HDMI Switch 8+ inputs

[pyrotek85]

Hi, for those of you who have a large number of HDMI devices, how do you hook them all up to a single display? I've looked at various switches, but most of them are only in the 3-4 input range, with the occasional 6 or 8 input. Anything more looks to be for professional use and is very expensive, costing several hundred or more. I'd like to get something with at least 8 inputs or so, to accommodate my current needs and for some future expansion. Currently I have two 5-input switches that work well individually, but they don't always play nice when nesting them (which was my original plan), so I'd prefer to get a single unit if there's one out there. I've also looked at some AV receivers, but those don't seem to have any more HDMI inputs than standard switches, and cost a whole lot more for features I don't need.

If anyone has any thoughts on a solution I would appreciate it, thank you.

[bobrocks95]

Just out of curiosity, what makes you want an 8-input switch? Does your TV only have a single HDMI input?

How many devices do you have? Even with a PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, a Wii U, and a separate blu-ray player that's still 6 devices total if you absolutely must have them all plugged in at once. If you have an audio receiver you can chain it with your switch and get even more there... How much future expansion are you planning on? HDMI will die at some point.

This is all just out of curiosity, not grilling you for wanting a lot of inputs or anything. Maybe once HDMI has run its course you can start looking at second-hand professional switches/matrices on ebay?

[pyrotek85]

It's alright, I know I'm probably an outlier here.

What I have is a PC monitor so only one HDMI input on the display itself, along with VGA and DVI. I have my PC, Wii U, PS3, PS4, and 360 connected at the moment, and I'll likely get an Xbox One eventually. I still need room for my XRGB mini as well, which will handle most of my retro consoles through SCART and Component connections, but that's another project lol. With the Nintendo NX coming up soon too, I figure I'll need another as well. So that's 6 or 7 right there, I'm not worried about the next Playstation or Xbox iteration just yet as that's years away at minimum.

[Guspaz]

An 8x HDMI switch from Monoprice is $80. If you need more than that, you can just buy another one and hook them together.

In fact, it's cheaper to start out with multiple switches, since a 5x1 Monoprice switch is $25, and two of them gives you 9 usable inputs for $50.

[pyrotek85]

An 8x HDMI switch from Monoprice is $80. If you need more than that, you can just buy another one and hook them together.

In fact, it's cheaper to start out with multiple switches, since a 5x1 Monoprice switch is $25, and two of them gives you 9 usable inputs for $50.

That's what I'm currently doing, but as I said they're not quite working right together. If I power on a device on the second nested switched, the first won't recognize it unless I power cycle it the switch. Still easier than changing cables constantly, but not ideal either. I had my eye on that 8 input monoprice unit, but again that doesn't leave me with much room for expansion unless those units nest properly. I just wish I could find something with more that wasn't absurdly expensive.

[Guspaz]

That would rather depend on the individual switch. You could try a Doctor HDMI (from the HD Fury people), although that would add a $90 expense. It can maintain a fixed resolution link regardless of if anything is plugged into it or not (so the device you're outputting to would always see an active 1080p device regardless of if there was anything turned on). I'm not sure how (or if) it handles resolution changes, though.

[drewmantrivia]

We have installed several different HDMI switches at the college were I work and we have little to no luck with plugging one into each other to chain them. It goes back to how the switchers handshake with the source to the display. I would do one 5port to different HDMI ports on your monitor or TV. If not the monoprice 8 port is a decent switch but it does have a bit of lag when switching sources fast. Pro switchers are going to run you several hundred dollars at the extreme low end and with few ports. We like Extron and crestron products for switching. Atlona makes some decent switchers too now that I think of it. They are not bad but the build quality is a bit less than Extron and crestron but better monoprice. They are going 4K now so you might find some older HDMI swithers on ebay cheaper now.

[bobrocks95]

Do you see yourself getting a dedicated TV or a new monitor within 4 years or so? It would surely have more than one HDMI port. The 8 input would be exactly what you need for a good while if you get an Xbone and an NX (PC, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbone, Wii U, NX, XRGB).

If you don't use digital audio you can switch your PC to DVI and free up a slot too. If you don't have a display with more than 1 HDMI port by then you can swap it out for a used professional matrix which would be within reasonable prices at that point (or just buy another display).

[pyrotek85]

That would rather depend on the individual switch. You could try a Doctor HDMI (from the HD Fury people), although that would add a $90 expense. It can maintain a fixed resolution link regardless of if anything is plugged into it or not (so the device you're outputting to would always see an active 1080p device regardless of if there was anything turned on). I'm not sure how (or if) it handles resolution changes, though.

Never heard of that before, I wonder where I would put that in the chain then. In-line to the monitor, after leaving the two nested switches?

We have installed several different HDMI switches at the college were I work and we have little to no luck with plugging one into each other to chain them. It goes back to how the switchers handshake with the source to the display. I would do one 5port to different HDMI ports on your monitor or TV. If not the monoprice 8 port is a decent switch but it does have a bit of lag when switching sources fast. Pro switchers are going to run you several hundred dollars at the extreme low end and with few ports. We like Extron and crestron products for switching. Atlona makes some decent switchers too now that I think of it. They are not bad but the build quality is a bit less than Extron and crestron but better monoprice. They are going 4K now so you might find some older HDMI swithers on ebay cheaper now.

That's generally what I've been reading, some switches and/or devices aren't following HDMI spec exactly, so things get wonky if you try hooking them together.

Those are some of the brands I had found in my searches, but as you noted they can be hilariously expensive. It seems like for the number of inputs I'm looking for they only offer matrix switches as well (output to more than one display), which of course adds to the complexity and thus expense. I may start trolling ebay just in case, but I don't know if one will show up before I need it.

Do you see yourself getting a dedicated TV or a new monitor within 4 years or so? It would surely have more than one HDMI port. The 8 input would be exactly what you need for a good while if you get an Xbone and an NX (PC, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbone, Wii U, NX, XRGB).

If you don't use digital audio you can switch your PC to DVI and free up a slot too. If you don't have a display with more than 1 HDMI port by then you can swap it out for a used professional matrix which would be within reasonable prices at that point (or just buy another display).

Hard to say when I'll upgrade, I've been happy with 1080p single monitor for PC gaming, so no reason to upgrade there. But four years is a long time, so yeah probably sometime before then just for better picture quality or lighting. From the responses so far it looks like that 8 port monoprice switch is probably my best bet, like you said that would hold me over for a while, and I can move my PC back over to DVI without a problem if needed.

[ZellSF]

I have a Aten VS0801H-AT-G. It's expensive, but not in the several hundreds range (just two hundreds). It has automatic switching, which is nice since I only use one device at a time anyway.

Sort of dislike that it has no IR learning capability and that I can't get its selected input over RS-232.

[Guspaz]

That would rather depend on the individual switch. You could try a Doctor HDMI (from the HD Fury people), although that would add a $90 expense. It can maintain a fixed resolution link regardless of if anything is plugged into it or not (so the device you're outputting to would always see an active 1080p device regardless of if there was anything turned on). I'm not sure how (or if) it handles resolution changes, though.

Never heard of that before, I wonder where I would put that in the chain then. In-line to the monitor, after leaving the two nested switches?

The instructions say it should always be immediately after the source device, but I was thinking it would go between the two switches, so that the main switch can always see an active device on the secondary switch. No guarantees it'd work, though.

[pyrotek85]

I have a Aten VS0801H-AT-G. It's expensive, but not in the several hundreds range (just two hundreds). It has automatic switching, which is nice since I only use one device at a time anyway.

Sort of dislike that it has no IR learning capability and that I can't get its selected input over RS-232.

Yeah if I pay several hundred I'd kinda want more ports than that, but that's likely higher quality too. I'm currently using two Kinivo 501BN, which is a 5-port switch.

http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-501BN-Prem ... B0049SCB2Y

That would rather depend on the individual switch. You could try a Doctor HDMI (from the HD Fury people), although that would add a $90 expense. It can maintain a fixed resolution link regardless of if anything is plugged into it or not (so the device you're outputting to would always see an active 1080p device regardless of if there was anything turned on). I'm not sure how (or if) it handles resolution changes, though.

Never heard of that before, I wonder where I would put that in the chain then. In-line to the monitor, after leaving the two nested switches?

The instructions say it should always be immediately after the source device, but I was thinking it would go between the two switches, so that the main switch can always see an active device on the secondary switch. No guarantees it'd work, though.

That advice may have fixed my problem with nesting my current units. I always have my PC on, so I hooked that up to the nested unit so the first switch always sees it, instead of the PS4 previously which I'd turn off. My switches move to the new source whenever something is powered on, and will move to the next active source if it powers off. It seems to be working OK now, just as long as something remains active on that nested switch, so it won't require a power cycle now. So basically my PC is performing that Doctor HDMI's function now, so thanks =).

I'd still be interested in a single large switch if anyone happens to know of any affordable options out there that I might have overlooked, but otherwise thank you all for your replies.

[austin532]

I am also looking for an HDMI switch but I am concerned about quality loss and input lag. Also, it's very easy to fill up 8+ HDMI ports. PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, Wii U, Blu-Ray Player, Frameister and Nintendo's new NX system. Not to mention the several HDMI Mods for older systems. It can really add up fast.

[Guspaz]

I'm not sure you need both a PS3 and a standalone BluRay player, the NX isn't out yet, and the Framemeister has two HDMI ports for passthrough... So you've just listed a need today for only four HDMI inputs.

[pyrotek85]

I am also looking for an HDMI switch but I am concerned about quality loss and input lag. Also, it's very easy to fill up 8+ HDMI ports. PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, Wii U, Blu-Ray Player, Frameister and Nintendo's new NX system. Not to mention the several HDMI Mods for older systems. It can really add up fast.

And I forgot to add earlier, I'll likely be getting an HDMI NES at some point, so that's another possibility for some.

I'm not sure you need both a PS3 and a standalone BluRay player, the NX isn't out yet, and the Framemeister has two HDMI ports for passthrough... So you've just listed a need today for only four HDMI inputs.

Agreed about the BD, though I don't often watch them. The NX was a concern for me because there's a good chance it'll be out next year, as opposed to like the Playstation 5 which would be quite a ways off. I wasn't planning on using the Framemeister's pass-through ports since that's in a separate shelving unit with all my retro stuff away from my more current systems. But I may stick the eventual HDMI NES over there and utilize that now, since it'd make more sense in my setup.