component video switch?

[DBSPaul]

Well, I've already got a 7:1 s-video/composite switch on the video side of my setup, but with things migrating toward component and DVI, I will soon be in need of a component video switch (preferably controllable by a remote) as the two inputs on my TV will not be enough.

Anyone seen/have such a creature? I'd prefer not to break the bank, but obviously quality counts here.

[Mark Lamutt]

Believe it or not, Paul, this is what I use as a component video switch: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F010%5F011%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D1952

It doesn't have a remote, but there might be a version that does. It works, and I see no degredation of the picture.

[Link]

Well, I've already got a 7:1 s-video/composite switch on the video side of my setup, but with things migrating toward component and DVI, I will soon be in need of a component video switch (preferably controllable by a remote) as the two inputs on my TV will not be enough.

Anyone seen/have such a creature? I'd prefer not to break the bank, but obviously quality counts here.


I would guess you could use just a regular a/v switch and plug your 3 component wires into it intead of the usual red, white, and yellow wires.

[M Law]

Just bought a component switch myself, an Audio Authority 1154. It will switch 4 component video and digital or analog audio sources. Best part is, it will switch automatically when an input becomes active. This works great in combination with my Harmony remote, which turns on and off each component as it is being used. So no remote needed or additonal universal remote macro programming. Bad part is, my HDTV set went into the shop one day before the switch arrived, so I haven't really gotten to try it out yet!

There are several manufacturers, Panasonic makes a low cost one, Inday, AA, Zektor, each with its pluses and minuses.

The one thing to be aware of is that a standard composite video switch may have some limitations to the bandwidth that it will pass. If you find one that can pass high bandwidth, great, but if not, you will probably end up introducing artifacts into your signal. Just my 2 bits.

[mini1]

Link is incorrect, you can't use a composite switch to send component. It will not work, no digital signal can pass thru a composite switch, plus you would only have 1 video input, and component requires 3.

[DBSPaul]

Has anyone used or can point me to an online copy of the manual for a JVC JX-S777? My current a/v switch is a JVC (7 inputs, 2 outputs), and I really would prefer to integrate the component and s-video stuff into one switch if possible (plus I really need the ability to switch digital audio - I'm out of digital inputs on my preamp!).

[Mark Lamutt]

Link is incorrect, you can't use a composite switch to send component. It will not work, no digital signal can pass thru a composite switch, plus you would only have 1 video input, and component requires 3.

mini1 - if your post is in reference to the link that I left pointing at the composite video switch, it does in fact work very well to pass component video - you connect the RGB cables to the video and audio connections. The switch is a simple copper-copper connection, so theoretically bandwidth isn't an issue. But, even if it is, I cannot see any difference between the video quality running through the switch and connected directly. And no, my eyes aren't bad.

[Nick]

Component video signals are analog.

There is no more bandwidth per connection on each of the three legs of a component video signal than there is with a single composite video signal. The composite video signal carries all the video information on a single path that a component video signal splits into three paths (Y Pr Pb).

The three paths of component video provide three times more bandwidth, therefor, more picture information. Of course, one must have a display device capable of processing the greater bandwidth.

Regarding the use of a passive a/v switcher to switch component video, if the internal mechanical switches are adequately shielded, there is no reason why it shouldn't work. Just make sure to match the color-coding ins and outs of the switch. For example,

Input....Switch....Output
Red ---> Red ---> Red
Green -> White -> Green
Blue --> Yellow -> Blue

[Vernon A Miller]

I popped open my RS 2-1 A/V switch, the same one mentioned in a previous post, and it looks to be well constructed. The signal traces all have a ground trace running between them for isolation, and the switches are of decent quality.

The one thing I do see is that the switching is arranged so that the unselected video input is automatically terminated with a 75-ohm resistor; that would cut down on crosstalk since it would give the unused input a matched load to look into. I might hack my switch to do the same thing with the audio inputs as well.

VAM

[HappyGoLucky]

Well, I've already got a 7:1 s-video/composite switch on the video side of my setup, but with things migrating toward component and DVI, I will soon be in need of a component video switch (preferably controllable by a remote) as the two inputs on my TV will not be enough.

Anyone seen/have such a creature? I'd prefer not to break the bank, but obviously quality counts here.
I recently purchased on Ebay, from Pioneer Electronics themselves, a reconditioned VSX-D812 A/V receiver that is superb. It even has a 1 year warranty from Pioneer. It lists for $365 but I paid, with shipping, only $185. It does component switching, as well as s-video, and has 3 digital coax plus 2 digital optical inputs (all assignable) and 1 digital optical output. I see Pioneer Electronics regularly puts their reconditioned models up on Ebay. Other manufacturers do, too, like Kenwood and Yamaha.

The VSX-D812K delivers, with 6.1-channel Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Discrete surround sound decoding, plus the new DTS 96/24 decoder for playback of high resolution audio with video. And, a double precision 48-Bit Motorola digital signal processing DSP coupled with 96kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog conversion provide extraordinarily pure DVD-Audio quality audio reproduction from any music or movie source. The VSX-D812K delivers 100 watts x 2 (stereo) and a full 100 watts x 6 (surround), with pre-amp output for all channels. To complete the big picture, you get Dual Surround Back terminals for 7.1 speaker set-up and 7.1-channel inputs, plus component video switching (2 inputs/1 output) and 5 digital inputs/1 digital output (optical). A pre-programmed Smart Remote is provided.

[olgeezer]

Nick, i prefer using yellow to green as it's easier for a lefty to remember. DBSPaul here's a user manual reference for all JVC consumer products http://books.jvcservice.com/