4-WAY Av Switcher with S-video and Component: Digital-Cameras-Photo.com

4-WAY Av Switcher with S-video and Component

4-WAY Av Switcher with S-video and Component
by Philips

List Price: ~~$245.99~~
Our Price: $40.99
You Save: $205.00 (83%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $34.93 (click here)
Category: CE
See more product details

Customers in the UK, buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Philips
Model: PH61150
Product features:

Component A/V SWITCH, Connects up to 4 components
Allows for switching between components without disconnecting and reconnecting equipment
Each input has an S-Video jack RCA jack and a set of stereophonic audio jacks
Component inputs provide ultimate picture performance

Accessories:

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of 4-WAY Av Switcher with S-video and Component

Customer Review: High definition made convenient
Summary: 5 Stars

This saved me some hassle when connecting multiple devices to an Akai LCT32Z5TA LCD TV.

Like just about any HDTV out there, the TV has multiple inputs, including HDMI and component. The hassle is that the TV won't automatically switch to the single active input, so you need to use the remote to switch. Since the TV didn't allow input labelling, that meant you had to choose from TV, AV, S-Video, YPbPr1, YPbPr2, VGA, HDMI1, HMDI2. Since my family didn't know how I cabled it up, or even what some of the acronyms meant, that stopped them from watching TV without calling me.

Because my devices (Digital Cable, DVD player, Wii) all had component output as an option but not all had HDMI, this switch fit the bill such that I put the output of the switch to the TV's YPbPr1, and all my devices on the input side. Whatever was turned on automatically got selected by the switch, and no input selection was needed at the TV side. Be warned that some devices (such as my cable box) don't really turn off, but go to standby, and output a black screen instead of no video. The video switch detects this as an active signal and selects it. If the switch sees more than 1 active signal, it prioritizes input 1 > input 2 > input 3 > input 4. Putting the cable box as the lowest priority means that if something else is on, the cable gets blocked.

I was concerned that I might lose video quality by using this device, introducing more connectors, etc. I compared the HDMI otuput of my cable box at 1080i to the component output, through the automatic switch, but using an A/V cable substituted as a component cable (the stereo connectors in an A/V cable are typically less robust than the composite video connection).

My concerns were unfounded, nobody could detect a difference between HDMI video output of an HD cable channel directly to the TV compared to component video output through the switch. However, the audio of the HDMI connection was notably better than the audio via RCA jacks through the switch. Not much of a problem since it didn't take away from watching TV shows, and for movies, the stereo could be used.

For the price I paid on Amazon, or even at a retail store, it's still much less expensive then getting a TV with 3 component or 3 HDMI inputs with labelling and auto-switching (if that's even available).

The drawbacks of this device in my case are:
The cable clutter and the box, which is not a big issue in my case, since it's hidden behind the TV.
The power supply is on constantly, as it's inconvenient to use a switch or keep unplugging it.

In all very much recommended if your TV doesn't have enough convenient connectors.

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Description of 4-WAY Av Switcher with S-video and Component

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