Philosophy
A few words about our USB cables and our philosophy. We have been stunned and overjoyed at the response to our USB cables. Since their introduction, our cables are considered by many to be the "Best in Class" and are used by many reviewers and musicians as their reference USB cables.
This overwhelming response is most gratifying as we spent a great deal of time researching, prototyping and testing our USB cables before their release almost two years ago, and it is nice to know that many appreciate all the hard work, effort and money that was spent to develop them. Thank you to all who have purchased our cables and are currently enjoying them, and welcome to those of you who are just now investigating the difference a well designed USB cable based on solid engineering principles can make.
USB cables are tough to get right, and the overall performance of the cable depends on more that using the good quality parts, braiding or twisting some wire together, covering the whole thing in some type of sleeving/jacketing or Techflex, and getting some fancy heat shrink made up. Locus Design is recognized as the leader in the audiophile USB cable field, we have been producing audiophile USB cables longer than any other cable company, and continue to try and advance the state of the art.
As an aside, costs on raw materials are continuing to rise, however, instead of raising the price on the below cables, we will forgo fancy packaging that is designed to encourage "pride of ownership". We give our customers more credit than that, as ultimately, the sound is what matters, not how nice the box it came in is. Your cables will be simply packaged, with an owners manual and an identifying label...that's it. Simple packaging means less cost for you, less trash to dispose of, and less of an enviromental impact.
Nucleus USB Cable
New review! Simply put the Nucleus performs at such a high level sonically and musically that it leaves the rest of the USB cables I have here in the proverbial dust...simply put, WOW. You get it all without any trade-offs. What a presentation. Dave Clark, Positive Feedback, Issue 43
We are proud to anounce that Dave Clark of PFO is using the Nucleus USB as his reference USB cable:
"...and oh yes, the Locus Design Nucleus is quite wonderful"-- Dave Clark, Positive Feedback
"I will say that the new Locus Design Nucleus USB cable is so wonderfully magnifique that it is as musically engaging as anything I have come across"-- Dave Clark, Positive Feedback
"The Nucleus USB is spectacular"--J. S., USA
Building on the remarkable success of the Axis and Polestar USB cables, the Nucleus USB cable sets a new standard of performance.
- In order to set a new standard of performance and improve on the remarkable Axis USB cable, this is an entirely new design, utilizing my custom manufactured SCSC-Ag wire. This mono-crystal silver wire is drawn from specially sourced bar stock by a manufacturer that I have hand selected and worked with closely to ensure the wire is drawn, tempered and insulated exactly to my specifications. In addition, an integral part of the manufacturing process, and exclusive to Locus Design/CryoParts, is our world renowned CryoFreeze™ process. This new wire is my best work yet.
- As developed and perfected in the Axis USB and Polestar USB below, close attention is paid to mitigating mechanical noise and triboelectric effects. The core of the Nucleus USB is a special braid of ultra pure SCSC-Ag conductors and Teflon air tubes; this precise, reproducable, and expensive computer controlled braid is proprietary and only available from Locus Design. This remarkable geometry is designed to mitigate degradation and interference with/to/of the data and VDC lines of the USB signal.
- For the Nucleus USB, we have have developed a new special shielding comprised of a tinned copper weave, carbon fiber and strategic use of ERS fabric. This shielding and damping is designed to isolate the data and VDC lines from any external influence, be it mechanical or electrical. This shielding technique is unique to Locus Design..
- Most USB cables are shielded (if they are not, they SHOULD be), however it is very rare indeed to find a USB cable that isolates the data lines from the voltage lines. We pioneered our novel approach of isolating the +/- data lines from the +/- VDC lines with the Axis USB cable, we now take it to another level with the Nucleus.
Coming soon, Firewire cables!
$1149/1-3ft, $120 each additional foot after three. Please allow 10-14 days for us to build the cable. *New! See trial policy at the bottom of the page.
Axis USB Cable
The best USB cable on the planet IMO. Locus-Design knows what they are doing for sure."-- Steve N. Empirical Audio
New! Satfrat at AudioCircle
"In a query to What was the best money you ever spent on audio?" New! Jeff Day's Positive Feedback Review!
New! Read Dave Clark of Positive Feedback's review of the Axis USB Cable. The word is getting out!
Axis USB Cable.
This is not a reworking of an existing cheap mass produced USB cable, the Axis is a true audiophile grade product, constructed one at a time.
- In order to set a new standard of performance, this is an entirely new design, utilizing my custom manufactured DCT-OFC wire. Drawn, tempered, and insulated to my specs's this wire also boasts as integral part of the manufacturing process is our world renowned CryoFreeze™ process, an exclusive to Locus Design/CryoParts.
- Close attention is paid to mitigating mechanical noise and triboelectric effects. The core of the Axis USB is a special braid of ultra pure DCt-ofc conductors and Teflon air tubes; this precise, reproducable, and expensive computer controlled braid is proprietary and only available from Locus Design. This remarkable geometry is designed to mitigate degradation and interference with/to/of the data and VDC lines of the USB signal.
- For the Axis USB, we have have developed a new special shielding comprised of a tinned copper weave and strategic use of ERS fabric. This shielding and damping is designed to isolate the data and VDC lines from any external influence, be it mechanical or electrical. This shielding technique is unique to Locus Design.
- Most USB cables are shielded (if they are not, they SHOULD be), however it is very rare indeed to find a USB cable that isolates the data lines from the voltage lines. We pioneered our novel approach of isolating the +/- data lines from the +/- VDC lines with the Axis USB cable.
$549/1-3ft, $60 each additional foot after three. Please select the length you would like built and sent below.
Coming soon, Firewire cables!
Bespoke, allow 7-10 days for delivery. *New! See trial policy at the bottom of the page.
Polestar USB Cable
New! Jerald O'Brien from Tone Audio, Issue 22 on the Polestar USB Cable.
I must say that their $249 Polestar USB cable does sound more musical than the standard $20 item I bought from R**** S****. Again, I was very biased against the outcome of this test, but even with a few of my favorite blind test guinea pigs, the most untrained listeners could hear a difference between the two cables and they all described the same effect. The overall presentation gets cleaner, with slightly more air on top and everything overall sounds less congested and “digitallike.” --Jerald O'Brien, Tone Audio, Issue 22
New! We are honored to have received a 5th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards - for 2008 for the Polestar USB Cable.
"The Polestar is a hand-built custom USB cable that uses cryogenically treated copper wire and lots of other clever design innovations to deliver an enticing combination of sonic excellence and superb musicality. The Polestar is a remarkable product, and one that unfailingly serves the music, making it a stone-cold bargain at $249. If you're still using a generic USB cable between your computer and DAC, just go out and buy yourself a Polestar USB cable, you'll be doing yourself a big favor. I predict the Polestar will blow you away just as it did me. Way recommended! --Jeff Day
New! Michael Mercer's of Positive Feedback preliminary comments on the Polestar:
"...The biggest upgrade however came when I inserted the Polestar USB cable from the Locus Design Group. Now I know what my peers here at PFO are talking about! I have been admittedly very skeptical on whether or not an aftermarket cable could enhance the sound of a signal carried over USB. Well, I was dead wrong in my skepticism. The Polestar increased the speed of everything. I would love to comment on the increase in transient, blah blah blah, but the truth is everything got faster and more articulate!" -Michael Mercer, Positive Feedback, Issue 43
New! Nick Whetstone, TNT Audio
"...But I was in for a surprise. The sound using this USB cable was clearly better. There was just a bit more of everything. Tighter bass, more detail, more 'air'."--Nick Whetstone, TNTaudio.com, April 10th, 2009
Jeff Day's Positive Feedback Review!
"Now, as I mentioned earlier, the Locus Design Group Polestar completely blew me away when I listened to it in my system. The Polestar is impressive in its ability to convey both the musical and sonic content of a recording in a very balanced fashion. The musical content of recordings comes across as completely natural, musically convincing, and eminently enjoyable even in long listening sessions. All unnatural and amusical edge, grit, glare, and other nasties that compromise sonics and contribute to listening fatigue were eliminated. The musical content of recordings like timbre, meter, tonality, harmony, beat, tempo, syncopation, and melody, all became more convincingly life-like and expressive. Overall, the presentation of the music became warmer, rounder, and more deeply colorful tonally; with a prowess in motional elements like beat, tempo, and melodic flow that was truly exceptional." --Jeff Day, Postive Feedback, Issue 40.
Polestar USB Cable
This is not a reworking of an existing mass produced cable, this is an entirely new design, utilizing my DCT-OFC wire and hand constructed by me.
Close attention is paid to mitigating mechanical noise and triboelectric effects. A special braid of ultra pure DCT-OFC conductors and Teflon air tubes make up the inner design of the cable. Over this base a tinned copper weave and strategic use of ERS fabric is added for shielding and additional damping. Finally, a layer of Multifilament nylon is pulled over the complete assembly for extra damping and aestethic appeal.
$249/1-3ft, $30 each additional foot after three. Please select the length you would like built and sent below. New! Polestar is now available with the "mini B" USB end, please request when ordering.
Coming soon, Firewire cables!
Polestar available with regular sized USB B connector, or with a USB "mini-B" connector, your choice. If you need the "mini-B", please let us know in the comments on the order form.
Bespoke, allow 7-10 days for delivery. *New! See trial policy at the bottom of the page.
Please note, the Polestar now comes with black heat shrink, NOT the blue as shown above.
Cynosure Interconnects
Cynosure interconnect. A statement of what we can do. Bespoke, starting at $3200/pair.
For those of you who can afford the very best.
E-mail us to order.
Criterion Interconnects
Criterion interconnect. Based on the Cynosure. Bespoke, starting at $1200/pair.
For those of you who want 85% of the very best.
E-mail us to order.
*New! Return policy on cables. For the past few years we have been making all of our cables to order (bespoke) and have not offered a trial period on these cables. Frankly, demand is so high that I am kept so busy building cables that are paid for and sold, and don't have time to build cables for thse who wish to compare them or "try them out". However, in order to help those out that require a trial period and allay that last little bit of purchase anxiety, I am instituting the new policy effective 5/15/09:
Please contact us for further details and/or clarification.