This is a review and detailed measurements of the performance of Supra Swedish USB audio cable. It was kindly donated to the forum by a member and sells for US $53 for 2 meter length:
I like the light gray look and rather beefy construction. Alas, the latter makes it difficult to rotate the cable -- something you need to do as you align both ends of the cable to plug into their respective sockets. This can also put strain on the connectors and or lift light/rotate weight devices. There are worse offenders to be sure but would be good for cable companies to take this into consideration when making premium cables.
Company names the usual claims about the cable, but also some rarely seen electrical specs:
Features & Benefits:
Electrical performance
It would have been nice to see actual performance measurements such as eye pattern. Still, they are providing far more data than many expensive audiophile USB cables.
Supra USB Audio Cable Measurements
As usual, we want to create a reference for our testing, so I grabbed a random 6 foot, rather thin USB cable and measured the Topping D70s with it:
Swapping for Supra cable shows the usual run to run variations and nothing more:
Dynamic range shows the same:
Finally, jitter measurement shows no difference:
With USB interface, the USB clock is not used for the DAC anyway so external jitter wouldn't matter. But if the cable picked up noise, it could get transmitted to the DAC. Fortunately, in these short lengths and with a quality DAC, we see that there is no difference.
Conclusion
I know many of you would guess that the USB cable would make no difference, but it is important to test to make sure there is negative consequence either. Such is the case here. Unlike typical audiophile cables, you are hardly paying a premium for the Supra cable. Granted a free one comes with your DAC but with inflation what it is, $53 for something made in Sweden doesn't make my blood pressure go up.
While personally I have no use for the Supra USB cable, I won't be complaining if you bought one, especially if your in EU.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
I like the light gray look and rather beefy construction. Alas, the latter makes it difficult to rotate the cable -- something you need to do as you align both ends of the cable to plug into their respective sockets. This can also put strain on the connectors and or lift light/rotate weight devices. There are worse offenders to be sure but would be good for cable companies to take this into consideration when making premium cables.
Company names the usual claims about the cable, but also some rarely seen electrical specs:
Features & Benefits:
- Long cables lengths - provides for long distances between devices
- Correct data transfer - utmost sound capabilities
- Perfect shielding and twinning - minimum signal degradation
- Robust type A and type B connectors - reliable, long mobile life
- Made in Sweden - Modern research, production and quality
| Standard | USB 2.0, Hi-Speed | ||
| Connectors | USB A Male to USB B Male | ||
| Signal Direction: | <-> | ||
| Application Examples: | Computer, DAC | ||
| Data transfer rate: | 480 Mbit/s | ||
| Solder Tin: | Almit SR-34 Super | ||
| Cable clamping: | Molded |
| Number of pairs: | 2 | |
| Cross Area: | 0.24 / 23 | mm2/AWG |
| No. Wires/Conductor: | 19 | |
| Wire diameter : | 0.127 | (mm) |
| Wire Material: | Tin Plated OFC | |
| Insulation: | PE | |
| Screen: | Aluminium/Pet Foil | |
| Jacket: | PVC | |
| Flameretardancy: | No | |
| Ext. Size | 7.5 | (mm) |
| Weight | 56 | (g/m) |
| Resistance: | 72 | (Ohm/km) |
| C: | 52 | (pF/m) |
| Imp. Z: | 90 | Ohm |
| Velo. Factor | 0.66c |
It would have been nice to see actual performance measurements such as eye pattern. Still, they are providing far more data than many expensive audiophile USB cables.
Supra USB Audio Cable Measurements
As usual, we want to create a reference for our testing, so I grabbed a random 6 foot, rather thin USB cable and measured the Topping D70s with it:
Swapping for Supra cable shows the usual run to run variations and nothing more:
Dynamic range shows the same:
Finally, jitter measurement shows no difference:
With USB interface, the USB clock is not used for the DAC anyway so external jitter wouldn't matter. But if the cable picked up noise, it could get transmitted to the DAC. Fortunately, in these short lengths and with a quality DAC, we see that there is no difference.
Conclusion
I know many of you would guess that the USB cable would make no difference, but it is important to test to make sure there is negative consequence either. Such is the case here. Unlike typical audiophile cables, you are hardly paying a premium for the Supra cable. Granted a free one comes with your DAC but with inflation what it is, $53 for something made in Sweden doesn't make my blood pressure go up.
While personally I have no use for the Supra USB cable, I won't be complaining if you bought one, especially if your in EU.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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