Angry the Clown Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 I know component video is far more standard stateside than it is in the UK. I'm looking to buy a new tv in the new year, one with component inputs so I can finally take advantage of progressive scan from DVD, x-box and gamecube. What are those of you using component out from DVD, HDTV and games consoles using as a video switcher to save you having to unplug component cables from one source (eg. DVD), and plugging in cables from another (eg. x-box)? Any good value component switching solutions out there? Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 As you know, I've not gone component myself yet, but... 1) Are you going to chip your XBox to get progressive, then? Unchipped PAL ones don't do it, which is really annoying. 2) Not going to go component on the PS2? Its the one PAL system that can not only do it but progressive as standard too. Apparently, PAL progressive is very nice. 3) If you're using your amp for sound switching, I think the consensus is to use a composite switcher from Maplin/whoever and run the other two cables through what are meant to be the audio ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 1) Are you going to chip your XBox to get progressive, then? Unchipped PAL ones don't do it, which is really annoying. Being sent away for the job tomorrow. 2) Not going to go component on the PS2? Its the one PAL system that can not only do it but progressive as standard too. Apparently, PAL progressive is very nice. Interesting. If I can find a switching to take component from DVD, and the three games consoles, then sure. Few TVs can do PAL progressive right now mind you. The Toshiba TV I have an eye on (see your 32" tv thread) is not PAL Prog compatible, it has a psudo Progressive feature for non NTSC sources mind you, allegedly works ok though not quite as good as the real thing. 3) If you're using your amp for sound switching, I think the consensus is to use a composite switcher from Maplin/whoever and run the other two cables through what are meant to be the audio ones. Mmm. I'd have to import the US X-Box AV Pack to get component from it, obviously optical will go into Tag. I'll need to take 2 channel out of the Cube into the Tag too, and not sure on PS2. Never hooked it up to the Tag for sound before. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baiter Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Is there a reason you're assuming the tv will only have one component input? Mine has 2, and it's over two years old now. If you do get stuck w/ a tv that only has one input, I'd suggest just going with a receiver that has multiple component inputs. This should simplify your setup, and should be a lot more cost effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 As component is rare here, any UK TVs that do have it just have the one set of inputs. Indeed the Toshiba 32" widescreen that I am looking at is sadly no exception. I'm running separates in my HT, and my pre-amp doesn?t do component switching, but there's still no chance in hell I'd replace that unit as the audio performance is to die for. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Yes, that Tosh "only" has one component. Thanks to component not really existing in the PAL realm much, we're darned lucky to have one input - the idea of people needing multiple ones probably didn't cross their minds. Going back to the PS2 thing for a moment, I forgot to mention that only a couple of games do it normally. There is a Blaze thing that hacks it on for games that can do it but don't have the option (basically anything that doesn't do field rendering) however. Come to think of it, you might consider selling your PS2 after all (from the other thread) as there will be a PAL release of the ones that do progressive on DVD and have quiet fans (as well as being a tasteful silver) the proverbial Any Day Now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 The Panasonic PD30 just has the one too, though that is PAL progresisve compatible. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoisonJam Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 I'm in the market for one of these myself, as I've got four component sources (two of them hi-def), and only two inputs on my TV. I've got two sources running through my pre-amp, but that still leaves one more source than I have input. I found the following link on the Keohi site, which lists a few switching options and briefly reviews a few of them. Of the options there, I am looking at the Zektor HDS4 at $299, the Audio Authority 1154 at $194, and the Inday RGB4X-R at $149. All three seem to have the ability to do the job, but I still need to do quite a bit more research before making a decision. Right now I am running both HD sources through my pre and into "Input 1", and then I have my Xbox and DVD player hooked into Y-adaptors and plugged into "Input 2". It's an inelegant solution, but it works for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 I use this JVC component switchbox. It's only $75 (US) and has served me well. Some of the asshats at the evil forum used to dog this switchbox because it's not rated to handle higher bandwidth suposedly necessary for HD sources. My TV does 1080i and the only HD source I've ever tested the JVC switchbox with is my Xbox. Low bandwidth or not HD games look amazing on my TV through the JVC. -which leads me to believe the whole bandwidth rating is bunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Weird solution: 1) Buy the 32" Loewe Aconda from Audio T in Wycombe, having confirmed that it can indeed do progressive on its component scart (details are fuzzy on this, but it seems to do just about everything else under the sun). Loewes were far better in picture than either the Tosh or the Panny when I looked at TVs last week, and Audio T are knocking ?500 of the price of their one. 2) Buy a number (up to 3) of these 3) Use your Argos scart switcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Originally posted by iCamp@Sep 10 2003, 04:48 PM I use this JVC component switchbox. It's only $75 (US) and has served me well. Butbutbut... Its only $75! How could it possibly be as good as one that costs several hundred? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 The Loewe's use an internal deinterlacer I believe, which apparently doesn't yield such stunning results and is kind of a psudo prog scan approach. They do offer outstanding interlaced performance mind you, lovely TVs. No bugger makes a perfect TV. Daniel PS: Camp, that looks like a good little gadget. I shant be getting into component/prog scan until the new year (active speakers come first ) but that's noted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 I use the same one Camp linked to. It works great, it seems to work fine for 720p. but now I'm looking at the AudioAuthority one because I'd love to have 4 component ins AND optical audio switching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsappel Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Some gaming company (MadCatz?) is coming out soon with a component switcher. That JVC model is a good one, asshats' opinions notwithstanding, and I'd get it except I have such good results with my $15 composite switcher (as Iain said, just use your component cables in the same in/outputs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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