HDMI Cables

Our HDMI cables come almost entirely from AudioQuest, with SVS SoundPath alongside, and run from 0.6m leads behind a TV cabinet to 15m active and fibre-optic runs for projectors. They suit anyone who wants to choose by bandwidth, length and build.

48Gbps or 18Gbps: matching the cable to your gear

The 48 in most AudioQuest names refers to 48Gbps, the full bandwidth of HDMI 2.1. That is the headroom 4K at 120Hz gaming and 8K at 60Hz displays call for. Pearl 48, Forest 48, Cinnamon 48, Carbon 48, Vodka 48, Thunderbird 48, Firebird 48 and Dragon 48 are each rated as a 48Gbps HDMI cable and, like any HDMI cable, also work with existing 4K displays.

Blueberry is an 18Gbps design for 4K with HDR and eARC, with 8K at 30Hz as its stated ceiling. If your TV, player and receiver top out at 4K at 60Hz, that is the job Blueberry was designed for. The SVS SoundPath HDMI cable is certified Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 and comes in 1m, 2m and 3m.

Copper, silver and noise dissipation in the 48 range

With bandwidth shared across the 48 models, the steps are about conductor metal and noise control. Pearl 48 uses long-grain copper. Forest 48, Cinnamon 48, Carbon 48, Vodka 48 and Thunderbird 48 use silver-plated copper, rising from 0.5% silver on Forest 48 to 10% on Vodka 48 and Thunderbird 48, while Firebird 48 and Dragon 48 use 100% Perfect-Surface Silver conductors.

AudioQuest also numbers its noise-dissipation designs, from Level 1 on Forest 48 to Level 6 on Firebird 48, and Dragon 48 adds the 72v Dielectric-Bias System. The stated aim is to keep radio-frequency noise away from the connected components, with the audio carried over HDMI as much in mind as the picture. Whether that matters in your system is a conversation the team enjoys having.

eARC HDMI cables for TV sound

If your TV sends sound to an AV receiver or soundbar through its eARC or ARC socket, Vodka eARC, Thunderbird eARC and Dragon eARC are built around that job. They keep the 48Gbps rating and give the audio return path its own silver or silver-plated eARC and ground-reference conductors. eARC is the link that can carry lossless multichannel formats such as Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio from the TV back to the receiver.

Long runs: active and fibre-optic HDMI

Once a run passes about 5m, passive copper has a harder time holding high bandwidth, which is why the long end of the range is active. The active Pearl comes in 7.5m, 10m, 12.5m and 15m, rated at 18Gbps with Active Frequency-Equalization. Cherry Cola is an active optical HDMI cable in 5m, 10m and 15m that carries 48Gbps over quartz glass fibre without an external power source, with a plenum-rated jacket and small plugs for conduit work.

Active cables run one way, so check the source and display ends before the cable disappears into a wall.

Questions we get asked

Are AudioQuest HDMI cables worth it?

For the picture, the honest answer is bandwidth and length. HDMI video is digital, so a cable that carries the full signal at your length delivers the same image as any other cable that does, and no cable adds detail that isn't in the signal. Moving up the range adds silver and more elaborate noise dissipation, designed with audio and noise-sensitive systems in mind. Get the rating and length right first, then talk to us about the rest.

What's the difference between a 4K, 8K and 10K HDMI cable?

The labels describe the video formats a cable's bandwidth is rated for. 18Gbps cables such as Blueberry are designed for 4K with HDR, while 48Gbps cables cover 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz. The 8-10K label on the AudioQuest 48 models refers to their rating for up to professional 10K video.

Should I use HDMI or optical for TV sound?

HDMI eARC can carry lossless multichannel formats, including Dolby Atmos, which optical cannot. Our optical cables still make sense for stereo or standard Dolby Digital from a TV to an older receiver, soundbar or DAC, and they keep the two components electrically isolated.

If you're planning a projector run through a wall or wiring up one of our AV receivers, tell us the devices at each end and the distance, and we'll talk through rating and length, plus anything else from our cables and interconnects. Call the team or visit our Murarrie showroom, and call or message first if you'd like a demo arranged.