I usually prefer not to use USB in my system, but I have a USB cable and a USB-SPDIF converter just in case. In addition, devices with USB connections are often sent for tests, so I decided to test the new Reference USB cable with interest, especially since my cable of this format bears the name of the same brand, but belongs to the more modest Classic series.
The new cable looks quite recognizable – it is a product of TCHERNOV CABLE. It has an original outer braid, the color of which changes by the manufacturer depending on the cable belonging to particular series. Externally, the cable is very beautiful, which is explained by the presence of barely noticeable golden threads in the braid, or rather their play in the light. The connectors have not only gold-plated copper working contacts, but also all-metal gold-plated copper housings. Everything looks gorgeous together! Of course, the appearance hardly affects the sound, but it's just nice to have such a beautiful cable in the system!
During the test, I used a Sonore microRendu USB source with a custom linear power supply and a Tchernov Audio Apollo DAC, which made it possible to exhaustively evaluate the new cable.
It is curious that all high-grade digital cables from this manufacturer have, in my opinion, common feed features: full, juicy, dense sound and high dynamics. This cable was no exception.
The first thing that caught my eye was the freedom and ease of the sound. The music seemed to be "let loose", even in comparison with a hard USB adapter, which in the case of microRendu usually gave the most plausible sound.
The second point that I liked most about this cable is the absence of the so–called "USB plaque", a term that I came up with at the time to describe the feeling of glossy smoothness, excessive "cleanliness" and incredible contrast – visibility of a sufficiently high resolution that can be obtained using even medium-level equipment with this interface.
The tested Reference USB cable, on the contrary, has a pronounced "naturalness of transmission", a sense of presence – the same qualities as the Apollo DAC, and working with it in pair not only does not interfere, as it often happens, but helps to demonstrate its great capabilities.
Voices and instruments are perfectly outlined, their boundaries do not blur, and at the same time there is no intrusive detail. The notes are perfectly designed, they are transmitted so naturally that you don't even try to concentrate on them, but if you want, you can easily focus on the nuances.
The cable perfectly conveys all the emotional diversity of music, it shows a large palette of shades of the nature of the performance, and, as I noticed earlier, there is no trace of the monotonous glossy presentation typical for many cables of this format.
A separate point that is quite difficult for many cables is the ability to convey subtle low–level details that Sonore microRendu pays such attention to, and here the USB Reference also did not disappoint me. The microRendu feed is very recognizable in this sense, and the cable helps to confidently convey it to the listener.
In general, the cable turned out fine, and the company's statements that this is probably the "best" USB cable in its price category have quite good reasons. My recommendation.
The author of the test: Yuri Volobuev
