Looking for a affordable HDMI switcher that can output audio via toslink

[lokiju]

I've seen a number of HDMI switchers that can take 4 or whatever HDMI inputs and then output 1 HDMI and strip out the audio and output it via toslink/spdif/optical but they're around $300, at that point I could just as easily get a brand new receiver that does this and more.

Does anyone know of a good HDMI switcher that can accomplish what I'm looking for but not break the bank?

It must be able to function with a Harmony remote and or have a auto sensing function that works well.

Of course my 1080p 120hz fancy LCD can take in 3 HDMI sources and can also output the audio via toslink but because of that crap encryption on the HDMI standard it only is outputting 2 channels and not passing my 5.1 signals. :|

:beer:


EDIT: After thinking about it more, really my real issue is audio.

I have a Denon which is a great receiver and I'm very happy with it but it's biggest downfall for me is lack of digital inputs. It has one optical input and one coax digital input.

As of yesterday I have 3 HDMI devices.
-PS3
-Xbox 360
-HD Cable Box

Now the PS3 and cable box and easily output their audio seperatly, which is what I've been doing, but the Xbox cannot. I'd either need to get the audio through the HDMI on it or get some expensive aftermarket adapter that'd let me output video via HDMI and audio via optical.

So part of me thinks overall if I could get a HDMI switcher that also has optical out, that'd be the easiest and cheapest way to accomplish what I'm looking for.

MonoPrice has this, but it's out of stock and never been reviewed also. But it looks like it'd do what I want for a price I can afford.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but can you just run optical straight from the sources to the receiver?

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Maybe this is a dumb question, but can you just run optical straight from the sources to the receiver?

That's what I've been doing but I just introduced a 3rd device yesterday (the xbox) and my receiver only has 1 optical input and 1 coax digital input.

Currently my PS3 is using the 1 optical input and my HD cable box is using the coax digital input.

To add to the problem, even if my receiver had a spare optical or coax digital input it'd still be SOL since the Xbox cannot separate the audio and video when using HDMI. So I'd need either a special adapter for the xbox to output the video via component and the audio via optical, but then I'm no better off as I cannot input that 3rd audio source into my receiver currently without some kind of splitter/switcher.

So I'm really just looking for the best solution for the least amount of money as a result.

Getting a new receiver is sadly not an option at this time as I can't drop $400 right now

 

[Modelworks]

Here is a splitter /switch for optical devices.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ...r=03G32162NBVBBP7Z1727

Convert the xbox to component with the cable they sell .
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360...&qid=1252675522&sr=1-4

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Hmmm... I don't know about any switches that do this for cheap. I haven't looked recently, but last time I searched I think I came up empty for affordable solutions.

The cheapest thing might be to get the component/optical adapter for the xbox and then get a cheapo manual optical switch until you can afford a new receiver to do it right?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Hmmm... I don't know about any switches that do this for cheap. I haven't looked recently, but last time I searched I think I came up empty for affordable solutions.

The cheapest thing might be to get the component/optical adapter for the xbox and then get a cheapo manual optical switch until you can afford a new receiver to do it right?

It is really a shame they charge so much for something so simple. I think part of it is just greed. I know I could make one in parts for under $40. Maybe I should put together a design and post the details on how to build it.

 

[lokiju]

Does anyone know if I can just use a RCA splitter and split the inputs on the coaxial digital input without issue? Assuming each devices on the split is off when the other is on of course...

Actually that doesn't help me I guess anyway since both the PS3 and xbox only use optical if it's being split out from the HDMI for 5.1.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Does anyone know if I can just use a RCA splitter and split the inputs on the coaxial digital input without issue? Assuming each devices on the split is off when the other is on of course...

Actually that doesn't help me I guess anyway since both the PS3 and xbox only use optical if it's being split out from the HDMI for 5.1.

I do believe the 3.0 firmware update was supposed to enable multiple simultaneous audio outputs.