Review #147 – Supreme HDMI MKII Cable – Ricable
Dean V.
Sources: WiiM Ultra streamer; Oppo Blu-ray player; Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 turntable
Amplifier: Parasound Halo P5 Preamplifier; Parasound Halo A23+ Power Amplifier
Acoustic Speakers: MartinLogan Sequel II
Other: Gustard R26-II DAC; Gustard U26 DCD
The following review of the Supreme HDMI MKII cable is part of theRicable initiative. Ricable is a program created by Ricable to gather feedback from audiophiles, with the aim of continuously improving the products in its catalog. Last but not least, those who join the program receive a certificate in the mail, confirming that the customer has officially become part of the Ricablefamily.”
The following feedback was compiled based on a predefined questionnaire to which the user provided their impressions in a completely freely. We thank Dean for the time he dedicated to us.
I watched a review on YouTube by Passion for Sound about a DDC connected to a DAC. The review explored which connection type might be best between the DDC and the DAC—for example, coaxial, optical, I²S, AES/EBU, etc. The conclusion was that I²S via HDMI might be the best overall connection.
It was in that YouTube review that the Ricable MKII was mentioned as a very high-quality cable with excellent internal characteristics that minimize electromagnetic noise. In addition, the cable’s overall shielding also reduces external electromagnetic interference that causes noise. Furthermore, this cable is described as being particularly well-suited for use not as a standard HDMI video cable but as an I²S cable utilizing HDMI connectors.
and aesthetics of the product?
When I received the Supreme HDMI MKII cable, I was pleased to find that it was very well made; the cable felt sturdy and substantial. The cable jacket is superb, as are the HDMI connectors. Based solely on the cable’s construction and quality, I was very pleased and felt that what I had purchased was worth the money.
I purchased another HDMI cable that was touted as being very good for I²S, but it isn’t as well-built as the Supreme HDMI MKII. My first cable was much thinner in diameter, and I didn’t feel it would be resistant to noise from within the cable itself or from nearby external cables. I thought my first cable might act as an unwanted antenna, picking up electromagnetic interference or noise more than the Supreme HDMI MKII.
For testing, I simply swapped my first HDMI cable with the Supreme MKII cable back and forth repeatedly, which was time-consuming since I had to constantly change the cables. I then had a friend switch the cables without telling me which was which.
I listened to vocal music, string chamber music, pop music, classic rock, blues, and other genres. I wanted to listen to my collection of music that I was very familiar with and focused on the vocals, the instruments in the high-frequency range, and the low frequencies. As part of my testing, I listened to acoustic and electronic instruments, wind instruments, choral music, and much more. This took several days of testing. I know my testing was very subjective, and the only tool I used was a simple decibel meter to ensure I was listening at the same volume regardless of the cable. I sat in the same position every time and kept the same settings on my WiiM Ultra, DDC, DAC, and preamp. I didn’t change the position of the speakers, and I didn’t need to adjust the volume very much at all to ensure a fair test—though it wasn’t as scientific as a test conducted in an audio lab might be. But this was testing for my own ears in my own home. My question was simply: which HDMI I²S cable sounded better?
listening impressions?
When I replaced my first HDMI cable with the Supreme HDMI MKII, I first noticed that the pace and tone were very similar, and—for me—it was difficult to discern any subtle differences between the two cables. Yes, there was a difference in that the Supreme HDMI MKII was just a little bit better in terms of these two characteristics.
But the biggest and most noticeable difference is a cleaner sound—more specifically, there was a deep, deep black. The tones are richer and have more life; they are more precise. I could hear subtle sounds I had barely noticed before, such as when a vocalist takes a shallow breath or fingers sliding along guitar strings before striking the next note or chord. There wasn’t much difference in the higher frequency range, but to me, it wasn’t a harsh, irritating series of high notes either (I attribute this mostly to the DAC—which is an R2R DAC—not the cables). However, the Supreme HDMI MKII produced a much-improved midrange and strong, satisfying bass. I was very impressed. I think all these improvements are due to the fact that there was much, much less noise. I didn’t realize I was hearing noise until I no longer heard it with the Supreme HDMI MKII. With little to no noise, I could hear subtleties I hadn’t noticed before, which enhanced the experience of truly exceptional listening.
Your conclusions.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive the Supreme HDMI MKII cable so quickly after ordering it directly from Ricable. A visual inspection of the cable gives you confidence that it is built to last and performs well. In terms of sound quality, it does perform very well, at least compared to my other I²S HDMI cable. I don’t usually write reviews that include comparative testing, so I can’t compare the Supreme HDMI MKII cable to other high-end cables designed for the same purpose, but I’m very happy with this cable. Well made, great sound—well done!
What do you like?
– Quality materials
– Quality construction
– Sonically, that’s what I enjoy!
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What would you improve?
– The only thing I would suggest improving is to make the HDMI connectors fit more tightly and snugly. The plugs can easily slip out of the sockets on the devices they are connected to
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I watched a review on YouTube by Passion for Sound about a DDC connected to a DAC. The review analyzed which type of connection between the DDC and the DAC was best, examining options such as coaxial, optical, I²S, AES/EBU, etc. The conclusion was that I²S over HDMI was probably the absolute best connection solution.
It was in that very video that the Ricable MKII cable was mentioned, described as a very high-quality product with excellent internal construction features capable of minimizing electromagnetic noise. Furthermore, the cable’s overall shielding attenuates external electromagnetic interference that generates noise. Finally, the cable is noted as being particularly well-suited not so much for standard use as an HDMI video cable, but rather for use as an I²S cable based on HDMI connectors.
and aesthetics of the product?
When I received the Supreme HDMI MKII cable, I was pleased to find that it was exceptionally well-made; the cable felt sturdy and solid. The outer jacket is very well-made, as are the HDMI connectors. Based solely on the cable’s construction and quality, I was very satisfied and felt that the purchase was worth the cost.
I bought another HDMI cable, advertised as excellent for I²S, but it isn’t as well-built as the Supreme HDMI MKII. My first cable had a much smaller diameter and didn’t give me the impression that it could effectively resist interference—neither from within the cable itself nor from nearby external cables. I was concerned that the first cable might act as an unwanted antenna, picking up electromagnetic interference or noise to a greater extent than the Supreme HDMI MKII.
For the test, I simply switched back and forth several times between the first HDMI cable and the Supreme MKII; it was a time-consuming process, since I had to keep swapping the cables. Later, I asked a friend to switch them without telling me which one I was listening to at any given time.
I listened to vocal music, string chamber music, pop, classic rock, blues, and other genres. I wanted to listen to tracks I knew inside and out, focusing on vocals, high-frequency instruments, and low frequencies. My listening session included acoustic and electronic instruments, wind instruments, choral music, and much more, requiring several days of testing. I am aware that my evaluation was highly subjective; the only tool I used was a simple sound level meter, to ensure I was always listening at the same volume, regardless of the cable used. I sat in the same position throughout and kept the settings for the WiiM Ultra, DDC, DAC, and preamp unchanged. I didn’t move the speakers, and I didn’t need to adjust the volume significantly to ensure a fair comparison; of course, it wasn’t a rigorous scientific test like the kind you might conduct in an audio lab, but it was a test carried out in my home, based solely on my own hearing. The question I wanted to answer was simple: which HDMI I²S cable offered the best sound quality?
listening impressions?
When I replaced my first HDMI cable with the Supreme HDMI MKII, I immediately noticed that the rhythm and timbre were very similar, and I found it difficult to discern subtle differences between the two cables. There was, however, one difference: the Supreme HDMI MKII was slightly superior in precisely these two aspects.
However, the biggest and most noticeable difference is a cleaner sound; more specifically, there was an extremely deep background “black.” The tones are richer and more vivid, as well as more precise. I could perceive sonic details that I had barely heard before, such as a singer’s light breathing or the glide of fingers across guitar strings before playing the next note or chord. There weren’t any major differences in the high-frequency range, but the sound didn’t come across as harsh or grating (a quality I attribute mainly to the DAC—an R2R model—and not to the cables). The Supreme HDMI MKII, however, delivered a significantly improved midrange and powerful, satisfying bass. I was very impressed. I believe all these improvements are due to the drastic reduction in background noise. I hadn’t realized the noise was there until it disappeared thanks to the Supreme HDMI MKII. The absence (or near absence) of noise allowed me to pick up on nuances I hadn’t noticed before, making for a truly exceptional listening experience.
Your conclusions.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I received the Supreme HDMI MKII cable after ordering it directly from Ricable. A visual inspection of the cable immediately gives the impression of a product built to last and capable of delivering excellent performance. In terms of sound quality, the performance is excellent—at least when compared to my previous I²S HDMI cable. I don’t usually write reviews based on comparative tests, so I can’t compare the Supreme HDMI MKII to other high-end cables in the same category, but I’m truly satisfied with this purchase. Excellent craftsmanship, superb sound—congratulations!
What did you enjoy?
– Quality of materials
– Build quality
– Sound-wise, it's just what I like!
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What would you improve?
– The only thing I would suggest improving is making the HDMI connectors fit more securely; the plugs tend to slip out easily of the ports on the devices they’re connected to
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