Audioquest Forest 18 HDMI Cable

Forest 18 Carries 18Gbps Across the Whole Room

AudioQuest's Forest 18 is an active HDMI cable built for long runs. AudioQuest says it provides outstanding audio and video performance at distances up to 50 feet, or 15 meters. Its solid Long-Grain Copper conductors carry a thin 0.5% silver plating. Active Frequency Equalization keeps the full 18Gbps alive over the distance.

Active Frequency Equalization to 15 Meters

A passive HDMI cable loses its highest frequencies as it gets longer, and the picture drops out. AudioQuest builds equalization into the cable. It says Active Frequency Equalization enables 18Gbps performance for lengths up to 50 feet with no power adapter, so the far wall or the ceiling projector is reachable.

Solid 0.5% Silver-Plated Long-Grain Copper

Solid 0.5% silver-plated Long-Grain Copper conductors carry the signal. AudioQuest says solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of dynamic distortion, and that the silver plating improves Noise-Dissipation. The eARC pair gets the same 0.5% silver and Level-1 treatment.

AudioQuest says 100% shielding can't guard against noise from today's Wi-Fi and cell devices. All 19 conductors, the picture pairs, the eARC pair, the drains and the control lines, are controlled for direction so radio noise drains away from sensitive circuits, its Level-1 Noise-Dissipation.

The HDMI Plugs, Explained

Forest 18 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. Because the cable is active, follow the arrows from source to display. Arrows on the plugs show which way to run it.

Who Is This HDMI Cable Best For?

• You want silver on a long run — Forest 18 is the top of AudioQuest's active copper line, with 0.5% silver on the picture pairs and the eARC pair
• You have a ceiling projector or a TV on the far wall — the equalizer holds 18Gbps out to 15 meters, so the picture stays locked across the room
• You watch movies and TV in 4K HDR — AudioQuest guarantees the 18Gbps those formats need at 24 and 30 frames
• You want to route sound back from the display — the HDMI Ethernet channel and the return channel ride along, so one cable does the whole job
• You want 4K at 120 frames or 8K at 60 — an 18Gbps cable stops at 8K/30 and 4K/60, so a current console or flagship display will not reach its top modes. Choose AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 instead

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug one end into the HDMI output of your receiver or player and the other into the TV or projector at the far end of the room. Follow the arrows on the plugs, from the source toward the display. No power adapter is needed. 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

Why is this cable active?

Past about five meters a passive HDMI cable starts to lose the highest frequencies. AudioQuest builds in Active Frequency Equalization, which it says enables 18Gbps performance for lengths up to 50 feet, or 15 meters, with no power adapter.

Is 18Gbps enough?

For movies and TV, yes. AudioQuest says 18Gbps carries video up to 8K/30, HDR and eARC, and that 24 and 30 frames per second are the frame rates for almost all movies and many TV shows. Only 4K/120 and 8K/60 gaming need 48Gbps.

Why plate copper with silver?

AudioQuest says increasingly thick layers of silver are applied to its Long-Grain Copper to improve Noise-Dissipation. Placing the superior metal on the outside of the conductor produces the greatest benefit, which it calls a superbly cost-effective way to maximize a digital cable.

Which way does the cable go?

AudioQuest controls the direction of all 19 conductors. It says to use the cable with the arrows on the plugs pointing toward the TV, or from the source toward the AV receiver. The cable works either way, but the noise control works best as marked.

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 copper 18Gbps range we carry. Forest 18 is the top of that ladder. If you want to go further, call us and we will talk through the whole chain.

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Learn More

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