AudioQuest’s New JitterBug FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) USB Noise Filter

I can already hear the rumbling of angry bits-R-bits believers. Damn you, JitterBug!

What does an AudioQuest JitterBug FMJ USB Noise Filter do? According to the company:

JitterBug significantly reduces contamination from RF generated by a computer, car, or other device. JitterBug FMJ also thoroughly addresses environmental RF Noise taking advantage of this vulnerable interface.

You could say the JitterBug is designed to reduce noise, noise that can make its way into the analog circuit in something like a DAC, which converts a digital signal to analog making it a mixed signal system, thereby degrading sound quality. [footnote 1]

The new FMJ version of the popular JitterBug includes a number of design changes to the original including a new metal case (Full Metal Jacket) and RF-absorbing Carbon door. Why include an RF-absorbing Carbon door? Because AudioQuest claims the JitterBugs also work their magic, it’s not really magic but I can’t help myself sometimes,  on unused USB ports as pictured in the opening image. In parallel. The company claims the JitterBug can also be used in series but those results are less predicable. [footnote 2]

As you can see, the JitterBug is USB-A endowed but the company offers a USB C-male to A-female adaptor ($21.95) or the flexible DragonTail USB C-to-A adaptor ($29.95).

The new AQ JitterBug FMJ USB Noise Filter cost $59.95/a piece and will start flying off the shelves on or about May 15.

Company Website: AudioQuest


  1. If you have doubts about noise in mixed signal systems, Google is your friend and you’ll find countless articles and white papers on the subject from mostly non-hifi sources. You can also find this topic covered in your Intro To... kinda books.
  2. One thing about noise is it varies according to environment and device. You could hypothesize that in environments with more RF noise and gear that does not do a great job of eliminating it, users of USB Noise Filters can see a greater improvement as compared to people living in less noisy environments who use better noise-reducing gear.