signal in usb cables The question was would using separate cables (shielded) help cut the noise. You take on using a USB isolator is spot on but I think you might see a noticeable drop in noise by isolating the signal twisted pair from the power pair in a properly constructed cable. Also couldn't you isolate the computer noise from the DAC by using an opto isolator at the DAC to detect the power presence on the DAC end to get rid of a lot of that noise? It would not be as efferctive but should get rid of some of that hash.

Last fall i replaced my old 2011 MacMini with a new M1 MacMini, i had a little trouble putting my music files and documents (small 256GB on base model) hard disk with external 1TB usb disk but apple sorted that out after a couple of 2 hour phone consults. To me it seems the M1 mac is quieter than the older one so it looks like the USB power might be cleaner.

[carminedesanto]

Great video..and informative.
I have a DAC ..that I power it via an IFI Power supply..very quiet 🤫
Take care .🍕

[marcusbrsp]

Personally, I use an affordable streamer, the Silent Angel Munich M1T, which has a quiet design (parts well isolated) + a AudioQuest Jitterbug on the USB output. While I am sure it is not as good as PS Audio's DirectStream I perceive it to be virtually noise free.

[hoobsgroove]

Ifi purifier 3 good little isolator reclocks as well

[DiRazor]

What about adding more capacity to the ground? Isn't this how all audio voodoo devices work?

[NoEggu]

I do not know if it is noise, or something else, but...
When I tested my printer's USB cable and my hub's USB cable (the cables that were bundled with the printer and the hub)...

When I tested (or used) the above cables with my DAC, the sound quality was in the toilet -- a kind of muffled sound quality.
Both of those cables worked for printing and general computer use, with no issues. I have used them for years, and still use them for my printer and hub. But while connected to my DAC, they killed the sound quality.

I use an Audioquest USB cable with my DAC, and it sounds great.

I did the same thing at the store where I purchased my stereo.
I used one of their computer USB cables on one of their DACs, and had the same awful results. They use Audioquest cables on all of their gear.

So there is something else going on with USB cables, as it pertains to sound quality.

Note that none of the USB cables that I used were longer than 3'. So I was well within the 3 meter (some say 5 meter) limit of USB's useful range.

[pytaniedodcf]

Would you be so kind as to tell me what to do to hear this USB noise?
For five minutes now I've been putting my ear to the High-end loudspeaker of my High-end system and i do not hear anything - absolutely nothing...

[bikdav]

I’m confused. What does this noise sound like? I’ve never heard any objectionable USB noise- even from my computers over the years.

[geoffs]

If you cannot hear any strange noises with volume turned up without playing music then you do not have a problem. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

[LuxAudio]

Cardas - Clear High-Speed USB Cable
Has 2 separate shielded cables. One for the data and the second for the power.

[davidfromamerica]

Compatibility with Firmware and software. This video got me thinking about those issues. I wonder if my Apple USB DVD player will work on my truck stereo via USB input for playing CD’s..🤔

I know the Apple USB player has Apple Firmware on it for the Mac.
It won’t play on my Chromebook. I’ll dig out a CD try it on the stereo. I have not listened to CD in years. 😀

[GullySyde]

My problem isnt a constent hum or noise. It sounds clean but like ever 4 mins or so a weird effect kicks in almost like a high pass filter and only last for around 5 seconds. Would a USB isolator help this?

[KCarlWhite]

I think that the notion of computer and usb noise is overrated. I have over a 1, 000 CDs ripped to my hard drive in FLAC. When I play them back from this "Noisy" computer over USB, it sounds virtually the same as the original CD.
I am actually able to play the original CD and the FLAC file at the same time so I can judge the sound instantaneous.

[trialsted]

Surely if the power line in the usb cable isn't carrying any current (i.e. your device draws ~0mA) then the noise source isn't there?

[gtrguyinaz]

Well… I used a usb cable to connect to my high tech Wi-Fi system.. then stream to my modded Oppo cd player.. I wonder should I get an upscale usb cable ?