AudioQuest Forest 18 HDMI Cable (Long-Distance, Active)

The AudioQuest Forest 18 is an active long-distance HDMI cable with 0.5% silver-plated conductors that carries the full 18 Gbps over distances up to 12.5 meters. It sits one level above the Pearl 18 and is designed for anything that's meant to be installed once and then forgotten about.

Why the Forest 18?

On a long HDMI run, the outermost material layer plays a decisive role: high-frequency signals travel almost exclusively along it. On the Forest 18, this is where a 0.5% silver plating sits over solid Long-Grain Copper – enough to keep the signal edges cleaner than with the pure copper of the Pearl 18, without the price climbing into territory nobody could justify for a projector feed. Plus the same active frequency equalization and Level 1 noise dissipation.

What you get

An active, unidirectional HDMI cable in 7.5, 10 or 12.5 meters. The equalizer electronics are rated for runs up to 15 meters, so you have a margin at every length on offer. The jacket allows in-wall installation. And because the electronics only work in one direction, one end belongs at the source and the other at the display.

Who is the Forest 18 for – and who isn't it for?

Straight talk: if you never want to see the cable again after installation – behind drywall, in conduit, above a dropped ceiling – the Forest 18 is the more sensible choice. If you can always access the run and are on a tighter budget, the Pearl 18 will do. Neither is enough for 4K/120 or full 8K/60; 18 Gbps is and remains 18 Gbps.

Our verdict

The Forest 18 is the version with headroom for anything that gets permanently installed – unspectacular, but exactly right when a later cable swap would mean construction work. Tell us how your run is laid out: 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 long-distance HDMI cable, 18 Gbps, HDMI 2.0b
• Active technology: active frequency equalization, rated for runs up to 15 m
• Conductors: solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC) with 0.5% silver plating
• Noise dissipation: Level 1, conductors direction-controlled
• Resolutions: 4K/60, 8K/30 (8-bit, 4:2:0), HDR
• eARC/ARC: supported
• Signal direction: unidirectional, source and display ends are fixed
• Jacket: suitable for in-wall installation
• Lengths: 7.5 / 10 / 12.5 m
• Included: HDMI cable in the chosen length

Frequently asked questions

What does the silver content do on such a long run?

At 18 Gbps, the signals travel practically only in the outermost conductor layer. The 0.5% silver plating makes this layer more conductive, keeping the signal edges steeper. This doesn't shift the bandwidth limit, but it increases the margin to a dropout – and that's exactly what matters for permanently installed runs.

Up to what length is the Forest 18 available?

We offer it in 7.5, 10 and 12.5 meters. According to the manufacturer, the active equalization is rated for runs up to 15 meters, so you have a margin at every one of these lengths. If you need more than 12.5 meters, it makes sense to switch to an active-optical cable.

Will I see a difference compared to the Pearl 18?

In the running picture, usually not – digital transmission either works or it doesn't. The difference lies in operating reliability: the Forest 18 has more margin to the error threshold when length, connector quality on the device, and interference all come together. For permanently installed cables, that's worth real money.

What should I keep in mind when installing it?

First the direction: the cable works from source to display, the other way round the screen stays dark. Then the route – conduit with room for the connector head, wide bends instead of sharp kinks, and a small service loop at the projector. Mauri handles all of this on request.

Why order the Forest 18 from HD Zürisee?

Because a long run is rarely just a cable. We look at the source, display, conduit route and planned resolution together with you before you order – and we'll also tell you when the cheaper tier is enough. Our well-practiced team in Wädenswil can be reached by phone, WhatsApp and email.

Goes well with

For the rest of the chain: browse Home Cinema, check out the shorter connections under HDMI Cables, or discover the whole AudioQuest world.