ddHIFI TC19BC TC19BA Comet USB Cable Review – Digi Connector Prowess
ddHIFI TC19BC and TC19BA Comet is a $119 USD per piece high-end cable series for high-end audio, with a USB Type B to Type C connector, or Type B to Type A connector, Pure Silver construction and full plus and minus Shielding Quad-Wire Parallel Alignment matching plug. Today we will review this new flagship digital cable series and explore how they can improve an audio system and if there are any drawbacks to using them.
Introduction
ddHIFI surely wanted to impress and give us something we never tasted before so this time instead of OFC they went with OFS or Oxygen Free Silver for their digital cables. This new Comet series of cable is interesting because it connects as a USB Type B to Type C or Type B to Type A and can be used for a multitude of applications. ddHIFI products are available on Amazon, Aliexpress, as well as other Hifi channels around the world.
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Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3MrHFg2
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4CVzCJP
Build Quality – Design
ddHIFI designed the new Comet series of cables with TC19 as the pre naming and TC or BC as the end plug for flagship systems where you can connect everything, be it a smartphone, tablet or computer, with your DAC and AMP. Audio decoding usually relies on USB 2.0 interfaces, with a sealed shielding, but compared to transfer speed, stability is more susceptible to interference. This is why the new DD HIFI TC19 Comet series features a pure silver conductor material for its data negative and positive poles, and it is equipped with an independent mesh shielding structure. Positive and Negative piles are arranged in parallel with equal signal transmission distances, ensuring accuracy and signal integrity.
ddHIFI designed a four-wire parallel design with four conductors, power positive, data negative, data positive and power negative all in parallel, as you can see from our photos. Cable’s width matches the socket size of a smartphone. This neatly aligned conductor structure demands extremely stringent production for twisting equipment with slow and precise wrapping to ensure uniform thickness and a supple design. For aesthetics and structural purposes, the shell is made of CNC metal and it has a seamless design, one-piece with high-precision interlocking seals, and it is curved towards the tail end.
Technically, TC19BC and TC19BA are the same cable with a type B connector for your DAC AMP, and with a flat 4-Wire parallel arrangement and with a softflex PVC insulation material. The data section uses a conductor of 25.6 AWG size for D+ and D-, and this conductor is a high purity 4N monocrystalline silver with a shielding made of 22.7 AWG oxygen-free copper with silver plating. Power section uses a 21.3AWG for V+ and VG, and the material is a 5N long-grain copper with silver plating, with a conductor area of 0.376mm2*2. Both cables have a length of 95cm.
Sound Quality
Pairings – This set of cables can be used with virtually any USB DAC AMP including the latest we’ve reviewed such as Surfans F35 (yes, even DAPs), Luxsin X9, Khadas Tea Pro, FiiO QX13, Lotoo PAW D3, FiiO K15, Cayin RU9, Shanling EC Zero T, JDS Labs Element IV and Topping DX5 II. Generally, the whole idea of this cable is to connect your PC to those, because at one end it has a PC standard Type A connector.
Overall Signature – ddHIFI TC19BC and TC19BA are a set of cables with strong transparency, high resolution, and very good soundstage. The difference compared to default cables is subtle, but the improved build quality and looks puts my mind at ease, they are some of the better options to purchase, with a modern, and fun look to them.
You can expect that if you were using very basic cables, you will hear an improvement in resolution, clarity and control, but the differences will be subtle. I did notice a blacker background when using the TC19BC and TC19BA compared to default basic cables, if routing those cables behind my TV along a strong LED lamp and other cables, as most basic cables are quite sensitive to interference while ddHIFI Comet is quite well isolated and is not sensitive to other devices, EMI, RFI at all.
You can also expect to hear soundstage as being wider, deeper and instrument separation better. Tonality should be the same with all USB cables, they do not tend to change the bass to treble ratio.
Value and Conclusion
With a pocket-friendly price of $119 USD, ddHIFI TC19BC and TC19BA are cables that you can purchase for the aesthetic function alone, to beautify your system and to give your whole setup a bit of extra oomph, but knowing that they can persevere signal integrity better and can achieve a slightly better sound adds to the value of those cables beyond the fact that they look really pretty.
Especially if you build an all DdHIFI Setup with a Power cable and audio cables, you’ll notice that minor improvements stack up and your sound quality improves bit by bit.
I can fully recommend the ddHIFI TC19BC cables if your setup needs this specific length, although for certain users (like yours truly), 95cm might be a bit short. If the length is just right, you will notice that you’ve purchased beautiful, lasting cables with silver concudctors, which are excellent sonically and have a reliable build quality.
PROs
- Flagship enough to make sense for DAC AMPs
- Excellent build quality
- Resistance to EMI and RFI
- This can translate into improved resolution, clarity and better definition
- Also can improve soundstage and instrument separation
- High transparency and no tonality changes
Cons
- 95cm can be a bit short
- Not universal, if your source isn’t a PC with a Type-A output
- Might be a bit pricey if your system is entry-level
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3MrHFg2
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4CVzCJP
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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