Switch for 5.1 Audio

[eliocon]

Hi all,

This is my first post. So here's my dilemma and I'm sure a bunch of us have it. Anyone out there know of a 5.1 channel audio switcher that can be used to attach my Panny BD 55k and my Tosh HD XA2 hi-def players to my Yamaha RX Z1 amp? I've been looking at some component video switches that have a stereo in as well as video in but I'm concerned that the internal circuitry will hose the audio quality.

Thanks in advance.

Elio

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by eliocon

Hi all,

This is my first post. So here's my dilemma and I'm sure a bunch of us have it. Anyone out there know of a 5.1 channel audio switcher that can be used to attach my Panny BD 55k and my Tosh HD XA2 hi-def players to my Yamaha RX Z1 amp? I've been looking at some component video switches that have a stereo in as well as video in but I'm concerned that the internal circuitry will hose the audio quality.

Thanks in advance.

Elio

The Zektor switches have gotten positive reviews including their MAS3. A guy at Secrets reviewed one of their component video switchers (CVS4) used as an audio switcher. But these are both fairly expensive.

I've gotten this question once before and wrote up some suggestions here:

Help! I don't have enough multi-channel inputs on my receiver

I'd recommend trying with something inexpensive like the Cables To Go component video/audio switcher I mention in that article. These are usually pretty simple passive devices and can't do much to screw up the signals. If you notice a performance hit with the cheap one, then go for one of the Zektors.

Hope that helps.

-Chris

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by MrBoylan

I'd recommend trying something inexpensive like the Cables To Go component video/audio switcher

As luck would have it, that Cables To Go switcher is no longer available. Here are a couple of other options:

Audio Authority 4-Input Component Video Auto Switcher

RCA component video switch

The RCA may not be top notch quality but it's cheap enough to experiment.

Anyway... hope that helps.

-Chris

[eliocon]

Thanks Chris. I'll give one of em a shot and let you know how it works out.

E

[BADuHamel]

Originally Posted by eliocon

Hi all,

This is my first post. So here's my dilemma and I'm sure a bunch of us have it. Anyone out there know of a 5.1 channel audio switcher that can be used to attach my Panny BD 55k and my Tosh HD XA2 hi-def players to my Yamaha RX Z1 amp? I've been looking at some component video switches that have a stereo in as well as video in but I'm concerned that the internal circuitry will hose the audio quality.

Thanks in advance.

Elio

Hi, Elio,

You should check out one of these products from Zektor:

http://www.zektor.com/store/shopping.html.

I use one of their 5.1 channel switches that is now discontinued, but they have other products (as you can see at that link) that I'm sure work just as well.

[eliocon]

Originally Posted by BADuHamel

Hi, Elio,

You should check out one of these products from Zektor:


I use one of their 5.1 channel switches that is now discontinued, but they have other products (as you can see at that link) that I'm sure work just as well.

I won this on Ebay. Works like a charm and only cost 21 bucks.

3 to 1 HD Component Video Switch+ Audio/Video Switch

Copy, paste and search for it on Ebay. It's a pretty sweet device. Yeah it doesn't have a remote and you have to press the big chunky buttons but it's cheap and totally works. Now I have analog inputs for both my Blu Ray AND my HD DVD player. Yay

[BADuHamel]

Originally Posted by eliocon

I won this on Ebay. Works like a charm and only cost 21 bucks.

3 to 1 HD Component Video Switch+ Audio/Video Switch

Copy, paste and search for it on Ebay. It's a pretty sweet device. Yeah it doesn't have a remote and you have to press the big chunky buttons but it's cheap and totally works. Now I have analog inputs for both my Blu Ray AND my HD DVD player. Yay

If you're talking about the Zektor, it should work with a remote, AFAIK. They don't use their own codes, but you can program a universal remote for some specific-brand televisions (I can't think of them off the top of my head) and it will work the power and numbers on the Zektor switch. Maybe if you Google it, you can find some information on that. I have my Harmony remote programmed to work my Zektor switch and it works like a charm.

EDIT: I just checked my Harmony software and I have the remote set for the SymphonicWF-32L6 television to work my Zektor switch.