However, I found a 2m StarTech cable on Amazon for just £37.19. A 50cm Thunderbolt cable from the Apple store will set you back £29. The bonus here is the cables are exactly the same. Most Thunderbolt 2 devices just don't get the throughput when connected to a TB1 port. Thunderbolt 1 has a sustained data rate of 10 Gbps and TB2 gives 20 Gbps. I have to admit that I have not come across (but this is not me saying that they do not exist) a Thunderbolt 2 only audio interfaces. Thunderbolt types 1 and 2 share the same connector and cable type. If you do feel the need to buy a cable with a fruit logo on it, expect to pay a premium. I have had plenty of cables from these companies and had no issues what so ever. Look out for brands such as StarTech and Cable Matters in online stores such as Amazon. This could be why we have seen the price of Thunderbolt cables fall, and Chinese OEM cable manufacturers making more cost-effective Thunderbolt cables. Although this was originally true, it is, in fact, Intel that owns the rights to Thunderbolt. It is a common misconception that Apple Inc owns the rights to Thunderbolt and hence sets the prices for licensing its technology to cable manufacturers.

Do I go for a branded cable or do I go for a generic OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) equivalent? In my many searches for cables for my own studio and for this article, I have discovered there is one major choice one has to make. In this article, I am going to look at the latest interface cable formats, how much they cost and where to get the best deal. The adult, and yes I did just call myself an adult, version of this trauma is opening the box of a new audio interface only to find that the required cable or cables to link the unit to your computer are not included. As a child, there was nothing more frustrating than opening a gift on a Christmas or birthday morning, only to find that the toy needed batteries and yes, you guessed it, these were not included.

Usb 2 vs usb 3 audio imnterfaces