Hands-on with the Marantz VS3002 HDMI switcher

Readers who tuned in before CES already got the details on the Marantz VS3002 HDMI switcher, but we'll recap really quick before we move to the pics. Six inputs and two parallel outputs, HDMI 1.3 and RS-232. And lookee here: there are six HDMI inputs and two outputs around back! This is priced at $349 and will ship in February.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Marantz VS3002 HDMI switcher

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[ark_v2 @ Jan 9th 2008 6:43PM]

$349? Ha!

[Vasco @ Jan 9th 2008 7:07PM]

Anyone know why it has to be so large?

[Denver_80203 @ Jan 9th 2008 7:08PM]

349 is steep but, if you can afford 6 devices that can output HDMI you must be heavy in wallet anyway.. probably heavy enough to just go out and buy a decent receiver instead though.

[zargon @ Jan 9th 2008 7:46PM]

@ark_v2

First off, it is marantz, you pay more for marantz due to quality (compare the case to other crappy plastic ones. $349 is not bad for what you get, find me a HDMI 1.3 switcher with 6 inputs, 2 parallel outputs and the biggy... the RS-232 input, a must for true automation. On top of that, it probably has auto-switching and describe codes, that if you have a good universal remote you would know how important it is. Other current companies that make quality HDMI switches like Gefen, are up there in price also. The cheap and crappy switches that you can get at Monoprice are cheap for a reason, either they are manual switching, their auto switching sucks or worse... they have major issues with the HDCP handshake.

@Vasco

If it is the standard high end component width, it is so wide because it is able to be rack mountable. Plus, higher end home theater components stick to a standard width of about 18", something the cheap home theater components don't seem to do.

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 10th 2008 6:07AM]

While I usually deem those switchers too expensive, this one at least has something to offer.

[Bryn @ Jan 10th 2008 1:04PM]

Does parallel mean you can output two different sources, or that they are identical outputs?

[zargon @ Jan 10th 2008 7:54PM]

They are identical. Most people use this for a setup that includes and TV and projector in the same room. But in theory, with a HDMI booster due to the limited cable runs, you could use it to output video in another room.