{"product_id":"audioquest-forest-ethernet-kabel","title":"AudioQuest Forest Ethernet Cable (RJ\/E)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe AudioQuest Forest is a Cat 7 network cable for audio whose solid copper conductors carry a silver plating of 0.5% of the conductor diameter – the first silver tier of the RJ\/E series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat puts it exactly one tier above the Pearl, for an understandable reason: at the frequencies Ethernet works with, almost everything happens in the outer zone of the conductor. Improve that surface and you improve the run – without having to cast the whole conductor from precious metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy the Forest?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilver conducts better than copper. It only gets expensive once you make the whole conductor out of it. AudioQuest therefore applies a thin silver layer over solid copper – on the Forest that's 0.5% of the diameter. Because the signal at Ethernet frequencies runs mostly on the outside anyway, the plating works exactly where it makes a difference. Add to that the Cat-7-typical shielding of the wire pairs, an overall shield, and gold-plated nickel connectors with full shielding coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA ready-made RJ45 cable in six lengths between 0.75 and 12 metres, in a black-and-green striped PVC jacket with the direction of travel printed on it. We'll order other lengths for you through our supplier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Forest for – and who isn't it for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHonestly put: a network cable doesn't repair a file and doesn't raise resolution. Ethernet is packet-based and error-checked – what arrives is identical to what was sent. The real lever lies elsewhere: in the interference resistance of the run and in the high-frequency noise that power supplies, switches, and routers constantly generate and that can travel along via shield and ground. A cleanly shielded cable with stable geometry shrinks that path – no more, but no less either. How much of that reaches you is decided by your streamer: devices with a well-decoupled network input show less difference than those without. For the multiroom speaker in the kitchen, the Forest is overkill. For a standalone network player with a decent DAC, it's the first step that's justifiable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Forest is the point where silver enters the picture without the price doing somersaults: solidly built, fully shielded, pleasantly unfussy. Whether your streamer benefits from it, we'll assess honestly for you – HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00, WhatsApp \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Network cable for audio (RJ\/E), Cat 7\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConductor:\u003c\/strong\u003e solid, silver-plated copper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilver plating:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5% of the conductor diameter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInsulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e polyethylene\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShielding:\u003c\/strong\u003e individually shielded wire pairs plus overall shield (Cat 7 construction)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConnector:\u003c\/strong\u003e RJ45, gold-plated nickel contacts, 100% shielding coverage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransmission:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 m run length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDirectionality:\u003c\/strong\u003e directional, arrow points towards the receiver\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJacket:\u003c\/strong\u003e PVC, black-green striped\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLengths:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.75 \/ 1.5 \/ 3 \/ 5 \/ 8 \/ 12 m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e one ready-made network cable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow much silver is really in the Forest?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silver plating corresponds to 0.5% of the conductor diameter; the core remains copper. That's enough, because at Ethernet frequencies the signal runs almost entirely in the outer zone of the conductor. A solid-silver conductor would cost many times as much – AudioQuest only takes that route with the Diamond, the top of the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Cat 7 enough for music streaming?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. Cat 7 is designed for 10-gigabit transmission; a high-resolution stereo stream needs only a fraction of that. In audio Ethernet, the category is less a speed feature than a build-quality one: it mandates individually shielded wire pairs and an overall shield. That shielding is exactly the point here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForest or Pearl – is the extra cost worth it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat depends on the device behind it. On a soundbar or a multiroom speaker you'll barely notice anything, so the Pearl is enough. On a standalone network player with a good DAC, the Forest is the more sensible starting point. Give us a call and we'll assess your chain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is HD Zürisee the best place to buy the Forest?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause with us you get an honest assessment instead of a sales pitch. We've worked with network audio for decades and will tell you exactly where in your system a better cable can actually make a difference. Plus the right length, delivery, and our own technician if the installation gets tricky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo get the chain right: network players are found among the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/streamer\"\u003estreamers\u003c\/a\u003e, the remaining LAN cables in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/netzwerkkabel\"\u003enetwork cables\u003c\/a\u003e section, switches and network accessories under \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/netzwerk\"\u003enetwork\u003c\/a\u003e. Everything from the brand is gathered in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/audioquest\"\u003eAudioQuest collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AudioQuest","offers":[{"title":"0.75 m","offer_id":53020042690896,"sku":null,"price":84.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.5 m","offer_id":53020042723664,"sku":null,"price":99.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"3 m","offer_id":53020042756432,"sku":null,"price":139.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 m","offer_id":53020042789200,"sku":null,"price":179.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"8 m","offer_id":53020042821968,"sku":null,"price":259.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 m","offer_id":53020042854736,"sku":null,"price":369.95,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/audioquest-forest-ethernet-kabel-produktansicht.png?v=1785436383","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en\/products\/audioquest-forest-ethernet-kabel","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}