Good Questions: HDMI Switch?

2008_02_04 hdmi switch.jpg Dear Unplggd,
I have already managed to run out of HDMI inputs on my TV to handle all of my components and was wondering if you or your readers have any products you could recommend? I use a Harmony remote so I think that a switch which can auto sense which components are on would be ideal rather than having to manually do the component switching?

Thanks! Trev

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What do you say unplggd readers? Anyone used a switch they can recommend?

Comments (6)

Depending on your budget, there are a whole host of available HDMI switches. For HDMI only switching on the cheap, you can't go wrong with the offerings from Monoprice.com:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110

They aren't pretty and most of them require push button input changing, but for $30-50, they'll get you 2-5 ports.

If you want style or advanced functionality, such as digital audio switching coupled with HDMI inputs, you'll want to turn your eyes to Zektor's HDMI5 ( http://www.zektor.com/hdmi5/index.html ). At $499, it's a steep price to pay, but looks great in your AV rack and will perform very well. Zektor's HDVI5 $399 ( http://www.zektor.com/hdvi5/index.html ) will work for HDMI sources, but requires an HDMI to DVI convertor for each input/output.

The Zektor units claim to be able to convert Toslink audio to Coax and vice versa for any number of inputs so you can mix and match your inputs, but choose with output you'd like to send to your sound system.

HDMI switching is coming down in price, but attached audio switching keeps the price of some nicer units well out of reach for most of us.

I can absolutely vouch for Monoprice. I've bought a whole bunch of stuff from them and have been very satified by their price and customer service. I've bought two of the 5 in/1 out HDMI switcher and they've worked perfectly. Both video and audio are relayed through the switch. Also comes with a remote so you can program it into your Harmony remote. I could care less about the looks since it hiding inside a media cabinet.

FYI: you can get the Apple styled XtremeMac XtremeHD XHD-4HDS-00 4-to-1 HDMI Switcher for $60.97 online. I just placed an order for one myself, as my LCD only has two HDMI ports and I'm finding myself with a lot more peripherals. If cost is more of an issue, those Monoprice options are awesome too, but I liked the XtremeHD with its universal remote and Apple TV complimentary design.

geffen. they're not the prettiest, but they do the job. and with a remote. though that's not the prettiest either.

As an aside, Oppo has great DVD players as well as customer support. My DVD player had stopped reading CD media and was just a few months out of warranty, but they had me ship it back, repaired it, and sent it back free of charge! I only had to pay for shipping the unit back which only cost $11.