Component Switch Boxes

[KnightWarrior]

What is the Best Brand to get, My brother gave me his old PS2 Component Cable's

Is this a best breand

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/MarioMania/MyPics/componentbox.jpg

[GohanX]

I have a Pelican one, called the System Select Pro or something like that. It supports 8 (!) devices, and switches component, analog audio, svideo and composite video. 3 or 4 (I forget) of the ports also support ethernet switching and digital audio.

I got it used from ebay for like 30 bucks. I stopped using it when I got my surround receiver, since it has a built in component switch that works a tad better than the old box.

[KnightWarrior]

Do you ahave a pic of the Pelican one..are you selling it

[GohanX]

This auction is for the same one that I have. I guess that was 7 inputs instead of 8, oops. There are a few variations of the unit. Nah, not going to sell mine, partially because I might use it again sometime, and partially because I think something may be wrong with it since it has the slightest bit of distortion, and other people I know who have it say there is absolutely none. Probably a bad ground somewhere.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PELICAN-SYSTEM-SELECTOR-FOR-ALL-SYSTEMS-7-REAR-INPUTS_W0QQitemZ230225747137QQihZ013QQcategoryZ113 19QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[KnightWarrior]

I sent you a PM

Can you combine Video Signals with it, like

PS2/Xbox Hooked up in tthe Component
Gen/DC/NES hooked up to AV
SNES hooked up to S-Video

[GohanX]

You can hook up multiple sources, but the switchbox doesn't convert signals. So if you were to do that you would need to make sure you have Component, Svid and composite connected to the TV. So you couldn't have the NES hooked up to AV but only have the switchbox connected by component.

Oh, and it is 8 inputs. I forgot that it has a front input as well.

[Joe Redifer]

I have that Pelican. Do not use it with HD sources. There is not enough bandwidth in the unit and the video is degraded as a result. I hate mine, but it is the only one with enough inputs to do what I need.

[KnightWarrior]

If I get a Y-Spilter to hook the PS2 & the Xbox up..would I lose Video Quailty

[evildragon]

If I get a Y-Spilter to hook the PS2 & the Xbox up..would I lose Video Quailty
Of course!

You're doubling resistance, remember, each device is tied 75ohms to ground. With that, 75x2, picture will be darker usually, and if not, wavy lines...

Do NOT do that, it's highly stupid..

[0x15e]

You really do get what you pay for with component switches. When I was shopping for one, I got one cheap one first. Then when it sucked (really sucked), I did some research and came up with the CE Labs (http://www.cable-electronics.com/pm/index.html) SW104HD (look under "switchers"). Mine was $84 shipped from someone on eBay. That guy doesn't seem to have any more listed but here's one going for cheap (http://cgi.ebay.com/CeLabs-Audio-Video-HD-Switch-SW104HD_W0QQitemZ160210833284QQihZ006QQcategoryZ73 390QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). It's been well worth the money.

[KnightWarrior]

Of course!

You're doubling resistance, remember, each device is tied 75ohms to ground. With that, 75x2, picture will be darker usually, and if not, wavy lines...

Do NOT do that, it's highly stupid..

Thank you for clearling that up

[TmEE]

one option would be something active, with amps in it... then there wouldn't be any such issues.

[GohanX]

If you run your audio through a stereo, it might be a good excuse to buy a new receiver. Onkyo usually sells refurb receivers for like 100 bucks, and the entry level ones usually have 3 component inputs. It is amped so the signal is just as clean as connecting directly to the TV.

Pretty much the way it's set up now is I have the DVD player connected all the time in port 1, The Wii and the 360 alternate with port 2 depending on what I am playing, and the third one I have a cable with female ends on it attached so I can plug in any other system I choose to pull out at the time. Currently that is a Genesis, of course, with some occasional Neo Geo playing.

[KnightWarrior]

I got my Switch Box at Gamecray for $20..I got my Xbox & PS2 hooked up on Component & the SNES on S-Video, But I can't hook up AV like the Genesis. I have Component, S-Video & Video Yellow going in my TV