AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 Active Optical HDMI Cable

Cherry Cola 48 Is AudioQuest's Long-Run Flagship

AudioQuest's Cherry Cola 48 is an active optical HDMI cable that carries the full 48Gbps down quartz glass. AudioQuest calls it the premier solution for long-length HDMI. Electro-optical modules in the plugs convert the signal without an external power source, and silver-plated copper carries the eARC pair.

48Gbps Down Quartz Glass, No Power Supply

AudioQuest says Cherry Cola 48 offers superior performance for 10.2Gbps, 18Gbps and 48Gbps sources without requiring an external power source. Its advanced electro-optical conversion modules convert the 48Gbps signal accurately, and the quartz glass fibers lose nothing over distance. 4K/120 and 8K/60 are within reach.

Level-4+ Noise-Dissipation: Isolation, Silver and Carbon

AudioQuest says the glass provides galvanic isolation and RF immunity for the audio and video signals. Around the copper that remains, it adds a silver-plated ground reference, controls the direction of all metal including the control and power conductors, and wraps everything in a global carbon mesh network.

Because AudioQuest follows what it calls an always-prepared mandate, the eARC conductors are silver-plated even though projector rooms rarely use them. A solid metal shield system, a plenum-rated fire-retardant jacket and small plugs simplify installation through walls and ceilings.

The HDMI Plugs, Explained

Cherry Cola 48 ends in a full-size HDMI plug at each end. HDMI is the flat 19-pin plug on every TV, projector, receiver and console. One cable carries picture, sound and the control signals that let the devices talk. AudioQuest kept the plugs small to ease pulls through conduit. Arrows on the plugs show which way to run it.

Watch: AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 in Review

AV Nirvana's bench test of the AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48:

AV Nirvana's overview of its AudioQuest HDMI cable review series:

Who Is This HDMI Cable Best For?

• Your projector or display is 5 to 15 meters away and you want 48Gbps — copper cannot carry 4K/120 that far, and Cherry Cola's glass can
• You game on a PS5 or Xbox Series X through a projector — 4K/120, VRR and ALLM all fit inside the certified 48Gbps bandwidth
• Your run passes power lines, dimmers or a rack full of supplies — glass is immune to radio noise and shares no electrical path, so hum and dropouts have no way in
• You are pulling cable through a wall or ceiling — the plenum-rated jacket and small plugs are made for that job
• Your run is under 5 meters — Cherry Cola starts at 5 meters, and a passive 48 cable does the short job for less. Call us and we will match the length

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug one end into the HDMI output of your receiver or player and the other into the projector or TV across the room. Follow the arrows on the plugs, from the source toward the display. The HDMI port powers the cable, so there is no adapter to plug in. Then choose that input.

Then press play. Other and longer lengths available. Call for prices.

Pairs Well With

An HDMI cable is one link in a home theater chain. It usually joins these categories.

• Home Theater Receivers — the hub most HDMI cables plug into
• Digital-to-Analog Converters — for HDMI audio links and I2S over HDMI
• Speaker Cables — the last link after the receiver
• Power Cables — clean power for the display and the receiver

Frequently Asked Questions

What is galvanic isolation?

Glass carries light, not electricity, so the source and the display share no electrical path through the picture conductors. AudioQuest says optical fibers provide total RF immunity and galvanic isolation, and that, as with Toslink, they do not pick up or transmit induced radio noise.

Does it need a power adapter?

AudioQuest says the cable is powered by the HDMI port, so no AC adaptor is required. Plug it in like any HDMI cable. The conversion modules in the plugs draw what they need from the socket.

What does 48Gbps get me?

AudioQuest says its 48 cables can transfer up to professional 10K Ultra HD video, support Dynamic HDR, and have the conductors and bandwidth eARC needs. Four balanced audio/video pairs each carry 12Gbps to reach the 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 rate.

Does it support PS5 and Xbox Series X features?

Yes. AudioQuest says its 48Gbps cables support the enhanced gaming features, 4K120, VRR, ALLM and QFT, for optimal performance from Sony PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox Series X and gaming PCs. The cable is certified Ultra High Speed by HDMI Licensing.

What warranty does AudioQuest give?

A limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, for cables bought from an authorized US dealer such as Audio Advisor. AudioQuest will repair or replace a defective cable that has not been abused. Keep your proof of purchase.

Is there a step up?

Not in the AudioQuest active optical range we carry. Cherry Cola 48 is the top of that ladder. If you want to go further, call us and we will talk through the whole chain.

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
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Learn More

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