Supra Audiophile USB Cable Review

[Overseas]

I have few Supra RCA cables, they also offer some rather expensive models.
But never bought their USB cables.

 

[Bob101]

A simple USB cable for stereo audio does not need to be anything exotic or expensive. Bad cables exist (mostly durability of shielding and questionable connectors).
Just took a look at SUPRA products. Look very durable and nice. I can't smell snake oil, and though not 'whack-crazy' expensive, just massively overpriced IMO.
If you like their products and can afford them: I can't imagine you'll be disappointed. But for a regular to serious enthousiast with a ~5.000$ system this brand will not add anything over cables and connectors costing 75% less.
Also: learn how to solder, buy good connectors and cables and you can make super high-end cables at home...

 

[Roland68]

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:
View attachment 466648
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

Mechanical Specifications

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)

Electrical performance

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:
View attachment 466649

Swapping for Supra cable shows the usual run to run variations and nothing more:
View attachment 466650

Dynamic range shows the same:
View attachment 466651

Finally, jitter measurement shows no difference:
View attachment 466652
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 would find such a measurement particularly interesting with a very dirty VCC 5V and GND and the effect on the D+/D- data line.
The second point would be a measurement with a proven DAC powered via USB, e.g., the SMSL SU-1, additionally with a dirty power supply for comparison.
The third point would be the measurement of longer cables for comparison, such as 3m and 5m, and lengths outside the specification, e.g., 7.5m and 10m.

 

[Cogito]

Seems well built. Price isn't outrageous, but still overpriced for what it is. It gets a "Not terrible" from me.

 

[respice finem]

At least it works... For real "believers" probably too cheap anyway...

But seriously: For today's often small and light devices, such cables (and even more, thick speaker cables) can be a problem, because the tiny boxes are being displaced by their weight. But then, another "upgrade" can help

An update on hi-fi doorstops | Darko.Audio

And the beginning of a deeper dive into the Amazon affiliate programme.

darko.audio

 

[Michel Forbes]

Nice: They provide the nominal impedance of 90 Ohms. Considering that most audiophile cable manufacturer don't mention it.

 

[stefanovesa]

I would find such a measurement particularly interesting with a very dirty VCC 5V and GND and the effect on the D+/D- data line.
The second point would be a measurement with a proven DAC powered via USB, e.g., the SMSL SU-1, additionally with a dirty power supply for comparison.
The third point would be the measurement of longer cables for comparison, such as 3m and 5m, and lengths outside the specification, e.g., 7.5m and 10m.

perhaps Amir can also test with the infamous Schiit Modi 2 DAC.

 

[beeface]

Looks unwieldy. Would stick to Anker or ugreen from Amazon personally

 

[DanielT]

Thanks for the test Amir. Okay $53 is... well, nothing to get upset about, it's not super expensive snake hocus pocus oil high end over that. It's like you say:
$53 for something made in Sweden doesn't make my blood pressure go up.

Supra makes / sells, among other things - and what they are probably best known for - various cables. I immediately think of their subwoofer cables that are popular in Sweden. They are not super expensive. Completely okay cables. Nothing unique or special, just ordinary boring cables that do the job they are intended to do. Price on those cables, is okay.

Some Supra cables plus other things they sell:

Shop High Quality HDMI, DVI and HI-FI Cables

supracables.se

in my opinion SUPRA items are a mixed bags, some of them smelling a bit as snake oil. E.g. see their analog interconnects. I have had also their premium Excalibur USB cable, with its star-quad power wires configuration: much more expensive and NOT USB certified. Anyway helped with a USB powered DAC, 5 metres far from the laptop. Other cables failed to power it.

There's a bit of snake oil marketing talk with Supra. Just ignore it. Silly I admit, but Supra is trying to fish for the cable-believing subjectivists. Supra's products and prices are okay though.

Edit:
Supra subwoofer cable, well shielded, 20 ft/6 m for $38 is a ok price I think:

 

[bboris77]

Well, modern DACs know how to handle PC noise. I used to have the original Schiit Modi and boy was it sensitive to noise. I measured the Modi's output using RMAA and my E-MU 0404 USB and there was repeatable measurable difference between different USB cables. Mind you I only had cheap ones on hand, no fancy expensive cables. What made the biggest difference in the cables was whether it had a ferrite choke or not. In the end the best way I found to get rid of as much of the noise as possible was to use a USB hub. I had a couple USB 2.0 hubs laying around and some let through more noise than others. I spent a lot of time measuing the Modi with all the different calbes and USB hubs and in the end I sold it to someone who did not care as long as he could not hear the noise.

Slightly OT: What was very cool at the time was that I had one of the Gigabyte Z97 motherboards that had 2 special USB 2.0 ports that were dedicated to be used for a DAC and the Modi had measurably less noise when connected via those USB ports compared to all the other USB ports on that motherboard. Shame that modern motherboards don't have those. But as shown in this review, modern DACs don't seem to need them, if well-designed.

This is not the first time I've heard that ferrite cores on USB cables for DACs can impact how well they measure, specifically in terms of jitter performance. Has @amirm or anyone else with proper measurement gear conducted this type of test?

 

[respice finem]

Looks unwieldy. Would stick to Anker or ugreen from Amazon personally

Exactly.
Fun fact: RME includes "bog standard" USB cables with the ADI-2 DAC. No problems at all.

 

[stefanovesa]

This is not the first time I've heard that ferrite cores on USB cables for DACs can impact how well they measure, specifically in terms of jitter performance. Has @amirm or anyone else with proper measurement gear conducted this type of test?

Learning from some scattered posts on ASR, (if I learned right...) the role of ferrites on USB cables has zero impact on the cable itself, due to the frequencies of the signals running in the cable. Their role is only to make the DAC or other device to be compliant with EMI rules in various countries, absorbing them and avoid that they pollute the environment. So if the DAC is engineered correctly not to spread EMI, ferrite beads do nothing.

 

[GeekyBastard]

For 53 USD, it came with well documented mechanical specifications, good material quality, no degradation compares to generic cables, it's already a steal in Hi-Fi world LMFAO

 

[RogerSmith]

Maybe the real capability of the cable only appears when it is as freezing cold as in Sweden.

 

[respice finem]

Maybe the real capability of the cable only appears when it is as freezing cold as in Sweden.

Superconductor

 

[Gio]

Such a kind of commercial practices have one name.

 

[IngMishael]

Nice cable

 

[nabuc]

Usb 2 type B, one of the worst usb connector create, to much play in connector, get soundcard which disconnect quickly, and for 8€ on amazon you get 2m cable too Ugreen and can find cheaper, so vote poor 6 time to much expensive

 

[Timcognito]

I think quality turns into frivolity at about $15 for a 2m USB cable. Now a V60 Recharge, that's some Swedish frivolity worth the $70k

 

[Bob101]

At least it works... For real "believers" probably too cheap anyway...

But seriously: For today's often small and light devices, such cables (and even more, thick speaker cables) can be a problem, because the tiny boxes are being displaced by their weight. But then, another "upgrade" can help

An update on hi-fi doorstops | Darko.Audio

And the beginning of a deeper dive into the Amazon affiliate programme.

darko.audio

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