component video splitter/switcher

NeilGabriel
NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
edited January 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I have a single component input on the HDTV and two HD sources that I use component cables for (actually, I just started using it with the DVD player....I have no idea why I waited). I don't want to run the video through the receiver, so can I just get a splitter or do I need a switcher--which seems to cost a whole bunch more. The splitters I saw say they are for running one source into two monitors, but they should work backwards and let me run two sources into one monitor, eh? If both sources were on at once, would this blow my HDTV to smithereens.....and is that why they use switchers for this?

Thanks.
Post edited by NeilGabriel on
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2008
    bump....the wife is losing patience with me
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    why not go through the receiver?
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  • polktiger
    polktiger Posts: 556
    edited January 2008
    Like Willow - I would say go through the receiver or (2) use HDMI for one of your video sources and tell that source to send video through HDMI and audio through what ever cable you are currently using.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited January 2008
    Splitter won't work, switcher should. Or just run it through the receiver.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • gonzalr
    gonzalr Posts: 92
    edited January 2008
    please check this out: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2277695&cp

    this might be the one your looking at.
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2008
    Willow wrote: »
    why not go through the receiver?

    w-i-f-e: the receiver has to be be turned on to use the video switching, and she does not like to listen to tv through receiver, so she has to turn it down and the tv up....and the hdmi connection gives me a poor picture on this panny hdtv...I was actually using the s-video connect until I decided to go with the component...much better than hdmi

    I see there are switchers and splitters, just not sure why you can't use splitter in reverse...1 in to 2 out, or 2 in to 1 out....shouldn't it be reversible?

    thanks a lot...
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2008
    gonzalr wrote: »
    please check this out: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2277695&cp

    this might be the one your looking at.

    thanks...I have seen several of these...one even had its own remote...they are all about double and more of what a splitter goes for...
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited January 2008
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    I see there are switchers and splitters, just not sure why you can't use splitter in reverse...1 in to 2 out, or 2 in to 1 out....shouldn't it be reversible?

    thanks a lot...

    You can hook up two speakers to one receiver, but not two receivers to one speaker... it's the same kind of issue.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited January 2008
    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10112&cs_id=1011201&p_id=3027&seq=1&format=2
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    No offense to your wife as my sis inlaw does this as well, but why listen to the tin cans attached to your TV
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,990
    edited January 2008
    Willow wrote: »
    No offense to your wife as my sis inlaw does this as well, but why listen to the tin cans attached to your TV

    Because when watching regular tv shows,most don't listen at movie theater volume....unless your hearing aid battery fell out.:p
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited January 2008
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    w-i-f-e: the receiver has to be be turned on to use the video switching, and she does not like to listen to tv through receiver, so she has to turn it down and the tv up....and the hdmi connection gives me a poor picture on this panny hdtv...I was actually using the s-video connect until I decided to go with the component...much better than hdmi

    I see there are switchers and splitters, just not sure why you can't use splitter in reverse...1 in to 2 out, or 2 in to 1 out....shouldn't it be reversible?

    thanks a lot...

    This confuses me. I would think you would see = results between component and hdmi. Have you tried a different hdmi cable? Maybe you have a defective one. How old is the panny? Maybe even a bad hdmi input connector on the set. Do the component and hdmi you use go direct to the panny or is there something in between? I'm am new to HD so these might be stupid questions.
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited January 2008
    apphd wrote: »
    This confuses me. I would think you would see = results between component and hdmi. Have you tried a different hdmi cable? Maybe you have a defective one. How old is the panny? Maybe even a bad hdmi input connector on the set. Do the component and hdmi you use go direct to the panny or is there something in between? I'm am new to HD so these might be stupid questions.

    Direct connects. This is a basic panny HDTV, not sure of the model. DVD is s52. I haven't switched out the HDMI cable. My understanding is that the early versions of HDMI on some cheaper DVD players didn't necessarily play better than component depending on TV. And I have played with upconversions.

    Last night, on my Sony HDTV, I was experimenting and Start Trek Nemesis and it seemed much brighter and sharper with component but Collateral was better with HDMI...lots of shadows in the movie and grainier in component. Nemesis has lots of dark scenes as well, but it is shiner if that makes sense...almost like two diffierent styles of film.

    What Tonyb said about the wife thing. I don't even care to listen to all of my TV through the receiver.
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited January 2008
    One other thought, but it sounds like you have already covered the easy stuff, but could your TV have multiple settings? By that I mean could the component and hdmi inputs have their own independent picture settings (brightness, color, contrast, etc.). And yes I have noticed the media source always seams to vary. Not sure if it was the recording equipment or the way the director wanted it or the technician that calibrated the broadcast equipment but I see this a lot and it bugs me.
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