what can allow me to play the same source (hdmi) on 2 displays?

krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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A passive splitter is shady at best, though it might work. HDMI is not designed to terminate into 2 sinks, especially if any bi-directional communication like HDCP is being authenticated. There is definitely a potential for damaging some components in the chain. An active splitter would be much safer, but much more expensive, certain high end receivers have 2 HDMI outs, or you could use:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=5744

It is definitely expensive from Gefen because they are pro audio, so Im sure a cheaper one can be found. Monoprice has a 4 -> Splitter but it is currently out of stock.


Truthfully though if I were you I would feed one LCD with HDMI and one with Component, cheap easy and safe.
 

Jugernot

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Oct 12, 1999
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Originally posted by: krotchy
A passive splitter is shady at best, though it might work. HDMI is not designed to terminate into 2 sinks, especially if any bi-directional communication like HDCP is being authenticated. There is definitely a potential for damaging some components in the chain. An active splitter would be much safer, but much more expensive, certain high end receivers have 2 HDMI outs, or you could use:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=5744

It is definitely expensive from Gefen because they are pro audio, so Im sure a cheaper one can be found. Monoprice has a 4 -> Splitter but it is currently out of stock.


Truthfully though if I were you I would feed one LCD with HDMI and one with Component, cheap easy and safe.

Monoprices 4x2 HDMI switch

These pretty much stay out of stock
 

krotchy

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Mar 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: Epic Fail
Originally posted by: Baked
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=2522&seq=1&format=2

That's a HDMI to 2x HDMI splitter. You can also get HDMI to 2x VGA, and HDMI to 2x DVI splitter.

Anyone with experience on this? Review is only 2.5/5, but some of the people gave it one star because they wanted to buy a switch and got this splitter instead.

Is there any truth to the claim a cheap one can damage your equipment?

Passive splitters are shady at best. As an electrical engineer, I would never consider using one, especially with bi-directional communication. Turning a serial point-point connection into a serial bus is never as simple as shorting them together.