AudioQuest Carbon USB Cable

The AudioQuest Carbon USB is a USB audio cable with 5% silver on semi-solid conductors and a three-layer, carbon-based Noise-Dissipation System. This marks the point in the AudioQuest range where it's no longer just the conductor material doing the work, but the entire cable construction fighting interference.

Why the Carbon?

Two things set the Carbon apart from the two tiers below it. First, the silver content of 5% on concentrically constructed conductors made of long-grain copper. Second, the carbon-based Noise-Dissipation System: three alternating layers of metal and carbon-loaded plastic that convert high-frequency interference into heat instead of letting it pass through to the DAC. Hard-Cell Foam keeps the geometry stable. What this gives you: a noticeably darker background, from which voices and instruments emerge with more presence.

What you get

Made up as A–B in 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 5 m, as well as A–C, A–Micro B 2.0, C–B and C–C in 0.75 and 1.5 m. We order other lengths through the distributor.

Who is the Carbon suited for – and who isn't it?

Plainly put: on a stick DAC for on the go, the Carbon is simply too much cable – the Forest or Cinnamon does the job there, and the rest of the budget is better spent on the source. Its territory is stationary systems with a DAC that actually shows resolution. There, it's one of the tiers where the improvement no longer needs discussing.

Our verdict

Calm, space and substance – the Carbon is the tier where USB audio grows up. Whether your DAC can exploit that, we're happy to assess with you before you order: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical data

• Type: USB audio cable (USB 2.0)
• Conductors: semi-solid, concentric, long-grain copper with 5% silver
• Insulation: Hard-Cell Foam (nitrogen-injected foamed polyethylene)
• Noise dissipation: carbon-based 3-layer Noise-Dissipation System
• Directionality: direction-controlled conductors for RF noise dissipation
• Dielectric bias: no DBS (only from Coffee upward)
• Connector variants: A–B, A–C, A–Micro B 2.0, C–B, C–C
• Lengths: A–B 0.75 / 1.5 / 3 / 5 m; other variants 0.75 and 1.5 m

Frequently asked questions

What does the carbon-based Noise-Dissipation System do?

It draws off high-frequency interference before it reaches the DAC. In the Carbon, three alternating layers of metal and carbon-loaded plastic take care of this – a considerably more effective principle than the pure metal-layer dissipation of the Forest and Cinnamon. Audibly, this shows up above all as a deeper black background.

Does the Carbon have a DBS battery module?

No. The active 72-volt Dielectric-Bias System remains reserved, for USB, for the Coffee and Diamond tiers. The Carbon achieves its calm purely passively through conductor material, Hard-Cell Foam and the three-layer carbon dissipation – so you never have to think about a battery, and there's one less component that can age.

Does the Carbon also work on the USB output of a streamer?

Yes, that's exactly what it's made for. Streamers, music servers and network players usually put out their signal via USB-A or USB-C – the A–B, C–B and C–C variants match those. Tell us your source and DAC, and you'll get the combination that truly fits, without any adapter tinkering.

How long can a USB audio cable be?

Up to 5 metres stays within the USB 2.0 specification, and that's as far as the Carbon goes in the A–B version. Shorter is still better: the shorter the run, the less surface for interference to attack. Measure the distance before you order – we'll help you estimate it.

Why order the Carbon from HD Zürisee?

Because we know the whole USB ladder and can tell you where in your system the money is best spent – sometimes that's not the cable at all. In Wädenswil we plan digital systems in full, from source to DAC. Give us a call.

Goes well with

The Carbon deserves a DAC on the same level – find one among the DACs & D/A converters. The other tiers are under USB cables, everything else from the brand in the AudioQuest world.