AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 HDMI Cable (Active Optical)

The AudioQuest Cherry Cola 48 is an active-optical HDMI cable with Ultra High Speed certification that transmits the full 48 Gbps over distances up to 15 meters. That covers the combination most cables fail at: maximum bandwidth and real distance at the same time.

Why the Cherry Cola 48?

48 Gbps is a brutal ask for copper – things get tight after just a few meters. That's why the Cherry Cola 48 routes the four AV data pairs over quartz-glass fibers instead. Light loses practically nothing over 15 meters and isn't impressed by a router, a dimmer, or a cell tower. The metallic eARC and ground-reference conductors are executed with 0.5% silver, topped by Level 4+ noise dissipation with galvanic isolation and a carbon mesh. HDMI Licensing has certified the cable as Ultra High Speed – that's not a self-description, it's a passed test.

What you get

An active-optical 48 Gbps cable in 5, 10 or 15 meters, with notably compact connectors and a fire-retardant CMG jacket (CL3/FT4) for in-wall installation. Like every AOC cable, it's unidirectional: the source side and display side are fixed. It draws its power from the HDMI socket; a power supply isn't included and isn't needed either.

Who is the Cherry Cola 48 for – and who isn't it for?

Straight talk: if you're cabling under five meters, a passive 48-series cable gets you the same result cheaper. If you need to go beyond 15 meters and can live with 4K/60, take the Root Beer 18. The Cherry Cola 48 is built for the intersection: long distance and full bandwidth, meaning 8K/60, 4K/120, resolutions up to 10K, HDR and Dolby Vision.

Our verdict

The Cherry Cola 48 solves the case every other cable leaves open: maximum bandwidth over a distance that's no longer small in a living room. We'll clarify beforehand which length and direction your setup needs – HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical data

• Type: active-optical HDMI cable (AOC), 48 Gbps, HDMI 2.1
• Certification: Ultra High Speed, certified by HDMI Licensing
• AV conductors: quartz-glass fibers, galvanically isolated
• eARC and ground-reference conductors: 0.5% silver, direction-controlled
• Noise dissipation: Level 4+ with carbon mesh and galvanic isolation
• Resolutions: up to 10K, 8K/60, 4K/120, HDR, Dolby Vision
• eARC/ARC: supported
• Signal direction: unidirectional – source and display ends are fixed, swapped the screen stays black
• Power supply: via the HDMI socket, no external power supply
• Jacket: CMG (CL3/FT4), fire-retardant, for in-wall installation
• Connectors: compact design, for tight installation situations
• Lengths: 5 / 10 / 15 m
• Included: HDMI cable in the chosen length

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to watch the direction when connecting it?

Yes, absolutely. The connector on the source side houses the optical transmitter, the other one the receiver – the assignment can't be reversed. Determine the direction before pulling the cable in, and if in doubt, label the ends of the conduit. Connected the wrong way round, the display stays black.

Where does the cable get its power from?

From the HDMI sockets of the connected devices – the Cherry Cola 48 has no separate power supply and doesn't need one. That saves you a power outlet at the ceiling and one less source of error in your setup. The prerequisite is a properly powered HDMI socket on the source device.

What does the Ultra High Speed certification mean?

It means HDMI Licensing has tested the cable and confirmed the full 48 Gbps, including the requirements for interference immunity. This matters for 8K material, because many cables only claim the bandwidth. Behind the Cherry Cola 48 there's a test protocol, not just a number on the packaging.

Is the Cherry Cola 48 worth it on a 4K TV?

Only to a limited extent. For 4K/60 over long distances, the Root Beer 18 is enough and costs less. The Cherry Cola 48 makes sense when 4K/120 for gaming, HDR with a high frame rate, or a future 8K display are in play – and you're installing the cable permanently and don't want to touch it again.

Why order the Cherry Cola 48 from HD Zürisee?

Because before you buy, we walk you through the three questions that matter with AOC cables: direction, length, bandwidth. On top of that, we have an in-house technician who handles the installation, and a team in Wädenswil with years of home-cinema experience. No call center – just people who know your setup.

Goes well with

Full bandwidth also wants to be put to use: browse Home Cinema, check out the shorter connections under HDMI Cables, or discover the whole AudioQuest world.