Product highlights

USB cable (Type A to Type B)

for use with audio D/A converters, select computer speaker systems, external hard drives, and more

exceeds USB 2.0 high-speed data transfer specification

low-jitter design specifically for USB audio

solid Long Grain Copper conductors eliminate inter-strand distortion

polyethylene insulation

triple shielding (foil/mylar/braided copper) to reject interference

gold-plated connectors resist corrosion

warranty: 5 years

What's in the box

• 5' USB cable (with a USB type-B connector on one end and a USB type-A connector on other end)

About this item

Written by Crutchfield's Steve Kindig

Designed by — and for — music lovers

AudioQuest paid us a visit recently and let us check out their new line of USB cables. These cables definitely have a high-quality look and feel, but we wondered how noticeable any sonic improvements would be. The proof was in the listening. In a side-by-side comparison against a free-in-the-box USB cable, the AQ cable delivered greater bass extension, along with more bass and mid-bass detail. The soundstage opened up and vocals sounded more natural.

A high-quality USB cable is a great way to connect your desktop or laptop computer to a high-end audio digital-to-analog converter. For USB audio, as with all digital audio signals, it's critical to maintain accurate timing. This cable can reduce the timing errors or "jitter" that often makes digital music sound less clear and rich and three-dimensional.

Paying attention to every detail

The Forest is AQ's lowest-priced USB cable, but it's made to AudioQuest's exacting standards. It's carefully engineered, made with top-notch materials, and tested through hours of listening. Triple shielding reduces external electronic noise and interference, while gold-plated connectors ensure solid, corrosion-free contact.

If you connect a Forest cable to your printer, will you see crisper text? Probably not. But if you enjoy listening to digital music files on a high-quality audio system, you'll be surprised at the difference AQ's USB cables can make.