Recommendations for a good switcher box? (A/B or more)

We have an HDTV in one place, and 5 cables (3 component, 2 audio)
running across the room (under the floor) from our cable box to the
TV.

We'd like to add a DVD player, right on top of (or underneath) the
cable box, but we don't want to run a second set of wires under the
floor. So we're looking for some kind of switcher box.

For the moment, it only needs two inputs -- cable box and DVD player,
but I suppose it's possible that sometime in the future we'll think of
a third input.

I think we were originally going to go with a pretty fancy and fairly
expensive (Sima?) box that could do several tricks. The tricks
included being remote-controlled and even auto-sensing whether the DVD
player was running or not so that it could intelligently switch to the
DVD player when it was playing and the cable box all other times.

However, we've heard that those boxes are unreliable and will get
confused on their "auto-sensing," switching inputs on you at random
times.

Now, we're sort of leaning toward something a lot simpler. For
example, a black box with a single knob that can point to the letter
"A" or the letter "B." We're not even sure it's worth getting a
remote controlled switcher.

In short, we have very few requirements:
The switcher should pass through its signal without losing quality.
And it would be nice if the box itself looked decent.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.

On Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:30:20 -0800, dgates
wrote:


We have an HDTV in one place, and 5 cables (3 component, 2 audio)
running across the room (under the floor) from our cable box to the
TV.

We'd like to add a DVD player, right on top of (or underneath) the
cable box, but we don't want to run a second set of wires under the
floor. So we're looking for some kind of switcher box.

For the moment, it only needs two inputs -- cable box and DVD player,
but I suppose it's possible that sometime in the future we'll think of
a third input.

I think we were originally going to go with a pretty fancy and fairly
expensive (Sima?) box that could do several tricks. The tricks
included being remote-controlled and even auto-sensing whether the DVD
player was running or not so that it could intelligently switch to the
DVD player when it was playing and the cable box all other times.

However, we've heard that those boxes are unreliable and will get
confused on their "auto-sensing," switching inputs on you at random
times.

Now, we're sort of leaning toward something a lot simpler. For
example, a black box with a single knob that can point to the letter
"A" or the letter "B." We're not even sure it's worth getting a
remote controlled switcher.

In short, we have very few requirements:
The switcher should pass through its signal without losing quality.
And it would be nice if the box itself looked decent.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.


One more detail:
Right now, we're leaning toward the "Impact Acoustics A/v Selector":
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AM3U2I

- highly rated
- remote control
- no obvious flaws

Any other suggestions or feedback?

Thanks again.

"dgates" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:30:20 -0800, dgates
wrote:


We have an HDTV in one place, and 5 cables (3 component, 2 audio)
running across the room (under the floor) from our cable box to the
TV.

We'd like to add a DVD player, right on top of (or underneath) the
cable box, but we don't want to run a second set of wires under the
floor. So we're looking for some kind of switcher box.

For the moment, it only needs two inputs -- cable box and DVD player,
but I suppose it's possible that sometime in the future we'll think of
a third input.

I think we were originally going to go with a pretty fancy and fairly
expensive (Sima?) box that could do several tricks. The tricks
included being remote-controlled and even auto-sensing whether the DVD
player was running or not so that it could intelligently switch to the
DVD player when it was playing and the cable box all other times.

However, we've heard that those boxes are unreliable and will get
confused on their "auto-sensing," switching inputs on you at random
times.

Now, we're sort of leaning toward something a lot simpler. For
example, a black box with a single knob that can point to the letter
"A" or the letter "B." We're not even sure it's worth getting a
remote controlled switcher.

In short, we have very few requirements:
The switcher should pass through its signal without losing quality.
And it would be nice if the box itself looked decent.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.


One more detail:
Right now, we're leaning toward the "Impact Acoustics A/v Selector":
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AM3U2I

- highly rated
- remote control
- no obvious flaws

Any other suggestions or feedback?

Have a look at Zektor switchers, we have the HDVI5, expensive but beautiful
designs, instant response to any issues from engineering team.

"dgates" wrote in message
Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.

I have two cheap HD component switchers

one is a $80 JVC JXS111 passive (mechanical) switch, it flips 3 components
and digital coax audio's

one is a $75 Pelican Pro 2 active wireless remote switch, it flips 6
components and digital coax/optical audios.

while I recommend a remote control switch, the Pelican is a bit too low end.
Fortunately, mine works ok most of the time, sometimes it decides not to
pass digital audio, sometimes it decides to loose video sync (particularly
when a white screen blink - like an explosion occurs). I have heard horrible
stories where the Pelican will either severely degrade the HD signal or put
AC hum bars of one or more colors on the screen. Mine does not do these
horrible things.

As they say, the anquish of poor quality lives on after the joy of low price
fades.

We have had a Zector for 3 years. First class.


"R Sweeney" wrote in message
. ..

"dgates" wrote in message
Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.

I have two cheap HD component switchers

one is a $80 JVC JXS111 passive (mechanical) switch, it flips 3 components
and digital coax audio's

one is a $75 Pelican Pro 2 active wireless remote switch, it flips 6
components and digital coax/optical audios.

while I recommend a remote control switch, the Pelican is a bit too low
end. Fortunately, mine works ok most of the time, sometimes it decides not
to pass digital audio, sometimes it decides to loose video sync
(particularly when a white screen blink - like an explosion occurs). I
have heard horrible stories where the Pelican will either severely degrade
the HD signal or put AC hum bars of one or more colors on the screen. Mine
does not do these horrible things.

As they say, the anquish of poor quality lives on after the joy of low
price fades.

Cuddly Duddly wrote:
We have had a Zector for 3 years. First class.


"R Sweeney" wrote in message
. ..

"dgates" wrote in message
Questions:

1. Does anyone have a switcher they recommend?

2. Both the cable box and the DVD player we're currently planning to
use (Philips 5960) have HDMI output available. Is it worth the effort
and expense to get a switcher box that will accept those inputs, even
if it's going to be outputting component + audio?


Thanks in advance.

I have two cheap HD component switchers

one is a $80 JVC JXS111 passive (mechanical) switch, it flips 3 components
and digital coax audio's

one is a $75 Pelican Pro 2 active wireless remote switch, it flips 6
components and digital coax/optical audios.

while I recommend a remote control switch, the Pelican is a bit too low
end. Fortunately, mine works ok most of the time, sometimes it decides not
to pass digital audio, sometimes it decides to loose video sync
(particularly when a white screen blink - like an explosion occurs). I
have heard horrible stories where the Pelican will either severely degrade
the HD signal or put AC hum bars of one or more colors on the screen. Mine
does not do these horrible things.

As they say, the anquish of poor quality lives on after the joy of low
price fades.




I just saw one in Wal-mart the other day that will do 3 component (and
composite/S-video) with audio mechanical switch. Very cheap at around
30-40 dollars. Phillips brand I think (as most of their stuff is that
brand).
The Daily Giz Wiz netcast also just reviewed a StarTech 4-in-1
switcher. It only runs 44 dollars. Here's a link for it:
http://www.startech.com/Product/Item...CPNT410IR&c=US