Audioquest HDMI Pearl 48Gbps 1.5m

The HDMI AudioQuest Pearl 48 cable is an entry-level model in the brand’s 48 Gbps range, compatible with the HDMI 2.1 standard. It is Ultra High Speed certified by HDMI Licensing and supports bandwidths up to 48 Gbps, enabling video signal transmission up to 10K, 8K at 60 Hz, or 4K at 120 Hz depending on usage. The cable uses Long-Grain Copper (LGC) conductors and a level 1 noise dissipation system. It supports dynamic HDR formats as well as high-resolution multichannel audio via the eARC function.

Conductor Architecture and Signal Transmission

The Pearl 48 is built with a fully solid construction using AudioQuest’s Long-Grain Copper (LGC). This technology differs from traditional oxygen-free copper by its optimized crystalline structure: about 300 grains per 30 centimeters compared to over 1,500 for standard copper. This drastic reduction in the number of grain boundaries limits resistance points and minimizes distortion caused by electromagnetic interaction.

Both the audio/video and eARC conductors benefit from this same copper quality, while the ground references use tinned copper to optimize interference drainage. The solid architecture also eliminates magnetic interaction between multiple strands, a major source of distortion in conventional cables.

The internal geometry strictly adheres to the 100-ohm characteristic impedance required for HDMI transmission, ensuring signal integrity along the entire cable length.

Noise Dissipation System and Shielding

The Pearl 48 implements AudioQuest’s Direction-Controlled technology, the foundation of their noise dissipation approach. The cable’s 19 conductors—including the four audio/video pairs, the eARC pair, reference drains, and control/power conductors—are oriented to channel and evacuate radio frequency noise away from the most sensitive circuits.

This approach goes beyond traditional “100%” shielding, which proves insufficient against the pervasive interference from Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and satellite transmissions. By physically orienting the conductors, the system creates active RF noise drainage rather than just a passive barrier.

The CMG (CL3/FT4) outer jacket meets in-wall installation standards and is fire-resistant, allowing for permanent integration within walls.

Compatibility and Supported Standards

The Pearl 48 supports the full HDMI 2.1 standard, allowing video data rates up to 48Gbps distributed across four balanced pairs of 12Gbps each. This architecture enables uncompressed transmission of 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, and even 10K resolutions used in professional production.

All HDR formats are supported, including HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, which optimize contrast, saturation, and brightness on a frame-by-frame basis. The cable also handles advanced gaming features such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and QFT (Quick Frame Transport), essential for next-generation consoles.

eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) compatibility allows bidirectional transmission of uncompressed multichannel audio, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X, turning the TV into a central audio hub.

Audio Performance and eARC Technology

Unlike many competitors who overlook the audio quality of HDMI cables, AudioQuest applies the same rigor to the eARC conductors as to the video pairs. The dedicated audio return channel pair uses the same LGC copper and benefits from directional control to optimize sound performance.

This special attention results in faithful transmission of high-resolution audio formats without compression or data loss. eARC thus enables full Dolby Atmos streams or multichannel DTS:X tracks to be sent from the TV to an amplifier or soundbar, greatly simplifying system architecture.

The dedicated eARC bandwidth also allows for sufficient data rates for future audio standards, ensuring the longevity of your setup.

Technical Specifications

Performance

• Type: 48 gigabits/s 8K-10K

Conductors

• Audio/Video: solid long-grain copper (LGC)
• eARC (enhanced audio return channel): solid long-grain copper (LGC)
• Ground reference: tinned copper

Construction

• Noise dissipation: 19 isolated conductors
• Jacket: CMG (CL3/FT4)
• Length: 1.5 m