XtremeHD 4-port HDMI Switcher

 

If you're going all out on the high def experience, there's a good chance you'll run out of HDMI inputs on your chosen HD display before you run out of things to jack into it. A PlayStation3 has HDMI output, as does an Xbox 360, an HD Satellite or Cable box, AppleTV and so on. Problem is, most displays only offer one, maybe two HDMI input ports, which isn’t enough if you're looking to capitalize on all those 1080p opportunities out there now or coming in the near future.

Enter the XtremeHD 4-port HDMI switcher, a simple, small, aesthetically unassuming (and not-coincidently AppleTV-flavoured) solution that lets you connect up to four HDMI cables (from four HDMI devices, obviously) and output them all through a single HDMI cable to the HDMI input on your TV.

To select which source to watch, you simply hit button 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the unit's diminutive little wireless remote, or you can cycle through the sources by tapping a single source button on the unit itself.

Reportedly, the XtremeHD is also compatible with universal remote controls (a feature not easily verified, not comprehensively anyway, considering there are thousand of Universal brands out there, but two test units worked). Too, the HDCP compliant HDMI Switcher is not just a splitter or Y-jack; it's powered by an included AC adapter, which affords each HDMI signal a little boost -- or "video amplification" -- rather than a degradation often associated with non-powered switches. (HDCP, by the way, is a Digital Content Protection protocol usually found on HD DVD and Blu-ray movies that restricts high definition signals to non-compliant devices... such as those used by bootleggers and pirates.)

A great, rather discreet little device that should help cut down on cable clutter and eliminate the need to climb around back of the HDTV every time you want to swap out an HD device or two.

HDMI cables, ironically, are sold separately.

Details
Reviewed: Mar. 27, 2008
Type: Hardware
From: XtremeMAC


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