Do you use a switch box to add units to your tv/entertainment center?

[yoda313]

So do you use switch devices to add on to your existing tv/entertainment center?

I originally used a standard rca a/v 4 port switcher. Since i got my hdtv I upgraded to a component switcher. Although I do have 2 component inputs on the tv I have a wii, 360 (component only model) and a ps2. I want all in component mode so hence the need for a switcher.

I also recently got a fiber optic switcher for my amplifier. There is nothing wrong with my sony 5.1 amp except it only has two digital inputs - one coax and one fiber optic. This way I can have three added at once with only the flip of a dial needed to move between them.

What about you?

[guns1inger]

So far my AV amp has had enough inputs for everything I need to hook up (DVD player, DVD Recorder, Digital Set-top Box, VHS, Ye Olde Playstation from time to time, even the DV camera)

If HD ever becomes affordable over here I guess I will have to replace it with everything else so I have HDMI connections instead.

[gll99]

A regular svideo / composite 4 port manual push button switcher.

[edDV]

My computer room CRT HDTV has a 4x analog component switch for Cable Box, Computer 1 (NVidia) or Computer 2 (ATI) or DVD Player. It can also accept 960x540 or 856 x480 VGA from either computer display card.

A Canopus ADVC-100 feeds one TV S-Video port. Input can be swiched to IEEE-1394 from either computer or accepts analog letterbox from the cable box (default) or analog VCR/camcorder inputs. Come to think about it the ADVC-100 is my most used switch.

[snowbabe]

Of course, doesn't everyone need more inputs!? Let's not forget outputs to.
I use a Gefen EXT-HD-441AA, a RCA CRF940, and a Key Digital ISYNCHD.
Hey you need a lot when you do serious video editing and have to contend with so many different media formats out there.

[MOVIEGEEK]

My HDTV only came with one HDMI input so I had to buy a 2x1 switch for my DVD players,I'll outgrow that when I buy more toys.

[yoda313]

My HDTV only came with one HDMI input so I had to buy a 2x1 switch for my DVD players,I'll outgrow that when I buy more toys.

Just buy a ps3 or dedicated bluray or hddvd player to substitute your dvd player. That will work for the short term with your first upgrade at least.

[redwudz]

I have a 3 input component/optical switcher with a tiny remote control. http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5fid=3210&sku=40324 But I paid about $40US for it a few years ago.

My projector input box also has a 3 input manual component video switch, but no audio optical switching.

[yoda313]

@ redwudz - my optical switcher was like 20.00 on amazon. No more than that. They have three or four different models available for fiber optic units. I think they are only three unit modles so you essentially get an extra 2 inputs that way. Mine is a manual dial switcher.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Just buy a ps3 or dedicated bluray or hddvd player to substitute your dvd player. That will work for the short term with your first upgrade at least.

I have a Oppo 970(SD) and a Toshiba A20(HD DVD),the Oppo plays things that the A20 can only dream about.
I'm not a gamer but I'm thinking of getting a BD player if they go on sale.

[Constant Gardener]

I think there's a law, some variance on Murphy's, that you will need one more input than your TV or stereo offers. I bought an HDMI 5x1 switch so I could add a computer to the collection. It works fine.

I have to agree with Moviegeek: A PS3 is no match for an Oppo. The Oppo is much better with DVD, and the PS3 doesn't understand mpeg4. Alas, the Oppo can't decode H.264, but the computer does (Sapphire Radeon 2600XT card).

[ntscuser]

I do have a Scart-RGB switch box which I bought on sale at a chainstore but found it to be clumsy in use. I was always sitting down to watch having forgotten to push some button or other. I now daisy chain all my appliances and just put the ones I'm not using into standby mode.

[Epicurus8a]

My entertainment center doesn't need a switch box, but I do have a switch box for my computer/gizmos.

EDIT: If I want to listen to Surround Sound, I must use my audio receiver which has multiple A/V inputs. So, I guess I do have a switch box (of a sort) on the entertainment system.

[gadgetguy]

I have switch boxes for both of my entertainment centers, but neither of them are connected because I currently have enough inputs. But if I add one more device to either of them I'll have to use one.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Yes, My HDTV only has 1 HDMI (not an issue YET), and only has 2 component inputs.
I got a JVC component switch as I have the DVD player connected to one of the TV's inputs and I have a PS3, X-BOX, and GameCube connected to the switch.
The HTPC is connected to the HDMI.

In the bedroom, we have a p.o.s. 19" with only a coax input -- got a Radio Shack RF Modulator with 4 S-Video/composite inputs to select the DVD, VCR (which is used as a cable tuner), GameCube, and PS2.

In the living room, the TV only has 1 S-Video/composite so we have a switch to choose the PS2, Wii, DVR, and DVD.

[TBoneit]

My HDTV has 1 HDMI, 2 Component, Composite and S-Video, VGA, QAM tuner inputs.

It doesn't have enough HDMI or S-Video inputs.

It was/is my first HDTV and I consider it a learning experience and when I got it those inputs were enough.
So now It gets the S-Video switched through a Sony audio system, HDMI through a 4 port switcher, 2 used right now.

The S-Video input is fed from the audio system which is switching a SD DVR, a Tivo, and a Sony DVD Changer. That doesn't bother me as that way I get the sound through the sound system as well as switching. The Pioneer DVD recorder is fed into a component input and is also fed from the VCR so i suppose it could be called a switcher. Any suggestions for a replacement for a Philips 5982 that plays everything teh philips does but upscales via Component? Then I wouldn't need toe HDMI switch.

Oh well

[Baldrick]

No but I would like a very simple hdmi switch for my pc, xbox and dvb-box but I can't find any such...

[edDV]

New HDTV sets have ample inputs such as 3x HDMI, 2-3 wideband component analog and 2-4 S-Video. The new Samsungs even have one HDMI side mounted for easy HDV/AVCHD camcorder connection.

[solarfox]

My previous TV set only had a single set of composite A/V connections, so a switchbox was the only way to hook up a VCR, a Laserdisc player, a CED Videodisc player, and a DVD player all at the same time. When I got the new TV set, it still didn't have enough inputs to go around all four devices, so I just left it as it was.

Besides, this arrangement leaves the front A/V jacks on the TV set free for the occasional bout of classic 8-bit gaming when I'm in the mood to hook up my Intellivision or Colecovision consoles. (I modded them a while back to bypass the old RF modulators and have composite A/V jacks instead.)

[edDV]

Besides, this arrangement leaves the front A/V jacks on the TV set free for the occasional bout of classic 8-bit gaming when I'm in the mood to hook up my Intellivision or Colecovision consoles. (I modded them a while back to bypass the old RF modulators and have composite A/V jacks instead.)

Cool, I still have an old Colecovision console with all the games. Where did you see this mod?

I'd like to see Frogger or Mario through S-Video

[ricoman]

My Sony HDTV is a couple of years old and only has 1 HDMI input so I bought a 3x switcher. I comes with a remote control but I haven't used it. it takes a few seconds but when you turn on a component it senses it and switches automatically. I love it, I had a cheap manual one previously and you had to get up every time you switched components. I guess I'm just spoiled and lazy!

[yoda313]

My Sony HDTV is a couple of years old and only has 1 HDMI input so I bought a 3x switcher. I comes with a remote control but I haven't used it. it takes a few seconds but when you turn on a component it senses it and switches automatically. I love it, I had a cheap manual one previously and you had to get up every time you switched components. I guess I'm just spoiled and lazy!

Thats interesting. My hdtv automatically senses inputs. I do however use a component switcher. So I do have to remember to switch for my ps2, wii or 360. However my tv automatically switches to that input. It also auto detects the hdmi from my upconverting dvd player I also have two hdmi inputs. that way if and when I decide to go to a high def dvr cable package I'll be all set.

[ntscuser]

No but I would like a very simple hdmi switch for my pc, xbox and dvb-box but I can't find any such...

Do you mean something like this?
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=61486&cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-HDMI-_-61486&ts=81859

[solarfox]

Besides, this arrangement leaves the front A/V jacks on the TV set free for the occasional bout of classic 8-bit gaming when I'm in the mood to hook up my Intellivision or Colecovision consoles. (I modded them a while back to bypass the old RF modulators and have composite A/V jacks instead.)

Cool, I still have an old Colecovision console with all the games. Where did you see this mod?

If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can find the instructions on my website -- look in the "hardware hacking" section.

(Note that this modification will only partially work with the "Expansion Module #1" Atari-2600 cartridge adapter. You'll get video, but no audio. Native Colecovision games work fine, though; apparently, the audio signal from the Atari-2600 expansion module is carried on a different circuit.)[/url]

[hulinning]

look for www.firefold.com for cheap hdmi stuffs