TB5 cables support 80 Gbps bidirectional data and display transfer, with Bandwidth Boost enabling up to 120 Gbps in one direction for high-resolution displays. Passive TB5 cables are limited to approximately 1m. Active optical cables extend to 2-10m at significantly higher cost. Intel certification requires TB5 cables to carry the Thunderbolt logo. Works with Sonnet Breakaway Box 850 T5, Kensington SD5000T5, and TB5-equipped laptops. Supports up to 240W power delivery (PD 3.1 EPR).
The USB-A to USB Micro-B Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is the classic Micro-USB cable for PS4 controllers, Xbox One controllers, Kindle e-readers, and thousands of older accessories. Delivers 2W charging. Still the most common legacy USB cable you'll find in a drawer. Being replaced by USB-C, but these cables will be around for years.
This is the standard cable shipped with most audio interfaces (Focusrite Scarlett generations 1-3, SSL 2/2+, MOTU M2/M4, Behringer UMC series) and USB turntables. Any USB-A to USB-B cable works regardless of USB version labeling — USB 2.0 Type-B is identical to printer cables. USB Audio Class devices need only USB 2.0 bandwidth. AWG 28/24 is standard at 1-2m. Avoid cables over 5m without an active repeater.
The USB-A to USB-B Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps connects printers, audio interfaces, monitors with USB hubs, and older peripherals. The square USB-B end plugs into the device; the flat USB-A end plugs into your computer. Still widely used for pro audio gear and office printers. Blue connectors indicate SuperSpeed 3.x — black means USB 2.0.
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is the budget charging-and-sync cable for USB-C devices. Just 2W charging and basic data — the cable most often included in the box with phones, earbuds, and controllers. Fine for keyboard/mouse connections. Don't expect fast file transfers — upgrade to Gen 1 or Gen 2 for that.
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps is the workhorse cable for connecting USB-C devices to USB-A ports on older computers and consoles. Up to 4W charging. Handles external drives, controllers, and accessories at decent speeds. The most commonly sold USB-A to USB-C cable type.
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2) at 10Gbps connects newer USB-C devices to PCs, consoles, and chargers with USB-A ports. Up to 7W power delivery. Good for fast external SSD transfers and quick phone charging. Note: USB-A limits power delivery compared to USB-C to USB-C cables.
The USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable passes native DisplayPort signal from a USB-C port to a DP monitor at 32.4Gbps for 8K@30Hz or 4K@120Hz with DSC. Not a protocol conversion — just a physical adapter since USB-C DP Alt Mode carries native DisplayPort natively. Your USB-C port must support DP Alt Mode. Passive cable, available up to 2m.
The USB-C to HDMI Cable (HDMI 2.0, 4K@60Hz) converts USB-C DP Alt Mode to HDMI 2.0 at 18Gbps for 4K@60Hz. The most popular adapter cable for connecting laptops to TVs and monitors. Your USB-C port must support DP Alt Mode (not all do — check your device specs). Active conversion handles the protocol change automatically.
The USB-C to HDMI Cable (HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz) converts USB-C DP Alt Mode to HDMI 2.1 at 48Gbps for 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz. Active conversion cable — your laptop must support DP Alt Mode output. The premium option for connecting modern laptops to gaming TVs and 4K@120Hz displays. Typically limited to 2-3m length due to active electronics.
As laptops drop USB-A ports, this cable bridges modern host devices to USB-B peripherals like audio interfaces. USB Audio Class 2.0 compliance is maintained — high-resolution audio (24-bit/192kHz) works without issues. Electrically equivalent to USB-A to USB-B plus a USB-C adapter, but in a single cable. Ensure the cable supports data transfer (not charge-only).
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is primarily a charging cable — 15W max. Data transfers crawl at USB 2.0 speeds. No video output capability. The cheapest USB-C cable tier and the one most often bundled with budget devices. Don't use this for external drives or displays — you need USB 3.2 or better.
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps with up to 60W charging is the standard bundled cable with many devices. Good enough for external hard drives and moderate charging. Passive up to 2m. Step up to Gen 2 (10Gbps) for external SSDs. Look for the SuperSpeed trident logo.
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2) at 10Gbps with up to 100W power delivery is the sweet spot for most users. Fast enough for external SSDs, NVMe enclosures, and quick charging. Passive cables up to 1m. No video output unless your devices support DP Alt Mode. Check for USB-IF certification to ensure quality.
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB4 40Gbps) at 40Gbps carries data, video (DP Alt Mode for 8K@30Hz), and up to 240W charging through a single cable. Requires E-Marker chip. Short max passive length (0.8m) — this is a performance cable, not a long-run solution. Backward compatible with all USB 3.x and USB 2.0 devices.
The VGA Cable (D-Sub 15) carries analog video up to 2048x1536 — with increasing quality loss at higher resolutions. The D-Sub 15 connector has been around since 1987. Still used on projectors and legacy enterprise monitors. Video only, no audio. For anything modern, use HDMI or DisplayPort instead.
This cable connects XLR-output gear to TRS-input equipment or vice versa — both ends carry balanced signals, so signal integrity is maintained end-to-end. Commonly used to connect audio interface XLR outputs (Focusrite Scarlett, Universal Audio Apollo, SSL 2+) to studio monitors with TRS inputs (KRK ROKIT series). This is not an adapter — the cable is truly balanced throughout. Common lengths: 1m, 2m, 3m.
XLR balanced cables connect audio interfaces to studio monitors, microphones to preamps, and stage gear to mixers. The balanced differential signal rejects electromagnetic interference, making long runs practical without hum or noise. Common lengths are 1m, 1.8m (6ft), 3m (10ft), and 7.5m (25ft). For studio use, 24 AWG star-quad construction (Mogami W2534, Canare L-4E6S) offers superior noise rejection versus standard shielded cable. Neutrik XLR connectors are the industry standard for quality. Passive cable has no theoretical maximum length, but 50-100m is practical before level loss.
