Need an HDMI switcher w/remote and optical..

[Oyeve]

I love my TV (50" LG) but it only has 2 HDMI and 1 component. I want to connect my FIOS box via HDMI and not component but my tv only has 2 and my 360 and PS3 are connected. So I am asking you dudes to recommend me an el cheapo but usable HDMI switcher. I have an insignia soundbar connected via optical so I guess ill need a switcher that has optical? I also have a logitech harmony 650 and the switcher needs to be programmed into my remote. Also needs to be under 100 bucks as I am on a tight budget. I was looking at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812270371 but I dont know if the optical is what I want it to do. My optical link is from TV to speaker, so whatever I switch on my TV will output to the speaker. Will this box work as I need? Or do I just need a basic switcher as the TV will still output optical?

 

[sciencewhiz]

The TV will switch the optical for you. You just need an HDMI switch.

Before I got my receiver, I used a 4 port HDMI switcher with remote from monoprice for several years. I was able to program it into my Harmony. The exact switcher isn't available any more, but they have several choices in the $30 range.

 

[thegimp03]

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=5557&seq=1&format=2

That's the one I still use to hook my computer, xbox 360, cable box and PS3 into a Dell monitor in my office and it works great. Bit cheaper than the one you linked as well.

 

[sdifox]

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=5557&seq=1&format=2

 

[Midwayman]

I had one of those monoprice ones and it wouldn't spit out 5.1 audio. Trouble is that the TV was reporting to the source that it was 2.0 only and the changer wouldn't override that. YMMV depending on what equipment you have though.

 

[sdifox]

I had one of those monoprice ones and it wouldn't spit out 5.1 audio. Trouble is that the TV was reporting to the source that it was 2.0 only and the changer wouldn't override that. YMMV depending on what equipment you have though.

not the switch's fault that your tv doesn't do pass through.

 

[Midwayman]

not the switch's fault that your tv doesn't do pass through.

What does pass through have to do with it? You buy a switch that has an optical out and you expect it to be able to split the audio from the video. You just need a regular HDMI switch if you have pass-through. Even if you do have pass through and your TV isn't reporting itself as 5.1 compatible you're going to get 2.0 out of the toslink on that switch.

His situation looks a lot like mine at the time when I bought that switch- older TV with limited HDMI inputs and trying to avoid buying a hmdi switching receiver.

To be fair the problem is because of how the HDMI spec works according to monoprice, not anything specific to the switch. To really know if this will work for him, we need to know which model of TV it is to figure out what the specs are and how it'll deal with the signal.

 

[sdifox]

What does pass through have to do with it? You buy a switch that has an optical out and you expect it to be able to split the audio from the video. You just need a regular HDMI switch if you have pass-through. Even if you do have pass through and your TV isn't reporting itself as 5.1 compatible you're going to get 2.0 out of the toslink on that switch.

His situation looks a lot like mine at the time when I bought that switch- older TV with limited HDMI inputs and trying to avoid buying a hmdi switching receiver.

To be fair the problem is because of how the HDMI spec works according to monoprice, not anything specific to the switch. To really know if this will work for him, we need to know which model of TV it is to figure out what the specs are and how it'll deal with the signal.

problem is exactly the tv not passing through the audio signal intact. Not exactly the TV's fault, rather it has to do with HDCP. All he has to do is put the switch between the sources and the tv and all problems go away.

 

[Midwayman]

problem is exactly the tv not passing through the audio signal intact. Not exactly the TV's fault, rather it has to do with HDCP. All he has to do is put the switch between the sources and the tv and all problems go away.

Not if the TV is reporting itself as a 2.0 only device. Its a HDCP problem for sure. I would just hate for someone to spend $40 on a switch to only get 2.0 audio. As I said, YMMV depending on equipment, but the reviews show this isn't exactly a unique situation. HDCP is such a PITA.

 

[sdifox]

Not if the TV is reporting itself as a 2.0 only device. Its a HDCP problem for sure. I would just hate for someone to spend $40 on a switch to only get 2.0 audio. As I said, YMMV depending on equipment, but the reviews show this isn't exactly a unique situation. HDCP is such a PITA.

Sigh. FIIOs, 360 and PS3 to switch, switch to tv. Switches act as repeater so the signal from source to switch will not be 2 channel. All op has to do is move the optical from the tv to the switch.


Or are you saying anyone who uses a projector don't get sound?

 

[Slufa111]

I have a brand new one. 25 dollars. PM me

 

[Midwayman]

Sigh. FIIOs, 360 and PS3 to switch, switch to tv. Switches act as repeater so the signal from source to switch will not be 2 channel. All op has to do is move the optical from the tv to the switch.


Or are you saying anyone who uses a projector don't get sound?

In that exact setup you may only get 2.0 sound depending on what your TV reports itself as. (or projector) Go read the reviews for the switch if you think I'm lying for whatever reason. This isn't exactly rocket science. You'd think that setup would work perfectly, but it doesn't. Despite seeming to be explicitly what the switch was designed for.

 

[sdifox]

In that exact setup you may only get 2.0 sound depending on what your TV reports itself as. (or projector) Go read the reviews for the switch if you think I'm lying for whatever reason. This isn't exactly rocket science. You'd think that setup would work perfectly, but it doesn't. Despite seeming to be explicitly what the switch was designed for.

I have the exact monoprice switch...which TV do you have that is reporting it can only handle 2.0? Most TV have ATSC tuner which means it has to be able to accept DD5.1 signal and downmix it.

 

[Midwayman]

I have the exact monoprice switch...which TV do you have that is reporting it can only handle 2.0? Most TV have ATSC tuner which means it has to be able to accept DD5.1 signal and downmix it.

Its an old toshiba DLP. It doesn't have ATSC or QAM so no expectation of getting a 5.1 signal under normal circumstances. A lot of folks are using something like this to hook up older equipment like this since they typically had really limited digital options. As I said YMMV depending on equipment, which is why we needed a model number out of the OP to determine what his set was capable of.

 

[sdifox]

Its an old toshiba DLP. It doesn't have ATSC or QAM so no expectation of getting a 5.1 signal under normal circumstances. A lot of folks are using something like this to hook up older equipment like this since they typically had really limited digital options. As I said YMMV depending on equipment, which is why we needed a model number out of the OP to determine what his set was capable of.

I think we found the problem

most people that need this kind of hardware have older receiver/pre-pro but are not willing to upgrade

 

[Midwayman]

I think we found the problem

most people that need this kind of hardware have older receiver/pre-pro but are not willing to upgrade

That's exactly my point. I eventually relented and upgraded receivers, but it seemed silly as I was happy with DD5.1 and didn't really care about the HD audio formats with blu-ray. Still have the TV, but its happy just as a monitor now.