{"product_id":"cad-usb-control","title":"CAD USB Control","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"pa-d5\" style=\"color:#080808;line-height:1.6;font-size:15px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 6px;font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8d1935;font-weight:600\"\u003eCAD · Noise Reduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:18px;line-height:1.45;font-weight:600\"\u003eA thumb-sized plug that goes into any spare USB port and reduces high-frequency noise on the port's 5 V and signal-ground lines, from kHz into the GHz range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"display:inline-block;margin:0 0 18px;padding:4px 10px;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;border-radius:2px;font-size:13px;color:#55524c\"\u003ePrice is for one USB Control. No cable is needed; it plugs straight into the component.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:1px;background:#d8d5ce;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e58 mm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003elong, 15 g\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003eUSB A\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eplugs into any spare port\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003ekHz – GHz\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003enoise range CAD states it reduces\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e2 years\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003ewarranty\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eNearly every modern audio component has a USB port it does not use for music: a software-update socket on a DAC or streamer, a spare port on a server, router or switch. Those ports share the component's 5 V supply and its signal ground, and Computer Audio Design's position is that they are an open door for high-frequency noise. The USB Control is a passive device, developed from the materials and research behind the Ground Controls and the 1543 DAC, that plugs into such a port and absorbs that noise, converting it to heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eIt is a USB A plug in an acrylic body, 58 mm long and 15 g, with no cable and no power. It can be inserted or removed with the component running, which makes the comparison easy. CAD suggests music servers, routers, network switches and digital interfaces as the first places to try it, and more than one can be used in a system. Isabel Whitley of CAD notes that it works particularly well with Linn streamers, where the service USB port is usually free.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 20px\"\u003eThe Ear gave the USB Control a Best Buy award and listed it among its best products of 2024; Roy Gregory at GY8 and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+ reviewed it in 2023 and 2024. At $825 it is the least expensive way into CAD's approach, and a useful test of whether grounding and noise reduction matter in your system before committing to a Ground Control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eKey technologies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 20px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNoise absorption on the USB bus.\u003c\/strong\u003e Proprietary CAD materials reduce high-frequency noise on the +5 V and signal-ground lines of the port, from kHz into the GHz range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePassive and hot-pluggable.\u003c\/strong\u003e No power, no cable and no software; insert or remove with the component switched on.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAny spare port.\u003c\/strong\u003e Works in software-update ports on DACs and streamers as well as servers, routers and switches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGround Control lineage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Built on the research behind CAD's Ground Controls, USB cables and the 1543 DAC.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHand-assembled in the UK.\u003c\/strong\u003e Acrylic body, assembled and tested individually.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdetails open style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 6px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;margin:0 0 14px\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003ePassive USB noise reduction device\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eConnector\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eUSB A plug\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eNoise range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003ekHz into the GHz range (CAD)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eDimensions (H × W × D)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e12 × 24 × 58 mm (0.5 × 0.9 × 2.3 in)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e15 g (0.5 oz)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003ePower\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eNone required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e2 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eUnited Kingdom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:13px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.computeraudiodesign.com\/cad-usb-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eCAD USB Control product page\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;border-bottom:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eWhere it sits in the range\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px\"\u003eThe USB Control is the least expensive CAD product and the one to try first; the Ethernet Control treats the network connection and the Ground Controls treat the signal ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCAD USB Control\u003c\/strong\u003e (this model)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cad-ethernet-control\"\u003eCAD Ethernet Control\u003c\/a\u003e: in-line Ethernet noise filter, $1,400\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cad-ground-control-gc1\"\u003eCAD Ground Control GC1.1\u003c\/a\u003e: two-socket grounding box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ground-control-gc3\"\u003eCAD Ground Control GC3.1\u003c\/a\u003e: six-socket grounding box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cad-1543-mkiii-dac\"\u003eCAD 1543 MKIII DAC\u003c\/a\u003e: 20 × TDA1543 non-oversampling USB DAC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cad-ground-control-gc-r\"\u003eCAD Ground Control GC-R\u003c\/a\u003e: reference grounding box, up to ten connections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0\"\u003eSeveral USB Controls can be used in one system, one per spare port.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eReviews\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 22px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/the-ear.net\/review-hardware\/cad-usb-control-opens-up-the-sound\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe Ear: CAD USB Control opens up the sound\u003c\/a\u003e (Chris Baillie and Jason Kennedy, January 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gy8.eu\/review\/the-cad-usb-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eGY8: The CAD USB Control\u003c\/a\u003e (Roy Gregory, May 2023)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/theaudiophileman.com\/usb-control-from-cad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eThe Audiophile Man: USB Control from CAD\u003c\/a\u003e (Paul Rigby, December 2023)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding:16px 18px;background:#f7f6f2;border-left:3px solid #8d1935\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 4px;font-weight:600\"\u003ePlan your CAD system with Pearl Audio\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:14px\"\u003ePearl Audio is an authorized CAD dealer. Tell us which components have a spare USB port and we will advise where to start, or arrange an audition in our Portland showroom. Call \u003ca href=\"tel:+15032222599\"\u003e(503) 222-2599\u003c\/a\u003e or email \u003ca href=\"mailto:sales@pearlaudio.com?subject=CAD%20USB%20Control\"\u003esales@pearlaudio.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"CAD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50792373518434,"sku":null,"price":825.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2475\/2780\/files\/CAD-3253.jpg?v=1793261624","url":"https:\/\/pearlaudio.com\/products\/cad-usb-control","provider":"Pearl Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}