Hey everyone....

Need some advice on buying a HDMI switch box for my setup...

Im hooking a PS3 and DTV HD-dvr box up to a Sam DLP with only one HDMI input...

Any recomendations on a particular brand etc...I see boxes on the net from $99-$300...whats the big difference that causes such a price flux..??

BM

If you're looking for cheap, simple HDMI switch box, a lot of people recommend the one on Monoprice.com.

I just recently installed a Monoprice 5x1 HDMI switch. It works fine with my PS3 in port 4 and my TiVo S3 in port 1. Works fine with my Harmony remote too - its IR codes are already in the Harmony database. No issues with HDCP or sparklies for me, and I'm running it up to 1080i over an approximately 40' cable run to my projector.

I also picked up 2 short HDMI cables and some optical cables from them - good stuff.

I have the manual switch monoprice 2x1...works flawlessly with PS3 and Oppo 971

I also have the Monoprice 2x1 manual switch and it works flawlessly. No problems.
I am also using the 3' HDMI cables from Monoprice and the picture quality is great.

JD

Same here..... Monoprice down the line. 2x1 box was somewhere around $25. Can't beat that.

Same here..... Monoprice down the line. 2x1 box was somewhere around $25. Can't beat that.

I have the Monoprice 5X1 HDMI switch box with the remote control.

It workd flawless!

Get it.

Hey everyone....

Need some advice on buying a HDMI switch box for my setup...

Im hooking a PS3 and DTV HD-dvr box up to a Sam DLP with only one HDMI input...

Any recomendations on a particular brand etc...I see boxes on the net from $99-$300...whats the big difference that causes such a price flux..??

BM

WAIT, dont buy the monoprice switch.

What kind of audio connection do you have? If you connect your audio via toslink to your receiver, then you have to get:
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm

It is only switch that I know that will also switch audio source via toslink, at the same time, making it pretty awesome. Works great with PS3.

WAIT, dont buy the monoprice switch.

What kind of audio connection do you have? If you connect your audio via toslink to your receiver, then you have to get:
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm

It is only switch that I know that will also switch audio source via toslink, at the same time, making it pretty awesome. Works great with PS3.


Thanks SPWolf...Got a question at this point then...With HDMI receivers coming down rather quickly..some like the Denon AVR-887 around $600-700 wouldnt it be a better move to go ahead and upgrade the receiver rather than the switch box route?? The 887 only has two HDMI input but its really all I need as Im only running the PS3 and HD DVR??

WAIT, dont buy the monoprice switch.

What kind of audio connection do you have? If you connect your audio via toslink to your receiver, then you have to get:
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm

It is only switch that I know that will also switch audio source via toslink, at the same time, making it pretty awesome. Works great with PS3.
If you have a decent receiver, you should have all the inputs you would need for the TOS link cables.

WAIT, dont buy the monoprice switch.

What kind of audio connection do you have? If you connect your audio via toslink to your receiver, then you have to get:
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm

It is only switch that I know that will also switch audio source via toslink, at the same time, making it pretty awesome. Works great with PS3.

That looks like a really nice piece of equipment, however for a little more than that switcher costs, you can easily pick up a reasonable receiver that will auto switch HDMI for you, and you will get so much more.

My JVC RX-D411S has 2 HDMI inputs (one output) and was only about $350 through Amazon. I don't have a PS3 but my 8300HD DVR and JVC HDMI DVD recorder/player both send flawlessly through it to my LG 50" plasma.

monoprice 5x1 HDMI switch (FIRST revision almost a year old) - flawless 1080P HDCP to my Sceptre HDTV, with audio directly to my HT receiver via optical (same as my 1080P PCs and the S3 TiVo and the Moto 6412 HD DVR - everythin working through the monoprice switch!)

Thanks SPWolf...Got a question at this point then...With HDMI receivers coming down rather quickly..some like the Denon AVR-887 around $600-700 wouldnt it be a better move to go ahead and upgrade the receiver rather than the switch box route?? The 887 only has two HDMI input but its really all I need as Im only running the PS3 and HD DVR??
it depends on what equipment you have... you might have expensive receiver without HDMI, just like I did... for me switch was considerably less expensive way to go. It would cost me 3x more to replace the receiver, which I am perfectly happy with, except for no-hdmi.

If you just get HDMI switch, and dont have receiver that can do surround sound via HDMI, then you will have to switch manually which nobody would do after an while...

With HDMI receivers coming down rather quickly..some like the Denon AVR-887 around $600-700 wouldnt it be a better move to go ahead and upgrade the receiver rather than the switch box route??
I'm sort of in the same boat, have a decent old receiver that's served me well for about 7 years, and now have 3 HDMI devices with a possible 4th soon. I'm ready and willing to get a new receiver, but there are very few with 4 HDMI inputs (and I really need 2 HDMI outputs which I've never seen on a receiver). In addition I haven't seen any receivers that support the new audio codecs for Blu-ray, or HDMI 1.3 (as long as I'm future proofing I want to get this feature). I want my next receiver to last me at least as long as my current one has, and I don't think that any on the market under $1000 (or even many over that price point) are there yet.

I recently bought one from Radiient. 4in/1out, came with 2 remotes and it looks really nice. On sale right now for $299. I have my PS3, Toshiba HD-A2 and Sony DVP-75H going through it and everything works great.

That looks like a really nice piece of equipment, however for a little more than that switcher costs, you can easily pick up a reasonable receiver that will auto switch HDMI for you, and you will get so much more.

My JVC RX-D411S has 2 HDMI inputs (one output) and was only about $350 through Amazon. I don't have a PS3 but my 8300HD DVR and JVC HDMI DVD recorder/player both send flawlessly through it to my LG 50" plasma.
I also have the 8300HD DVR and JVC D411S. I have had a hell of a time getting the thing set up. Is there any trick to it? I connect the SA8300 to DBS and set video input to HDMI/HDMI - video out to HDMI.

I works find when I connect the DVR box directly to my westy 37" LCD via HDMI->DVI2.

Well keep in mind that you can always grab an HDMI receiver and use a switch along with it . I am using a Denon 887 along with the Monoprice 2x1 switch so that I have 3 HDMI inputs ( PS3 / HD-A1 / HTPC ) and everything works flawless . My total investment for the receiver and the switch with 3' HDMI cables was $500 (I was able to find a new open box 887) .

--- Jason

I also went with the Monoprice switcher 3x1 wierd thing is on intial hook up I had the ps3 in hdmi port1 and my hda1 in port2. Tested each connection and all seemed fine till I was playing with the ps3 and the screen blacked out but still has audio.

I then unplugged/replug the a/c powercord on the switcher, picture reappears for a few seconds and then blacks out again. So I move the ps3/hdmi plug to port2 and this time no picture only audio. I try port 3 and viola! picture is back and is stable through out.

So I plug my hd-a1 to port1 just to see if port 1 is faulty. I put in a movie and watched it through with no black outs. Did the same with port2 and it works fine with my A1.

So why does my ps3 perfer port3? Calling Monoprice to find out if I should return my switcher...I just got it yesterday lol.

*update- Just got off the phone with Monoprice tech support and the rep mentions that the ps3 is a bit finicky with the hdmi siganl through the switcher and the reason why it works on my port3 is because it closest to the output hdmi>tv. That's why ports1&2 work fine with my hd-dvd player. Other than that the switcher works fine.

So why does my ps3 perfer port3? Calling Monoprice to find out if I should return my switcher...I just got it yesterday lol.

*update- Just got off the phone with Monoprice tech support and the rep mentions that the ps3 is a bit finicky with the hdmi siganl through the switcher and the reason why it works on my port3 is because it closest to the output hdmi>tv. That's why ports1&2 work fine with my hd-dvd player. Other than that the switcher works fine.

Their 5x1 switch also does 1080P to my LCD better (less artefacts, actually NONE) through ports 5 & 4 (nearest the output).

I have the PS3 hooked into #5 and my PC at 1920x1080x60Hz into #4.

Well keep in mind that you can always grab an HDMI receiver and use a switch along with it.
Kinda stupid, but I didn't really think about that :)

I ordered the 5x1 switcher and some additional cables to go with it. After the last two posts I know I'll definitely be plugging the PS3 into port 5. My other two HDMI devices top out at 1080i anyway so they should be fine in the other ports.

if u hook up monoprice 2x1 or 3x1 to a westy37 1080p tv with ps3 will u have the
handshake problem.i will like to no if it run ok.think u

There are lots of posts in other related threads about Monoprice problems. I started with it because it was a really great price....but if it doesn't work, it's not a bargain at any price. The Gefen units are supposed to be good, and I have a Sima from Circuit which has done a good job for me.

Monoprice has a 21 day satisfaction guarantee with no restocking fee, so if it doesn't work it will go back. I've had good luck with monoprice products for a long time though.

I have the Monoprice 5X1 HDMI switch box with the remote control.

It workd flawless!

Get it.

Yea, but for me it work(e)d flawless(ly). ;)

There are lots of posts in other related threads about Monoprice problems. I started with it because it was a really great price....but if it doesn't work, it's not a bargain at any price. The Gefen units are supposed to be good, and I have a Sima from Circuit which has done a good job for me.


Until you can post links and point to specific problem posts as being in a vast majority on those threads, I'm going to go ahead and call your post FUD & a bunch of exaggeration :)

I took a risk for $25, and got a credit-card-sized 2x HDMI switch from an ebay store based in Hong Kong. It weighs an ounce or two. I didn't think it would work, but the next level auto switch I could find was $150. Well it does work perfectly, so I thought I'd share a review.


Pro:
Cheap ($25 for two ports; they have others with more ports)
Auto switching. It selects my PS3 when I turn it on, and my cable when PS3 is off.
Small
No power required (for long distance (15+feet) HDMI runs, you can add a 5V DC source)
HDMI 1.3
HDCP passthrough
It arrived in Boston like 4 working days even coming from HK.

Con:
So light that the cables anchor it wherever they want, not the other way around.
No manual button to select input. Instead, it auto selects the inputs based on power. In practice, my cable box puts out a signal even when "off," so I thought this would be a problem. But it prioritizes on input #1, so I plug the PS3 there.



Overall, I'd call this a great, cheap way to solve a problem.
It makes me wonder what the other switch companies are charging for...

Here's the guy's store:

Edit: looks like I can't post ebay links. Just search for HDMI pro shop in ebay then. It should be obvious to anyone looking at my posting history that I'm not affiliated with the company.