I have an older Mitsubishi RP integrated tuner HDTV. It only has one 1080i capable component input.
Up until now that has been OK. I am considering buying a HD DVD player and need another set of 1080i inputs. Currently my HD cable box is occupying that connection.
My TV does not a HDMI connector so component is what I'm stuck with for the time being.
Is there a 1080i component switch box that I can buy that doesn't inject noise or have a lot of signal loss?
Well I have been doing a little research and suefing looking for a good switcher waiting for someone to repond and so far it appears I need something with a bandwidth of 50MHz or higher.
I also wonder if the powered/remote controlled versions have any noise interference issues.
I found a JVC passive switcher but it was only rated for 30MHz.
Is there a passive switcher rated for 50MHz? Should I stay away fromt he powered versions?
I see we have no recommendations for specific products and that is more than likely due to the fact that most do the switching with their A/V receivers and these days most meet or exceed our recommendation and add to that the new HDMI connections so most discussions relate to how many of those an A/V receiver provides and most are looking for HDMI 1.3 for the audio portion.
A few weeks ago, I purchased the Audio Authority 1154A 4x1 component switcher. It's high bandwidth, autosensing (no remote needed to switch inputs) and works great. For audio, each input has an optical and coaxial connection as does the output. You can mix and match coax or optical and the 1154A will do all the conversion.
I had the same problem a couple of years back when I needed to connect a progressive scan DVD player & my Samsung HDTV but had only one component video connection.
My solution was to acquire an RGB4X-R Component Video Switcher online from a company called INDAY.
It enables 4 connections and has been perfect and I highly recommend this unit.
When I bought it, it was $157.00 US ... that was May 2003.
Keep in mind that you do need a switch that does Audio & Video, unless you're using an audio only receiver already. For not a lot more than these switchers, you could get an A/V receiver that would switch audio and 2-3 component video sources.
I have a JVC passive component switcher that I used for a year before I bought a new receiver. I used it with a 58" Pioneer Elite 1080i CRT RPTV, with outputs from my cable box and Linkplayer. I did not see any degradation of sharpness.
My set has 2 component ins so I didn't need to manually switch very often, so the inconvenience was slight. Worked great.
It's actually sitting idle right now. Not sure if I want to sell it or hold it for future use. . .
Further to my previous post, the component video switch I acquired online from INDAY is a very small black box and the switching between the four inputs is via an infrared remote ... so there is no manual switching required.
There are several. I have an Octavio 4 HDMI & SPDIF in, and 1 each out, with remote. A better solution is to put your money into buying an HDMI switching reciever. I have an older Denon 3801 and 3 remotes in my lap to work it and the Sony 60A2000, Dish Tivo, and the 3801. Note only the Dish has HDMI out so the switch is useless to me now and if I buy an 3 HDMI receiver, who needs the switch?
Luck, BBA
