AVS › AVS Forum › A/V Control & Automation › Home A/V Distribution › Combine Two A/V Sources Into One Input (without a switch box)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Combine Two A/V Sources Into One Input (without a switch box)

post #1 of 13
2/10/13 at 10:30pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to combine 2 "Component" sources into 1 input on the back of my TV, and I would hate to be forced to buy a Selector-Switch Box just to do something so simple for only 2 devices. I know that using a standing Y-Cable will cause interference resulting in a dark or distorted image (even with only 1 source turned on) and that in order to fix this, there would need to be some kind of ohm resistance built into the splitter I think?

I've searched like crazy and all I can find is this- http://www.avsforum.com/t/1202569/combine-via-y-cables-two-rca-outputs-into-one-input-okay - and thus I cannot find one real answer or "Combiner Cable" that can do what I want to do.

Surely something exists that would allow what I want to do. Can anyone point me to a splitter cable that has some kind of ohm resistance built in to avoid interference?
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 13
2/10/13 at 10:58pm
Are the sources really "component video"? Actually, in this case if you can run HDMI instead there are auto-switching solutions. 2 HDMI devices in, one output which will auto-select based on power-on/off or port prioritization... I bought one off Amazon for like $10 and while it was a bit flaky to setup (didn't like a particular input on a Samsung TV), after some trial-and-error it works solid.

Jeff
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 13
2/11/13 at 6:50am
Quote:
Can anyone point me to a splitter cable that has some kind of ohm resistance built in to avoid interference?

No, they don't exist. Use a switch.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 13
2/11/13 at 11:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jautor View Post

Are the sources really "component video"? Actually, in this case if you can run HDMI instead there are auto-switching solutions. 2 HDMI devices in, one output which will auto-select based on power-on/off or port prioritization... I bought one off Amazon for like $10 and while it was a bit flaky to setup (didn't like a particular input on a Samsung TV), after some trial-and-error it works solid.

Jeff

Yes it truly is component. The particular TV in question does only component or composite.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 13
2/11/13 at 11:51am
Monoprice has a great 4-input component video switch with IR control for <$20... It will even learn an IR code for another device, so you can make the switching work with most any remote...
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 13
2/11/13 at 12:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jautor View Post

Monoprice has a great 4-input component video switch with IR control for <$20... It will even learn an IR code for another device, so you can make the switching work with most any remote...

After reading many reviews of alot of these kind of devices, almost all of them seem to degrade the picture quality. This seems to be the trend for the powered ones, unlike the non-powered ones. I wonder why they all seem to have this problem?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 13
2/11/13 at 1:18pm
Quote:
After reading many reviews of alot of these kind of devices, almost all of them seem to degrade the picture quality.

Not as much as your idea of paralleling two video sources.
Quote:
This seems to be the trend for the powered ones, unlike the non-powered ones. I wonder why they all seem to have this problem?

they don't
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 13
2/11/13 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nintygaming View Post

After reading many reviews of alot of these kind of devices, almost all of them seem to degrade the picture quality. This seems to be the trend for the powered ones, unlike the non-powered ones. I wonder why they all seem to have this problem?

I have one of these Monoprice units, never noticed any picture issues, nor would I expect one. Simple switches won't do anything to affect image quality.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 13
2/11/13 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAM64 View Post

they don't

Yes they do, read the negative reviews on most of the powered ones and see for yourself. (amazon.com). Heck I had two powered one's 8 or so years ago and they distorted the picture quality, so I sent them back. Yet two other Sony models (non-powered) displayed the picture quality as-is. Unfortunately they are composite-s-video only.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 13
2/11/13 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nintygaming View Post

Yes they do, read the negative reviews on most of the powered ones and see for yourself. (amazon.com). Heck I had two powered one's 8 or so years ago and they distorted the picture quality, so I sent them back. Yet two other Sony models (non-powered) displayed the picture quality as-is. Unfortunately they are composite-s-video only.

Oranges vs. kiwis, then.

Just get the Monoprice one like I did, then, which has 91% positive reviews... And you can always return it.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 13
2/12/13 at 8:01am
Another vote for the Monoprice one. I've been using mine for 6 or 7 years. Along with my Harmony remote, you wouldn't even know it's there smile.gif
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 13
2/12/13 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Yes they do,

No, they don't. 'ALL' powered switchers do not have problems...users like you do.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 13
2/12/13 at 3:46pm
Back in the day, a friend had a passive one for cable, PS3, and XBOX, and it was fine, no degradation. A good quality one should be fine.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Home A/V Distribution

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › A/V Control & Automation › Home A/V Distribution › Combine Two A/V Sources Into One Input (without a switch box)