top of page

April 2026: customer feedback for The N'th Degree USB cable
from Simon and his amazing system!
 

SimonsSystem2023.jpg

"Hi Alister,

 

So, the new  Nth Degree USB cable (1.2m) arrived..

 

I had high hopes, but probably somewhat 'moderated' expectations!

 

As you know, every interconnect, speaker cable, and power cable in my system is yours (bar 1 - but I'll pick that up below)..

 

Even the amp and pre-amp power supplies are silver-wound, and I'm 50 years into attempting to create my 'audio nirvana'.

 

So, when you decided to release your Nth Degree USB cable - given that I already had your Ultimate Silver Dream 2 USB cables in the system - I figured I'd take a punt - as you've never led me astray previously!

 

My experience with your cables is that after 5-6 hours, the impact on the system is already more than evident. So I installed the cable and left a playlist generating a signal to the DAC without the amps on..

 

As I wound down at the end of my working day, I loaded my reference playlist (about 200 tracks, all of which I've used to tweak the system over the last 5 years - so all listened to at least 100 times).. Mix of genres, mix of 'generation', all designed to really test the system and its capabilities.

 

Now I get that the USB cable that takes the signal from my Aurender W20SE (clocked at 10K with Aurender's MC10 clock) to my Horizon DAC is, ultimately, the final piece in a very complex process.. But when I install a new 'component' in the system (the first one in 18 months since I decided that I had already exceeded my goal of having achieved the best sound I'd ever be able to hear), I probably don't expect a cable costing less than a quarter of one per cent of the value of the system to make a big difference..

 

I am completely blown away! I'd run out of superlatives, so here's the best I can do, after a few hours listening - or, actually, glued to my seat, listening!

 

There is, simply, more everywhere. More texture, solo voices more in the room, bass response more detailed and more emphatic, the resonance of background sounds more evident, the layers of every track more revealed, every track more three-dimensional, the emotional 'pull' of all of these tracks I love so much even more alluring than previously. It is a 'revelation' in every sense, and in every layer, of every track I've listened to.

 

So Bravo! And bless you! Artisan Silver Cables sit at the core of the system that gives me so much joy - and a brief respite from the crazy times we are all enduring.  For anyone who has the Silver Dream 2 USB and is wondering whether it's worth upgrading, do yourself (an immense) favour - it's a HUGE step forward.

 

Oh - and Alister - the one cable that isn't yours is a silver clock cable connecting the MC10 clock to the W20SE - the difference between yours (that I was using) and this, is that it has an integrated earth cable to connect to the Clock - and that (sadly) made the difference.. Over to you!

 

Thank you, so, so much! 🎶🙂

Simon" 

​

************

​

Simon's review reminds us of the complexity of optimising a truly "bleeding-edge" digital system.  

Also it illustrates what all the most experienced audiophiles already know: everything in a high-end system matters and makes a difference to the sound...  

​

Details of "The N'th Degree USB" cable here.

​

​

​

************

 

 

 

Back in 2023, Simon sent me the picture that you see at the top of this page of his amazing super-high-end system, so I asked whether he'd mind listing the components, for the interest of our valued customers (that's you folks!).  

He obliged me with the following list:  

​

​

​​So, here's what's there, left to right, top down -

  • Acoustic Signature Challenger Turntable and Acoustic Signature preamp with Rega 10 tone arm and Audio Technica ART9 cartridge

  • PS Audio P20 Power Plant

  • PS Audio BHK Signature 300 monobloc power amps x 2 (design is such that they are effectively 4 monobloc amps, 2 per side)

  • Lampizator Pacific Balanced DAC running KR Audio T-100 tubes

  • Naim ND 555 Streamer - accompanying power supply sits to its right under the TV

  • Brinkmann Marconi Preamp - this processes incoming signal in and out of phase and removes anything that is the same at the end of the signal path (so any noise)

  • Aurender W20 music server

  • Marantz SA-10 SACD player

  • All audio components sit on Nordost Sort Titanium Kones to remove any internal vibration (electronic or mechanical) and transfer it to shelf below, where it disappears

  • SGR Audio rack - sonically dead due to structure of shelves, dampers, shelf supports and frame

  • Sophera Transparent 1 Isobaric speakers with stands sitting in Nordost Sort Futs (or is that feet?) - to isolate speakers from floor vibrations

  • All components are connected using Artisan Silver interconnects (including speaker cables) - choosing your highest specification cables and connectors

  • All cables - speaker and power - are raised and isolated on damping pads

  • All power cables are as high spec and component-specific as I can reasonably afford - main difference is between power running to signal originators (DAC, SACD player, music server, turntable etc) and signal generators (power plat, amps, preamp)

So, if there's anything I've missed, just let me know... 

And if you're ever in the neighbourhood, you have to drop in and have a listen! ;)

 

​​

 

Details of "The N'th Degree USB" cable here.

​

​

​

bottom of page