AudioQuest Products Named TAS Editors’ Choice
A wonderful array of AudioQuest products have received The Absolute Sound’s 2025 Editors’ Choice Award.
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FireBird 48
Ultra High Speed 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 Cable
SKU:
HDM48FBIRD060
Amplifier-End Connector: Multi-Spade, Banana, U-Spade, or V-Spade
Often, the choice between terminating your speaker cables with spade lugs or banana plugs will come down to personal preference. However, the EU-compliant isolated binding posts used on some power amplifiers often makes it difficult if not impossible to tighten spade lugs with high torque or pressure. In these applications, the AudioQuest banana connector is the superior choice, and may be the only choice.
AudioQuest has conducted a fairly extensive survey of contemporary amplifier manufacturers to determine whether spades or bananas will be most appropriate for a given brand and model of amplifier. Please contact us, provide the brand and model of the amplifier, and we’ll respond with the optimal connector type.
Given the girth and weight of our Mythical Creature Series speaker cables, a spade may be better capable of fully supporting the cable. This is particularly a concern with binding posts that do not allow a banana connector to fully seat into the post. The EU-compliant posts will neither accept our V-Spade nor allow our Multi-Spade to be fully seated. For these applications (or when you’re not certain), we highly recommend the U-Spade, as it can accommodate any binding post. The V-Spade is a specialty spade connector that works well with large wingnut binding posts (such as the Mundorf ), as it allows extra clearance.
Speaker-End Connector: Spade or Banana
Here we typically recommend the U-Spade or banana connector. However, even though there is less weight and pressure on this side of the cable (particularly for BiWire sets), it is nevertheless important to note the binding post’s design. If a banana connector cannot seat all the way into the binding post, we recommend one of our spade connectors.
Key Features & Technology Explained
Specifications
Specifications
Description
Description
- 8K-10K: AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables can transfer up to professional 10K Ultra HD video. The incredible 48Gbps data rate is made possible by four balanced audio/video pairs each capable of 12Gbps, enabling a surprisingly stronger audio/video experience.
- 4K Performance: In addition to enabling the 48Gbps data rate, the improved materials and design of AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables significantly benefit the overall performance of your 4K system. All AudioQuest HDMI cables are completely backwards compatible with existing 4K devices.
- Gaming: Supports enhanced gaming features (4K120, VRR, ALLM, QFT) for optimal performance from Sony Playstation 5 (PS5), Microsoft Xbox Series X, Gaming PCs, etc.
- 100% Perfect-Surface Silver Conductors: AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables use AQ’s best conductor metal—100% Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)—to defeat both electrical and magnetic strand-to-strand interaction.
- Noise-Dissipation (Level 6): AudioQuest’s Dielectric-Bias System is added to a high-loss layer of carbon that surrounds the direction-controlled conductors; high-loss graphene is added to the carbon layer sandwiched between layers of metal around the 4 FRL + eARC pairs.
8K-10K
AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables can transfer up to professional 10K Ultra HD video. The incredible 48Gbps data rate is made possible by four balanced audio/video pairs each capable of 12Gbps, enabling a surprisingly stronger audio/video experience.
4K Performance
In addition to enabling the 48Gbps data rate, the improved materials and design of AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables significantly benefit the overall performance of your 4K system. All AudioQuest HDMI cables are completely backwards compatible with existing 4K devices.
Gaming
Supports enhanced gaming features (4K120, VRR, ALLM, QFT) for optimal performance from Sony Playstation 5 (PS5), Microsoft Xbox Series X, Gaming PCs, etc.
100% Perfect-Surface Silver Conductors
AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables use AQ’s best conductor metal—100% Solid Perfect-Surface Silver (PSS)—to defeat both electrical and magnetic strand-to-strand interaction.
Noise-Dissipation (Level 6)
For even greater RF-noise reduction, AudioQuest’s Dielectric-Bias System is added to a high-loss layer of carbon that surrounds the direction-controlled conductors; high-loss graphene is added to the carbon layer sandwiched between layers of metal around the 4 FRL + eARC pairs.
eARC
The Audio Return Channel sends audio from the TV to soundbar, receiver, or ARC input. “enhanced” eARC is easier to use and enables lossless multi-channel. In AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables, the eARC conductor pair is internally controlled for direction to ensure superior audio performance.
Direction-Controlled Conductors
AudioQuest FireBird 48 HDMI cables use Direction-Controlled conductors to minimize RF noise. For optimal Noise-Dissipation and superior audio performance, use FireBird 48 HDMI cables with the plug's arrows pointing towards the TV, or Source towards A/V receiver.
| Materials & Design | |
|---|---|
Ground Reference |
10% Silver
|
A/V Conductor |
100% PSS Silver
|
eARC Conductor |
100% PSS Silver
|
Jacket |
Black with Red Stripes Nylon
|
| Features & Performance | |
Noise-Dissipation |
72v DBS and Graphene + Global Carbon + Direction
|
Resolution |
4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz / 10K@30Hz
|
| Manufacturing Details | |
Country of Origin |
|
 FireBird 48From $1,450.00 View details |  Vodka 48From $450.00 View details |  ThunderBird 48From $795.00 View details |  Dragon 48From $2,395.00 View details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ground Reference |
10% Silver
|
5% Silver
|
10% Silver
|
100% PSS Silver
|
A/V Conductor |
100% PSS Silver
|
10% Silver
|
10% Silver
|
100% PSS Silver
|
eARC Conductor |
100% PSS Silver
|
10% Silver
|
10% Silver
|
100% PSS Silver
|
Jacket |
Black with Red Stripes Nylon
|
Black with Blue Stripes Nylon
|
Black with Blue Stripes Nylon
|
Black Nylon
|
Noise-Dissipation |
72v DBS and Graphene + Global Carbon + Direction
|
Carbon + Metal + Direction
|
Graphene + Global Carbon + Direction
|
72v DBS and Graphene + Global Carbon + Direction
|
Resolution |
4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz / 10K@30Hz
|
4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz / 10K@30Hz
|
4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz / 10K@30Hz
|
4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz / 10K@30Hz
|
Country of Origin |
|
|
|
|
News & Reviews
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Value over Luxury
In November, AudioQuest founder and CEO, Bill Low, visited Hong Kong distributor, Radar Audio, where he was interviewed by AudioTechnique magazine.
