Ipod 30-pin-to-USB cable


Here's a query that forums are surprisingly quiet about: what's a good-to-great Ipod USB cable? I'm looking for a 30-pin-to-USB, rather than (e.g.) headphone-to-RCA or firewire-to-USB. For some reason, I'm not seeing a lot of discussions of that sort of cable.

I have a Marantz CD6004 cd player, which has a USB input on its face, so you use the player's DAC. I rip all of my files to lossless formats; listening to music from my Ipod(s) is very convenient (no messing with cds), and the sound quality is great - certainly better than headphone-to-RCA. If I can improve SQ with an aftermarket cable, all the better.

I'd like to spend less than $100, at least to start, but I'd be happy to hear recommendations for more expensive cables. I've been looking at (e.g.) the Audioquest Forest, which is very inexpensive...almost...too inexpensive. Any other suggestions?
bthogan
The player actually does put USB-loaded music files through its own DAC. It plays files from any kind of drive that can be connected w/USB (ipod, flash, etc.). The SQ difference between this and (e.g.) headphone-jack-to-RCA is quite noticeable. I'm still trying to decide if I can hear a difference between CDs, and lossless files from ipod/flash/etc.

I'm kind of surprised that (1) this feature of the player isn't more renowned, and (2) other players don't incorporate it. On the other hand, I suppose most folks listening to files on drives via USB have moved beyond physical discs (I'm not there yet), and just use DACs with this kind of input capability.

As I said, there are aftermarket ipod USB cables that are supposed to be an improvement over stock, and some are quite affordable. Audioquest has a bunch of cables of this sort. However, as Mateored suggests, the online consensus seems to be that you have to spend a fair amount of money to get a significant improvement over stock.

Based on responses here and elsewhere, it sounds like this may be a market that just isn't very active yet. I've only found one or two online discussions of these cables, that refer to actual experience by users. (There are, of course, "academic" discussions about whether they make any difference at all.) Frankly, I'm looking for someone to tell me that the less expensive cables are an improvement, but so far, as indicated, the word seems to be that money must be spent to get a significant improvement over stock.

For now, if anyone's interested, I'm looking at the Audioquest Cinnamon. A step above the Forest model, but not quite the Carbon, or the Coffee, or the $500+ Diamond. If/when I take the dive, I'll come back and share my experience.
I don't think the AudioQuest USB (which are A to B type connectors) cable will work with the ipod.
I was actually a little confused at first, because I just don't know anything about the world of DAC inputs, and apparently, firewire and other sockets are common outs to DACs. (I know I sound like a caveman here - firewire-to-USB cables, eh? Your modern devices frighten and confuse me!)

Audioquest does make a bunch of those cables, and that's what I found when I began my search, but then I came across a bunch of AQ ipod cables that have what I'm looking for:

http://tinyurl.com/8gtrbzx

I was confused, because all of the other AQ cables come with the same model names/tiers (Forest, Cinnamon, etc.) Eventually, I was able to narrow my search and figure out what I was, and wasn't, looking for.

I know AQ isn't the only company that makes "high-end" aftermarket ipod cables. Just getting started in my quest for cable.
Interesting.

I am using the short ALO one for my Cypher Solo which I thought works quite well
The OP's tinyurl is linked to Audio Adisor, who offer a 30-day return. Why not buy a couple of cables, try them for a few weeks and keep the one that you like the best?