Is there a difference in USB cables...

[kbeartx]

I'm new to the Wonderful World of USB, and I'm wondering if anybunny has any empirical evidence (or theoretical knowledge) to indicate that a $36 Deluxe Monster or Belden USB cable does a better job of transmitting ones and zeros than a Generic $10 USB cable.

FWIW, I do have personal empirical evidence that high-quality audio signal cables (Monster, and AR, for half the cost of Monster) make a very noticeable audible difference.

IMO, I don't see how digital data could be affected by the 'quality' of the cable - it either works or it doesn't, yes?  

Maybe the deluxe cables withstand breakage better / longer, and likely look cooler, but other than that, methinks it's just mahketing hype...

TIA,

 - kbeartx

[bobw]

I have both, the expensive Belkin  and off the shelf no name and I don't see any difference.

[tacit]

QUOTE(kbeartx @ Dec 27 2003, 5:47 PM)

IMO, I don't see how digital data could be affected by the 'quality' of the cable - it either works or it doesn't, yes?

 Correct. With digital data, it either works or it doesn't.

There are people who claim that the deluxe cables are more reliable under two conditions: the cable is very long, and the device is communicating at USB 2.0 speeds. If this is the case, then you'll see problems with USB devices connected with the regular cables.

If the device is working, then the cable is working; you're okay.

[giantmike]

The difference between the two could be that one is a shielded, twisted pair and one not. The "not" wire will only be able to trasmit up to 1.5 Mb/s while the other one will be able to transmit up to USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mb/s). However, no wire you will buy will be the "not" variety, it will all be shielded and twisted pair. The "not" kind is used for mice, keyboards, etc. that only needs the Low Speed USB.

[Paddy]

And further to this issue - whatever you do, shop around! There are lots and lots of perfectly good "generic" cables out there from online retailers that specialize in cable sales. If you try to buy the same thing at InCompetent USA or any of the "big box" stores, you'll find yourself paying many, many times the price, even when shipping is calculated in.  Costco sometimes have very good deals on name-brand cables - I got 3 USB cables for something like $12 CDN during the summer ($9 USD). For the record, I've never had a "bad" USB cable - and I've got quite a few of them.

[Epaminondas]

Cables and extended warranties are both significant profit centers for brick-and-mortar electronics and computer retailers.  This is why cable prices at brick-and-mortar retailers tend to be ridiculous. The way it works is . . .

The retailers sell a DVD player for a razor thin margin at $59 - you are all excited about your new bargain!  The problem is that the only cables in the store sell at a huge markup at $39.  

The cable is where they get the profit.

If they can get you to buy an extended warranty - which the salesmen are trained to push on their customers - that is more profit in their pockets.

This is all just routine retail cost shifting.

Think of it as a magician's sleight-of-hand.

Nothin' up my sleeve . . .


You can outsmart this cost shifting by:

(1) Not buying the extended warranty (except for laptops, where you will be wise to purchase it).

(2) Checking out the cable(s) you need ahead of time (or afterwards) and buy it(them) online for less than a tenth the price you would pay at the brick-and-mortar retailer.  This does take a little planning and patience, however.


I have thus far had 100% good luck on inexpensive cables from:

http://www.cablewholesale.com

I received a shipment about a month ago - ten cables various, 1-15 feet long, several premium with gold-plated tips - for about $37.50 with shipping.

Lets see - USB 2.0 cable, 6', $1.20.

Cat-6 ethernet cable 3', $3.00.

S--Video + 2RCA phono (gold-plated) for a DVD player, 12 feet, $7.88.

Total S&H for the ten cable order was $7.60.


The order did take a week or so to get here, however.

If you are under no time pressure,  www.cablewholesale.com can be a very good source.


When buying inexpensive generic cables I generally buy one or two steps up if possible.

I.e., even when I just need a USB 1.1 cable, I go ahead and buy a cheap USB 2.0 cable. When I need an ethernet cat5 or cat5e cable, I go ahead and buy a cheap generic cat6 cable.

When I need an audio or video cable, I go ahead and buy the one-step-up generic premium gold-plated cable.

I also buy the shortest cable that will do the job - less chance of problems that way.

The cable web sites usually actually have a better choice of lengths than do the brick-and-mortar retailers.


http://www.cablewholesale.com has much better prices than you get from http://www.newegg.com when you consider what newegg overcharges for shipping.

But http://www.cablewholesale.com has slower delivery than http://www.newegg.com - for sure.


Happy cabling -

Epaminondas