BEST HMDI switch?????????

[a/v-holic]

I am looking at purchasing a HDMI switch and would like some help at picking out the best one regardless of price? what is the best HDMI switch that is reasonably priced? what features should i be looking for on and HDMI switch? does anyone have any preferences on one or another? and why you like/prefer that model. i guess if its going to cost me to much i might as well just get a denon receiver like the 3806, but then will i run into the problem of the video not passing through the receiver via the HDMI cable to the tv? i have read a post from this forum about this issue. i have a scientific atlantic 8300HD from adelphia and i read a post from clint stating that there is a known issue and that is a problem that can only be fixed with a firmware upgrade to the box but that upgrade can only come from the cable providers, which to say the least can be very difficult to get from them. i live in south florida, does anyone know if that issue has been resolved specifically with adelphia down here in south florida? i have also read that by going with the HDMI switch that i wont have to worry about the video not being able to pass through to the tv, is that correct?

My system is as follows:
2003 Sony XBR 50" rear projection tv (only has 1 DVI port)
2004 Yamaha HTR 5760 7.1 receiver
Scientific Atlantic 8300HD currently connected via component video
2006 Samsung HD960 upconverting via HDMI. have an HDMI adapter connected to a DVI cable that goes directly to the tv.
Monster cable power conditioner HTS 3500
APC Smart UPS 1400

Klipsch
KC-35
RF-3
RS-3II
KSW-15

i only need to connect two HDMI devices to the switch (cable box, dvd player)


thanks

 

[jcPanny]

Gefen HDMI switch

Gefen makes some good HDMI switches. For a 2x1 switch it should only be a couple hundred bucks.
However, before dropping a few hundred on a new switch and cables, I would experiment with the HDMI and component video connections from the cable box. You will probably find no difference in video quality and be happy with your current setup. If you upgrade your receiver in a few years, then it will include the HDMI switching feature.

 

[a/v-holic]

Gefen makes some good HDMI switches. For a 2x1 switch it should only be a couple hundred bucks.
However, before dropping a few hundred on a new switch and cables, I would experiment with the HDMI and component video connections from the cable box. You will probably find no difference in video quality and be happy with your current setup. If you upgrade your receiver in a few years, then it will include the HDMI switching feature.

i have experimented with my current setup. i recently upgraded the dvd player, and to take advantage of the upconversion feature, i have to use the HDMI port obviously, which was originally on my cable box. so i switched them and put the HDMI cable on my dvd player, and the component video on my cable box thinking i wouldnt notice a difference, but ever since i have done that i notice a lot of pixelation specifically on my HD channels when watching sporting events like racing, or football and i didnt ever have that problem before i switch video cables. i have messed around with switching the cable box from displaying 1080i and 720p settings, usually leaving it on 720p settings when watching those type of sporting events, but i still get the pixelation across the screen. now when i say pixelation, its not like the video or audio is lagging. the picture appears to get really fuzzy (maybe thats a better way of saying it) when there is a lot of motion on the screen. i figured it was being caused from having to convert the signal down to analog and the converting it back to a digital signal, cause like i said, when i had my cable box hooked up via HDMI to my tv, i never experienced this problem. am i right in coming to the conclusion that this fuzzy/pixelation effect is due to me switching to component video for my cable box to my tv?

have you or anyone heard about the hdmi switch purelink that clint posted on this thread:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21194&highlight=hdmi+switch

anyone like to comment on this one, is it good, bad, user experiences?

 

[jcPanny]

HDMI switch

A/V,
Sounds like your cable box is outputing a lower resolution (480i or 480p) via the component video cable, you have a low quality cable, or your HDTV has inferior processing for the component input.

Concerning the purelink switch, AH did a review a while back. Looks good, but a little spendy compared to some of the competition.
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/purelink-HDS-41R-HDMI-switcher.php

Also, this guy is selling one in the classified section.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25091

 

[a/v-holic]

A/V,
Sounds like your cable box is outputing a lower resolution (480i or 480p) via the component video cable, you have a low quality cable, or your HDTV has inferior processing for the component input.

Concerning the purelink switch, AH did a review a while back. Looks good, but a little spendy compared to some of the competition.
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/purelink-HDS-41R-HDMI-switcher.php

Also, this guy is selling one in the classified section.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25091

is there anyway to check/change what the cable box is outputting via the component cable connection? i have a scientific atlantic 8300HD. The cable i am using is a monster cable component video, but now that you mentioned low quality, i purchased that cable back in 1999 or 2000 i believe, could that possibly be a problem that this cable is 6-7 years old? The tv i have is a Sony 50" KF-50XBR800, i purchased it back in 2003, i dont know if that helps you as far as letting me know if my hdtv has inferior processing for component video. ill look in the manual to see if i can find anything in there.

 

[jcPanny]

Video test

Try the component video output of your DVD palyer and compare to the HDMI connection with both set to 480p.
If both signals are fuzzy than it is a scaling issue on your HDTV.
If only the component is blurry, than it is possibly a cable issue or due to the HDTVs component input.
If both inputs look good, than the component video output of the cable box is the weekest link.

 

[nhpm510]

Anybody try the $20 monoprice HDMI

switcher yet? I share the same issue, as do many of us I am sure.
(I am not intending on hi-jacking the thread, but consider it to potentially best the best value in the HDMI switching world.)

I'll wait to upgrade the receiver for about 3 years until the HDMI 1.1/1.3 Blu-ray, whatever else you want to through in contraversy has subsidded. But by then, I am sure it will be a different one.

Cynical, who me?

 

[ssu]

Complete HDMI Switching Solutions

Octava offers several different versions of HDMI switches for complete solutions.

The basic HDMI switch come in 3 inputs or 5 inputs ( for ultimate expansion) and lets you connect 3 to 5 HDMI sources to your HD Display.

If you have 2 displays. There is a 3x2 ( 3 inputs, 2 outputs) HDMI Cross Switch which allows you switch between the 2 displays effortlessly. Here is the cool thing, it also lets you display 2 different pictures on the 2 displays for "picture by Picture" effect. So you can have a football game on display A and a second game on disply B.

Also, a 4x1 HDMI switch with Toslink switch switches both HDMI and TOSLINK Audio for easy integration with existing Surround Sound System.

All products can be found at:http://www.octavainc.com