Evergreen's stealthy 2-to-1 HDMI switch

The problem with adding an HDMI hub to your home entertainment system can be three-fold: the price, the extra cable required for power, and a new ugly slab cluttering the fine lines of your home theater. Not so with Evergreen's 2-port EG-HDMI201 HDMI switch. It switches two 1080p HDMI inputs for the decent price price of just ¥9,980 (about $82) -- and without an external power source. Better yet, it features a tiny infrared receiver slung off a 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) cable allowing you to hide the switch anywhere you like. Not too shabby, eh? So Evergreen, what's up with the 5V input jack then?

[Via Impress]

[hesh @ Jan 26th 2007 10:10AM]

"...system can been three-fold"...

"can been"... please correct.

[Jason @ Jan 26th 2007 10:18AM]

Why are these stupid things so expensive?

[adam @ Jan 26th 2007 10:31AM]

Why are they expensive? Because they know you are willing to spend thousands of dollars to watch HDTV. Whats another 100 bucks?

[hesh @ Jan 26th 2007 10:23AM]

Pretty cool, but I ordered a 5-port hdmi hub from monoprice.com for about $130. It does require an extra power source but does come with a remote and is fully programmable with the Harmony remotes.

[Andy @ Jan 26th 2007 10:40AM]

I have a HDMI switch that can switch between 2 HDMI sources, 2 DVI sources, and 2 pairs of 3 rca cables. The box tat I have doesn't require external power, but you do need to flip a switch on the actual box, not control it with a remote.

[Chris @ Jan 26th 2007 10:51AM]

I this a yes or a no on HTCP. 対応

[Greg Legowski @ Jan 26th 2007 11:04AM]

Like Hesh said, just go to Monoprice. Their 5-1 switch is under $100 now, is reasonably small, comes with an IR remote (for us JP1 folks codes are available, and Hesh points out that the Harmony remotes control it as well), and is 1080p and HDCP complaint. I'm using it with my Playstation 3 and Dish 622 DVR feeding a Sony 60A2000, and it works perfectly.

[Nash @ Jan 26th 2007 11:30AM]

I'm guessing the 5V input jack is necessary for the plug that you would have to use if you are planning on using a remote. That fancy select button on top of it would switch the source if you go the non-powered, manual route.

[mike @ Jan 26th 2007 1:37PM]

Dont you need power for the remote to work? How else will the infared reciever come into play? Looks like no plug in needed for manual switching, plug in required for remote switching (which is sorta dumb because they could of just used batteries which would of lasted forever on it)

[Rick Lyon @ Jan 26th 2007 2:15PM]

Here's a smaller one 2x1 for $99 http://www.coolbee.com/ACCELL_UltraAV_Series_HDMI_2_to_1_Switch_p/av-accl-ultraavhh2to1stch-0001.htm

[Chery @ Jan 26th 2007 3:50PM]

Andy, what is the model of the switch you have?

[Travis @ Jan 26th 2007 11:05PM]

Where do you buy them... Anyone got a link...?

[Scott Canoni @ Jan 27th 2007 11:39AM]

Here's a 2 port "Smart" HDMI switch from Terk:

http://www.amazon.com/Terk-HDMI-21-Smart-HDmi-Switch/dp/B000L0078O/sr=8-8/qid=1169914837/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8/102-0877178-4382514?tag=freeplecom-20&ie=UTF8&s=electronics

It sutomatically switches when you turn a product on.