SUPRA EFF-ISL BEST BUY "Excellent sound in all areas - nothing to criticise!" - Hi-Fi Choice ´99 U.K.

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The Supra catalogue brings yet more technobabble, I'm afraid, and is only slightly more accurate than usual. Still, the actual cable is immaculately assembled. It consists of a pair of conductors, each tubular (i.e. stranded around a non-conducting core), made of silver-plated copper and insulated with polythene. An aluminium foil screen is wrapped separatly about each conductor and the whole lot is embedded in PVC.

The conductors are connected in pseudo-balanced mode with the screens connected at one end, and the plugs are exceptionally rugged types with collet cable clamping (but soldered earth connection) and a locking clamp to ensure a tight fit - use with care on cheap sockets! Sound Quality This cable came out as an easy top choice in the group. Listening started with some orchestral material, growing out of the 'cellos and basses and rising through the orchestra to violins and solo trumpet.

Right at the start this cable was the most assured, with effortless low frequency extension but no lack of detail. Possibly just the slightest hint of plumminess, but it's hard to be sure. As other instruments joined in the sound never lost its focus and control, and the bass was soon perfectly complemented by sweetness and detail in the treble which again equalled or exceeded every other cable here. Quite simply, if there are any drawbacks to this cable it's hard to find them. Detail across the board is first-class and never at the expense of tonality or dynamics: imaging is stable and precise at any level: the sound just has a 'rightness' that makes for relaxed long-term listening.

Conclusion Measurements give no obvious clues as to why this cable is so far out in front. Its capacitance is highish but remarkably so. The tested length of 0.75m presumeably gave it some advantage over the others (mostly 1m) but even so it's clearly unusually capable and an obvious Best Buy.

 

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