Gefen also announced a much more straight forward HDMI switch today called the 4×1 Gefen tv Switcher. As the name implies, the switch accepts four HDMI inputs, has one HDMI output and sells for $199 (again, a bit steep). The device has auto switching capability which basically means if it detects an input device is powered on, it will switch to that device. If the device powers off, it will switch to the previous input it was at. The switch supports up to 1080p resolutions and includes an IR remote control.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Gefen, 4x1 Gefen tv Switcher, HDMI switch

If you have a TV set with a single HDMI input and you’re looking for a way to manage multiple analog and digital A/V sources without buying a full on receiver, then you might be interested in the newly announced Gefen GefenTV Multi Format Switcher. This box supports one component source with analog audio, one composite or S-Video source with analog audio, and two HDMI sources with digital audio, and then outputs via HDMI with video upscaled to 1080p using Gefen’s Home Theater Scaler Plus. The analog audio is even digitized and output via the HDMI output connection (or you can connect using a digital output as well). Each of the HDMI inputs also have separate digital audio inputs. The device comes with on-screen menus which are accessible via an IR remote.

Features include:

• DVI/HDCP/HDMI compliant input: Operates up to 165Mhz (Up to UXGA @60Hz)
• Supports digital HD output up to 1080p.
• Integrated 8-bit triple-ADC/PLL.
• Integrated DVI/HDCP/HDMI compliant receiver.
• Dual high quality scaling engines.
• Dual 3-D motion video adaptive de-interlacers with smooth low-angle edge.
• Automatic 3:2 pull-down & 2:2 pull-down detection and recovery.
• High performance frame rate conversion engine.
• The Proprietary Advanced Color Engine technology gives: Brilliant and fresh color, Intensified contrast and details, Vivid skin tone, Sharp edge, Accurate and independent color control
• Option to select Audio input from HDMI or TOSlink/SPDIF audio source.
• 3D noise reduction on analog inputs only.
• Operates through on-screen OSD menu control and remote control.
• Aspect Ratio Control
• Digital Audio Delay to match audio/video timing
• Less then one frame delay allowing for gaming

The GefenTV Multi Format Switcher is available for $499.00 which is a bit pricey. Of course.. at that price you might want to consider getting a low end receiver that does practically the same thing.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Gefen, GefenTV Multi Format Switcher, HDMI switch

I absolutely love the premise of HDMI. I love that a single cable carries all the information between two digital devices. It simplifies life, it simplifies the complexity behind a home entertainment system. However, if there’s one thing that I don’t love – it’s the insufferable, yet necessary, HDCP authorization process that occurs every time a device connects to an HDTV set. This process inevitably results in lag times whenever you switch between HDMI enabled inputs. How many of you suffer from this problem?  I know I do with my Samsung HDTV set. Switch to a new HDMI input and I get the “searching for a signal” message for 4 to 5 seconds. Utterly annoying!

Enter Silicon Image and their InstaPort Technology. With InstaPort Technology in devices such as HDTV sets, A/V receivers, and HDMI switches, HDMI input switching delays will be a thing of the past. A typical HDTV set will initialize the HDCP authorization process only when the input is selected – resulting in that perceivable delay. An HDTV set with InstaPort Technology will perform the HDCP authorization process when the HDTV connects to the device – not when the input is selected. InstaPort allows a digital television set to “perform simultaneous background HDCP authentication with all connected source devices as soon as they are connected to the DTV”.

Folks .. I WANT this technology in my next HDMI switching component – whether it’s in my HDTV set or in my A/V receiver or in a standalone HDMI switch.

To that end, Silicon Image announced that InstaPort technology will be featured in Samsung’s next generation HDTV sets and is also under evaluation at nine of the top ten HDTV manufacturers for next year’s models. Throw this into a next generation A/V receiver and I’m so there!

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Silicon Image, InstaPort Technology

IXOS has a new HDMI switch out called the XHT948-UK. This 4 input switch features iVEC technology which enhances the digital signal for increased distance capabilities. Other specs include:

• Data error LED alerts for improper or no signals
• Input LEDS for each component signal
• Supports SD, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p signals and HDCP compliant
• Comes with wireless remote and brackets for rack mounting option
• Includes RS-232 port
• HDMI v.1.3 support

[Check it out via Pocket-Lint]

Technorati Tags: IXOS XHT948-UK, 4 port HDMI switch

Introduction

Do you find yourself running out of HDMI inputs on your receiver or HDTV? If you’re like me, then the answer to that question is probably a resounding yes. The coming of HDMI greatly simplified home theater systems by combining the video and audio (and control) signals into a single cable. However, this simplicity also brings a problem to consumers. As more and more devices embrace HDMI, we’re running into a problem of a limited number of HDMI inputs on receivers and HDTV sets. You could get around this by buying a high end A/V receiver with four HDMI inputs but these receivers are typically rather expensive. Could we solve this by connecting to an HDTV? Problematic there also as many HDTV’s only have one or two or at most three inputs. What do you do then when you have an HDMI enabled cable box, PS3, and Xbox 360 and you only have two HDMI inputs to work with? You add an HDMI switch into the picture of course. That’s pretty much the problem I faced earlier this year when I finally caved and purchased a Sony PlayStation 3. I desperately needed more HDMI switches. Thus, today I’ll be looking at one such switch commonly found at local Best Buy stores. It’s called the Psyclone PSC47 and it’s one of the more expensive switches out on the market (at $199.99). Let’s see if the PSC47 is worth the money!

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Psyclone, HDMI Selector, Model PSC47, Review, HDMI Switch