AudioQuest Root Beer 18 Active Optical HDMI Cable

Root Beer 18 Sends the Picture Down Glass

AudioQuest's Root Beer 18 is an active optical HDMI cable. Quartz glass fibers carry the picture, which AudioQuest says provides outstanding audio and video performance at distances up to 100 feet, or 30 meters. The HDMI port powers it, so no adapter is needed. It carries the full 18Gbps.

Quartz Glass Fibers, Powered by the HDMI Port

AudioQuest says optical fiber eliminates multiple forms of degradation over distance. Root Beer's quartz glass fibers carry the audio and video signal as light, and electro-optical modules in the plugs convert it at each end. Power comes from the HDMI port, so no AC adaptor is required.

Total RF Immunity and Galvanic Isolation

AudioQuest says optical fibers provide total RF immunity and galvanic isolation for the audio and video signal, important advantages in the fight against radio-frequency noise. As with Toslink and other optical cables, the fibers do not pick up or transmit induced radio noise, no matter how long the run.

The copper that remains, the eARC and communication conductors, is controlled for direction. AudioQuest says that minimizes the radio noise that hurts active circuits, so the return channel gets the same care as the glass.

The HDMI Plugs, Explained

Root Beer 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. The conversion modules live inside the plugs. Arrows on the plugs show which way to run it.

Who Is This HDMI Cable Best For?

• Your projector is 15 to 30 meters from the rack — glass carries 18Gbps to 100 feet where copper gives up, so the long throw is no longer a compromise
• 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 watch movies and TV in 4K HDR — AudioQuest guarantees the 18Gbps those formats need at 24 and 30 frames
• You want a long cable without a wall-wart — the HDMI port powers the cable, so there is nothing extra to plug in at either end
• 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 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.

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.

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?

AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 is the next rung. It moves the glass to 48Gbps for 4K/120 and 8K/60 and adds silver-plated eARC conductors and a global carbon mesh, Level-4+ Noise-Dissipation.

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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