ACCELL's $100 UltraAV HDMI 2-1 Audio/Video Switch

With more and more devices being released sporting HDMI outputs (although certainly not all of them), and so many TVs holding steady at just one HDMI input, you're gonna have to shell out some loot for a switcher sooner or later. Most models on the market are dedicated little boxes that cost several hundred dollars, but cable manufacturer ACCELL has just announced a new solution for switching on the cheap, called the UltraAV HDMI 2-1 Audio/Video Switch, that tucks in unobtrusively among your nest of cables. This small wafer of a device simply features two inputs and an output, along with a handy IR repeater on a five-foot cord for toggling between sources from the included wireless remote. TMCnet is reporting that these will begin shipping next month, and for under a hundred bucks (well, only a penny under, but still).

[Via TMCnet]

[Desh @ May 23rd 2006 5:58PM]

Why limit yourself to two hdmi inputs when you can do 5 x 1 for $36 more?

http://tinyurl.com/f6xat

(and they have a 2 x 1 for almost $20 less)

[russ @ May 23rd 2006 6:00PM]

wouldn't it be _nice_ if somehow the TV recognised how many HDMI ports you had dangling off it. you'd be able to switch between them with HDMI up/down buttons..

[Gerry Block @ May 23rd 2006 6:01PM]

But is it HDCP?

[bobdole @ May 23rd 2006 6:23PM]

Why $100 for something that I could make myself in a couple hours with about $0.50 worth of copper? Is a remote control worth that much?

Is there anything to this that makes it more complicated than just shorting a couple of wires together?

[Jake @ May 23rd 2006 7:02PM]

$100? Screw that!

Monoprice rules!

Oh, and Gerry: a passive switch doesn't need "HDCP", as its just passing raw signal. An active "repeater" does need to be HDCP compliant.

[mrknowldge @ May 23rd 2006 7:22PM]

ebay has switches (4) not just TWO for under 30 bucks!!!

[JK @ May 23rd 2006 7:44PM]

Well bobdole, spend the $0.50 and find out for yourself! I suspect you'll fail.

[Tim @ May 23rd 2006 7:56PM]

mmm...monoprice. They do indeed rule. i just got my HDMI switcher for less than $30.

[Brandon @ May 23rd 2006 11:37PM]

Bob Dole is so old, he probably couldn't see well enough to find the copper he bought. Plus he's so shaky, he'd never be able to make it into anything functional, unless its function was a paperweight that is.

Bob Dole... Bob Dole... bob dole... bob dole... zzzzz.