AudioQuest Pearl 48 HDMI Cable

The AudioQuest Pearl 48 is a passive HDMI cable that transmits the full 48 Gbit/s of the HDMI 2.1 standard, letting through 8K/60 and 4K/120 without a bandwidth bottleneck. It sits at the start of the 48 series – and is nonetheless no compromise, simply the stage at which everything necessary is already included.

Why the Pearl 48?

HDMI is mercilessly honest: if the bandwidth isn't enough, you see sparkle, brief picture dropouts, or nothing at all. The Pearl 48 takes that lottery away from you. Solid Long-Grain Copper conductors carry the signal without the grain boundaries that simple stranded copper stumbles over. All 19 conductors are direction-controlled, so picked-up high-frequency noise is guided away from the sensitive end – AudioQuest's Noise-Dissipation Level 1, the base on which every higher stage builds.

What you get

A terminated HDMI cable in the length of your choice, from 0.6 to 5 metres, with securely anchored Type A connectors. It transmits picture up to 10K, HDR including Dolby Vision, and carries TV sound back to the soundbar or AV receiver losslessly via eARC – Dolby TrueHD, Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X included.

Who is the Pearl 48 suitable for – and who isn't it for?

Ideal for a games console, streaming box, Blu-ray player, or TV box over short to medium runs. To be blunt: if you need to route a projector cable across half a ceiling, you're better served by an active or active-optical cable – a passive cable has physical limits, and no marketing shifts them. If you're running a top-tier home cinema, you'll find more headroom further up the range.

Our verdict

The Pearl 48 is the most sensible insurance policy on the shelf: affordable, fully capable, and it doesn't cost a monthly premium. If you want to know whether your run works, get in touch – HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Technical data

• Type: passive HDMI cable per HDMI 2.1, Type A connector (19-pin)
• Bandwidth: 48 Gbit/s over 4 FRL pairs at 12 Gbit/s each
• Conductors: solid Long-Grain Copper (LGC), no silver plating
• Noise dissipation: Noise-Dissipation Level 1, all 19 conductors direction-controlled
• Dielectric: foamed polyethylene
• Construction: five twisted pairs, Ethernet channel
• Resolution: up to 10K, 8K/60 and 4K/120, HDR and Dolby Vision
• Audio return channel: eARC for lossless multichannel formats
• Lengths: 0.6 / 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 3 / 5 m

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need 48 Gbit/s for my 4K TV?

Not necessarily for plain 4K/60. As soon as 4K/120, VRR, or 8K come into play – current consoles, new TVs, modern projectors – older High Speed cables often aren't enough anymore. The Pearl 48 brings the necessary headroom from the start and stays backward-compatible with everything so far.

What does eARC mean on the Pearl 48?

eARC carries TV sound back to the soundbar or AV receiver over the same cable, and uncompressed at that. Dolby TrueHD, Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS:X arrive fully intact. You no longer need a second audio cable between the TV and your system.

Why are the conductors direction-controlled?

The arrows on the jacket show the installation direction. AudioQuest arranges all 19 conductors so that picked-up high-frequency noise flows away towards the source rather than into the sensitive input. Plug the cable in so the arrow points towards the screen, and the direction is correct.

Up to what length does the Pearl 48 work at full bandwidth?

All lengths offered up to five metres are rated for the full 48 Gbit/s; passive cables work especially comfortably up to around three metres. For longer runs through ceilings or conduit, active or active-optical cables are the right answer. Just tell us the distance.

Why buy the Pearl 48 at HD Zürisee?

Because we tell you when the cheapest stage is enough. With HDMI, it's not the price that decides but whether bandwidth, length, and connector match up. Our specialist team in Wädenswil knows the pitfalls from many installations and advises you just as well on the phone as in the shop.

Goes well with

An HDMI cable rarely stands alone: find the other stages under HDMI cables, the matching devices in the Home cinema section, and the whole range in the AudioQuest world.