Best HDMI switch?

August 8, 2008 9:12 AM

Best HDMI switcher out there? (plasma TV only has one port) I'd like at least three, maybe four ports. Remote control not really necessary, I'd like to have maximum image quality though and I can spend, within reason, to obtain it. I see they're all between 50 and 100 dollars, maybe there are some known lemons out there? Maybe there's a kickass brand? Thanks.
posted by matteo to Technology (8 answers total)

A bit pricier than what you are looking for, perhaps, but Gefen makes several HDMI switches. Here is a 4x1 with remote. Their 3x1 is $100 more than the 4x1.

I don't have experience with Gefen HDMI switches, but I do have some experience with some other equipment of theirs, and they make solid stuff, as near as I can tell.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:27 AM on August 8, 2008

Best answer: Someone feel free to correct me, but you can generally go cheap on HDMI switches unless you're in a special situation (lot of interference?) ... I did not notice a difference between the cheap Korean brand and the more expensive brands at my local high end theater place. I would get a $50 switch and spend the rest on dinner.
posted by geoff. at 9:38 AM on August 8, 2008

Response by poster: I had no idea they could get that expensive! Is it really worth it to shell out the extra bucks? The TV is a 42" plasma, 720.
posted by matteo at 9:49 AM on August 8, 2008

Best answer: The TV is a 42" plasma, 720.

Probably not worth $200, if you're not after 1080p. Geoff's advice is good.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:01 AM on August 8, 2008

Best answer: I would check out the HDMI switchers on MonoPrice and read the reviews. I've bought a number of unbranded AV products from them for a fraction of name-brand products, and never had an issue.
posted by jmd82 at 10:12 AM on August 8, 2008

Best answer: FWIW, we went with the Oppo HM-31, which is $99 direct and works great. It has 3 inputs, a remote, is HDMI 1.3 certified, and is pretty well liked on the AVS Forum.
posted by mosk at 10:15 AM on August 8, 2008

Best answer: What jmd82 said. Mo-no-price. I paid under $50 for a 4x1 with remote. There was no discernable difference between using the switch and not. That makes sense, since HDMI is digital. If there was too much loss in the switch, it would have showed up in the form of very noticeable sparklies.

Now I have an HT receiver that does the switching itself, so I don't use the Monoprice HDMI switch, but it always worked and never gave me an issue. It even fixed a handshaking issue that was causing intermittent no audio from one of my components with the particular TV set I used to have.
posted by wierdo at 12:52 PM on August 8, 2008

Response by poster: thank you all
posted by matteo at 8:03 AM on August 9, 2008