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SIMA SVS4D - Audio/Video Switcher
See it at Amazon.com for $229.99Average Customer Rating
(3.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Good while it lasted
(4 out of 5) by David P. Oster on May 30, 2004 (San Jose, CA United States)I used one of these to route signals from 3 VCRs (Composite video) and 1 DVD (S-Video) to the S-Video in on a TV, and route analog audio from those four devices to the TV and the home sound system. (The DVD's 5.1 sound doesn't go through the SIMA, but through a separate direct fiber optic connection.)
I liked that the SIMA did seamless conversion from composite to S-Video, a feature the rca vh920 lacks,
The audio quality was fine, and the video quality was fine. (I couldn't detect any difference in quality between using the SIMA and a direct connection.)
The SIMA has more features than I use: 1) I never used the audio compander feature, (2) the auto-switching is a nuisance, since most of the VCRs are programmed to do timed recording: when a recording starts, the auto-switcher switches, Luckily, it is easy to turn off both features. (3) Since I never turn it off and always want it to display which device is selected, I don't need the infrared control of those two features.
Although its remote control is perfectly functional, I taught my universal remote the 4 device selection commands, so its functionality is smoothly integrated with my regular (universal) remote.
I wish it had a few more device buttons. I can see wanting to connect a camera, a DVR, a computer and a video game to the TV in the future.
I am writing this because I am currently shopping for a replacement. After about 2 years, the SIMA partially broke: all the video sources come through only in black and white, unless I unplug the AC adapter, and plug it back in. After about an hour, the color goes out again.
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p.s.: I'm revising this review a week later:
I went out and bought a second one to replace the failed one. The new one adds, in addition to the traditional analog audio RCA connectors, for each channel a digital audio input connector: two of the input 4 input channels have fiber optic 5.1 channel digital audio ins, and two have coax 5.1 channel digital audio, and it converts between the coax and fiber to the output. (You can use either a coax or fiber input to route to either a coax or fiber output.) BUT: the audio compander feature only works with analog audio. The big knob on the front that lets you smooth out the high volume peaks so you won't wake your toddler only works with analog audio, not the new digital audio connections.
revising, April 2008 - I still have mine, it still works. The new one says its model number is "SIMA SVS4D With Digital Audio" on the front panel. The old one merely said "SIMA SVS4D" on the front panel. The photograph, here on this Amazon page is of the new one. (Revising because someone using an alias and a bogus return address sent me email asking for the above information.)
I liked that the SIMA did seamless conversion from composite to S-Video, a feature the rca vh920 lacks,
The audio quality was fine, and the video quality was fine. (I couldn't detect any difference in quality between using the SIMA and a direct connection.)
The SIMA has more features than I use: 1) I never used the audio compander feature, (2) the auto-switching is a nuisance, since most of the VCRs are programmed to do timed recording: when a recording starts, the auto-switcher switches, Luckily, it is easy to turn off both features. (3) Since I never turn it off and always want it to display which device is selected, I don't need the infrared control of those two features.
Although its remote control is perfectly functional, I taught my universal remote the 4 device selection commands, so its functionality is smoothly integrated with my regular (universal) remote.
I wish it had a few more device buttons. I can see wanting to connect a camera, a DVR, a computer and a video game to the TV in the future.
I am writing this because I am currently shopping for a replacement. After about 2 years, the SIMA partially broke: all the video sources come through only in black and white, unless I unplug the AC adapter, and plug it back in. After about an hour, the color goes out again.
-----
p.s.: I'm revising this review a week later:
I went out and bought a second one to replace the failed one. The new one adds, in addition to the traditional analog audio RCA connectors, for each channel a digital audio input connector: two of the input 4 input channels have fiber optic 5.1 channel digital audio ins, and two have coax 5.1 channel digital audio, and it converts between the coax and fiber to the output. (You can use either a coax or fiber input to route to either a coax or fiber output.) BUT: the audio compander feature only works with analog audio. The big knob on the front that lets you smooth out the high volume peaks so you won't wake your toddler only works with analog audio, not the new digital audio connections.
revising, April 2008 - I still have mine, it still works. The new one says its model number is "SIMA SVS4D With Digital Audio" on the front panel. The old one merely said "SIMA SVS4D" on the front panel. The photograph, here on this Amazon page is of the new one. (Revising because someone using an alias and a bogus return address sent me email asking for the above information.)
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Low Quality
(2 out of 5) by N. Franke on Feb 21, 2004 (Livermore, CA USA)I purchased on 9 months ago. First one was DOA (well, it partially worked, but wouldn't switch and the video was terrible.) The replacement worked great... That is until after 9 months, when it completely died (and it only has a 90 day warranty.) The lights light up (sometimes), but all I get out is busts of video ever few seconds.
Other people's blurry video is likely the result of connecting both the compisite and S-VIdeo.
While I really loved it while it was working, I'd never buy another Sima product again.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Exactly what I needed
(5 out of 5) by David Alexander Carson on Feb 17, 2004 (Boston, MA)I was a little worried about purchasing this product when I read the other review. However, I found many positive reviews of the Sima SVS-4D on other sites.
The picture quality on my TV was the same as if the S-Video was attached directly. I did not see the blurriness the other reviewer saw.
The product solved the digital audio problem that I had. My reciever only has one digital coaxial input and I had two devices with digital out, one coaxial and the other optical.
The picture quality on my TV was the same as if the S-Video was attached directly. I did not see the blurriness the other reviewer saw.
The product solved the digital audio problem that I had. My reciever only has one digital coaxial input and I had two devices with digital out, one coaxial and the other optical.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Horrible video quality
(1 out of 5) by Amazon Customer on Oct 8, 2003I started off purchasing a similar item from RadioShack. I ordered the Sima hoping that the video quality would be better. I was completely wrong! The video quality through the svideo switching was BLURRY, it hurt my eyes to look at the screen. The radio shack version, which cost 1/3 the price but does not have the digital audio switching had much better s-video quality.
I am returning the Sima.
I am returning the Sima.