Pangea Audio Premier XL MKII USB Cables

Premier XL MKII Splits Power and Signal Into Two Legs

Pangea Audio's Premier XL MKII is the company's top USB cable. Designer Jay Victor put the power conductors and the signal conductors in separate legs that meet only at the plugs. The signal conductors are 23 AWG Cardas Grade One Copper with 6% silver plating, insulated in nitrogen-injected foamed polyethylene.

Two Legs That Meet Only at the Plugs

Jay Victor says the main problem with USB cables is that the power conductor runs inside the jacket, close to the signal pair. So he moved it into its own cable. The two legs join only at the USB-A and USB-B plugs. Pangea says the result is ultra-quiet.

Cardas Copper, Foamed Polyethylene and Quadruple Shielding

The signal conductors are Cardas Grade One Copper, wound at 23 AWG and plated with 6% pure silver, in nitrogen-injected foamed PE. The power leg carries 19 AWG tinned copper. Each leg gets a foil shield and a silver-plated copper braid, which Pangea calls quadruple shielding.

The USB-A and USB-B Plugs, Explained

Premier XL MKII ends in a flat USB-A plug for the computer end and a square USB-B plug for the DAC end. Pangea lists them as molded connectors with gold plating. USB-A is the flat plug on a computer or streamer; USB-B is the square plug on most desktop DACs.

Who Is This USB Cable Best For?

• You want the quietest Pangea USB — the power leg runs in its own shielded cable, so its noise never shares a jacket with the signal
• You want Cardas copper with a heavier silver coat — 6% silver over Cardas Grade One Copper is the top conductor Pangea uses, so nothing in the range goes further
• You do not power your DAC from the computer — Pangea kept one plug per end on the MKII because most audiophile DACs have their own supply, so the design suits a mains-powered DAC
• You want a plug that grips — the molded, gold-plated plugs push straight in and hold by friction, so the connection stays put
• You need USB-C or USB 3 speeds — Premier XL MKII is a USB 2.0 cable with USB-A and USB-B plugs. If your DAC or computer has only USB-C, call us and we will match the plug

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the USB-A end of Premier XL MKII into your computer, streamer or server and the USB-B end into your 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 separate the power leg?

Jay Victor says the power conductor is the main source of interference inside a USB cable. Putting it in its own shielded cable removes it from the signal pair entirely.

What does quadruple shielding mean?

Each of the two legs is double shielded, with an aluminum foil shield and a silver-plated copper braid. Two legs times two shields is Pangea's count of four.

Does a USB cable change the sound? It is only data.

The data arrives either way. What differs is the noise that rides in with it. Pangea's Jay Victor says radio and electromagnetic interference can distort the electrical signal a USB cable carries, and that some of it is audible.

Is there a step up?

Cardas Clear High Speed Serial Buss is the next rung we recommend. It uses two shielded cables with silver-plated data conductors and Cardas's Kevlar-core Litz build.

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