USB-C cables are not all the same (again)

I think it’s common knowledge by now that not all USB-C are the same. For example, different cables are rated for different Amps, so you can’t charge a gaming laptop with your smartphone cable, or transfer data at full Thunderbolt 4 speed with a spare cable rated for slower data transfers. And there was also the scandal of phones that could stop working or even get fried if you use the wrong (i.e., non-standard compliant) cable for charging.

So I thought that if I’m not going to

use the cable for charging
use the cable for Thunderbolt
use the cable for anything that involves high energy usage or very high data transfer rates

Then, I could just pick any cable (spoiler: I can’t).

So, when the cable that I used for connecting my USB DAC (Hiby FC3) started showing signs of its age (loose contact), I just went for online shopping and picked the first USB-C to USB-A cable from a reputable brand I saw in the listing.

The cable arrived next day, I plugged-in and hit play.

Whaaat?, I thought as every song I listened to had an audible “click” every 2 seconds or so that wasn’t there before.

Maybe the drivers, let’s uninstall everything and install again. Nothing, it persisted.

Must be some interference, let’s unroll the cable. It got somewhat better, I think, but the click is still happening.

Ugh, those audiophiles that buy those audiophile-graded expensive digital cables were right, this cable is not audiophile enough!, I though, setting that it was some sort of interference. But how could the older cable, one I got from an old smartphone work so well?

Turns out - even if there was actually some minor interference - the problem lies in the expectations of USB-C cables. See, USB-C is around since 2014. USB 3.0 was released. There’s no way a USB-C cable couldn’t perform at least at 3.0 speeds, right? R-Right?

Wrong. There’s an official specification for Type-C cables at USB 2.0 protocol (they lack some wiring, so speeds are capped). In fact, there are two specs, one rated for USB 2.0 at 3A and other at 5A. Heck, there are at least 6 USB-C cables specifications around. And that’s not taking into account the USB-PD cables capable of higher than 5A power delivery.

To make things worse, sellers and manufactures don’t usually disclose enough WHICH cable they’re selling. I only found that my cable could only transfer at 480Mbps (USB 2.0 speed) by reading some small letters on the back.