Forest USB features high-purity 0.5% Silver conductors and a Metal-Layer Noise-Dissipation for the most efficient dissipation of radio-frequency noise. Key Design Philosophies Silver-Plated Conductors: While not solid silver, the 0.5% silver plating is applied to the outside of the copper core. Since high-frequency digital signals travel almost exclusively on the surface (the "skin effect"), this allows the cable to perform similarly to much more expensive silver cables. Solid Core Conductors: AudioQuest uses solid conductors instead of stranded ones to eliminate "inter-strand distortion," which they claim can cause the sound to feel "fuzzy" or "flat." Hard-Cell Foam Insulation: This nitrogen-injected insulation creates air pockets. Because air absorbs almost no energy, it helps maintain the cable's physical geometry and reduces signal smearing. Directionality: Like all AudioQuest digital cables, the Forest is "direction-controlled." The metal is drawn in a specific direction, and the cable is marked with arrows to indicate the optimal signal flow for the lowest noise.
