AudioQuest Cinnamon USB Cable - USB-A to USB-C

Cinnamon Brings More Silver to Your USB-C DAC

AudioQuest's Cinnamon is the third rung of its USB cables, and this version runs from a USB-A port to a USB-C input. Its Semi-Solid Concentric conductors are Long-Grain Copper with 1.25% silver plating, more than twice the silver of Forest. Hard-Cell Foam insulates them, a Metal-Layer shield wraps the pair, and a black nylon braid with red stripes covers the jacket.

Semi-Solid Concentric Conductors With 1.25% Silver Plating

AudioQuest says Semi-Solid Concentric conductors greatly reduce strand-interaction distortion and reduce jitter. A USB signal is so high in frequency that it travels almost entirely on the surface of the conductor. With a silver surface, AudioQuest says performance comes very close to a 100% silver cable at a price much closer to copper. Every conductor is direction-controlled.

Hard-Cell Foam, a Metal-Layer Shield and a Nylon Braid

The insulation is Hard-Cell Foam, injected with nitrogen to form air pockets. AudioQuest says nitrogen neither absorbs nor releases energy, so the foam adds less distortion than solid insulation. Its stiffness also holds the signal pair in a fixed geometry along the full length.

Around the pair sits Metal-Layer Noise-Dissipation. AudioQuest says a plain shield drains radio noise into the ground and distorts the reference. Its metal layers absorb and reflect most of that noise first. Cinnamon is a High Speed USB 2.0 cable rated to 480 megabits per second.

The USB-A and USB-C Plugs, Explained

USB-A is the flat plug on a computer, streamer or server. USB-C is the small oval plug on newer DACs and portable players, and it fits either way up. AudioQuest does not publish the plug plating. Where it applies, arrows on the connectors show which way the cable runs.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Doug Blackburn reviewed Cinnamon for SoundStage! Access on September 15, 2011. It "removed more fog, letting me clearly see the musicians and their instruments, though still not with absolute clarity," he wrote.

Glenn Young disagreed in Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity on August 31, 2022: "The soundstage was wider than with the Pearls, but the tone didn't seem as rich." The Cinnamon cables "just weren't knocking me out," he added.

Who Is This USB Cable Best For?

• Your DAC or player has a USB-C input — the cable runs straight from a USB-A port to the USB-C socket, so no adapter sits in the signal path
• You want more silver on the signal path — Cinnamon plates its copper with 1.25% silver, more than twice Forest, so the surface the signal rides on is closer to solid silver
• Your cables get handled — the nylon braid over the jacket resists scuffs, so the cable survives a desk that gets rearranged
• You want both sides of the reviews — SoundStage! heard more clarity than Forest while Secrets was unmoved, so audition it in your own system under our 60-day guarantee
• Your DAC has the square USB-B input — the USB-C plug will not fit. Choose the AudioQuest Cinnamon USB-A to USB-B instead, or call us and we will match the plug

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the USB-A end into your computer, streamer or server and the USB-C end into your DAC or portable player. Run any arrows on the connectors toward the DAC. Then choose the DAC as the output device in your player or system sound settings.

Then listen. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

A USB cable is one link in a digital chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Digital-to-Analog Converters — the usual receiving end
• Music Streamers — streamer or server to DAC
• Headphone Amplifiers — a DAC and amp on the desk
• Power Cables — clean power at both ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Why plate copper with silver?

AudioQuest says a USB signal rides almost entirely on the surface of the conductor. A silver skin on that surface behaves close to a solid silver wire at a fraction of the cost.

What is Metal-Layer Noise-Dissipation?

AudioQuest's name for its shield. Instead of letting a plain shield dump radio noise straight into the ground, the metal layers absorb and reflect most of it first. AudioQuest says that keeps the ground reference clean.

Will it power a bus-powered DAC?

AudioQuest lists 5 volts for this USB 2.0 cable, the standard USB bus power. It does not support USB Power Delivery, so it is not meant for fast-charging a phone or laptop.

Which way does the cable go?

Where it applies, AudioQuest marks arrows on the connectors. Run them from the computer or streamer toward the DAC.

What warranty does AudioQuest give?

A limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, for cables bought from an authorized US dealer. AudioQuest will repair or replace a defective cable that has not been abused. Keep your proof of purchase.

Is there a step up?

AudioQuest Carbon USB-A to USB-C is the next rung with the same plugs. It moves to 5% silver plating.

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
• 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
• Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
• Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
• Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.

Learn More

Want to learn more about USB audio, DACs, or streaming? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.