Home > Consumer Reviews > 3 Port Smart HDMI Switch

I have to say this the no-name switch outperforms the pros. I needed to connect my ps3 (hdmi) and dish receiver (hdmi) to an hdtv which only had a dvi input (using an hdmi to dvi cable). I tried the sony str-dg720 receiver for hdmi switching, then the monoprice hdmi switcher. Neither worked (the sony manual says it doesn't play well with hdmi-dvi cables, so I was going out on a limb there).

Now this little baby on the other hand, comes with extremely poor written instructions (think google translation of a foreign language manual), so I connected it not even expecting it to work. But wonders! Not only does it switch flawlessly between the ps3 and the dish receiver (producing a perfect output), it even has a "priority" function which works perfectly.

Basically, the dish hdmi port always outputs a signal, even on standby, so I keep it on a lower priority input (port 2). I've connected the ps3 to port 1, so if I turn on the ps3 this switches automatically to the ps3. When the ps3 is powered off, it automatically switches back to the dish receiver.

It's great to find a product which actually performs as advertised. Kudos to the manufacturer and CE compass (the amazon seller I bought this product from). 100% worth the money.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R36QNGH0IXL0TH If you are reading this review you have probably shopped around and studied the various types of HDMI switches. I am happy to report (and show) that this could be the switch for you. Installing is easy (as you would expect) taking less than 5 minutes. Video quality appears to be great (I can't tell a difference between using the switch and directly wiring the HDMI and bypassing the switch).

The best feature is the price! This unit is about 50% less than any other HDMI switch on the market.

- The automatic switching does not work for me - mainly because one of my devices is an Apple TV which tricks the HDMI Switch into thinking that it is always on.

- The automatic switching is not a problem since the HDMI Switch comes with an IR remote - while the remote is flimsy it can be easily programmed into a smart remote.

Final Verdict - I am very happy both in the products functionality and in the price.

5 Stars

This is a very small plastic box that has an ominous connector for power. No power supply is provided. No matter. It works without it.

It comes with a small remote control and receiver. I'm not sure why you would need it. The priority scheme lets you power up a device to switch to it. This is what you want and need.

It takes a few seconds to stabilize but then works fine.

This doesn't look like much but it works great!!!

I have a DVD player and a Tivo HD, both with HDMI outputs. My 1080i TV has only one HDMI input. By connecting the two with the Tivo having priority, I'm able to turn on the DVD player and it will switch to it. When I'm done, I turn off the power and I'm back to Tivo. What could be more elegant!

Update: I wanted to change to 5 stars but the software won't let me.

In my home, most of my devices has HDMI output when I realized that my home theater can only take 3 inputs and I have 4. So, I have to create one input for my DVD/VCR which has HDMI out and with my second DVR which also has HDMI. Puchased a terk 2 to 1 automatic switch and it never worked (please read my comment on terk in the cnet).

Finally I found this switch in the amazon, one thing which gave me excitement is the remote and the manual switch with automatic. Most of the devices now a days do not really turn off, so the automatic switches won't work properly because every device is on and the first one got on will be selected. But my fear was compatibility with each of this device which I faced with Terk 1 to 1 switch.

Here is my opinion after using it for a month

* Works perfecty with all the device, means no compatibility issue
* It comes with a external power option does not required, so no power cord
* Does not switch automatically not because the switch issue, but the issue I explained before
* Manual switch works great, with remote. So, I programmed to my harmoney remote active with this new device. So, when ever I switch the device, the manual switching of port is also done by my harmony remote. So, I kept the remote comes with this in storage.

Now I have one more input in this switch for futue expansion, also integrating this with the harmony remote activity, I even forgot I have only 3 inputs for my home theater, everything automatic!!!

Great switch.. I recommend 100%

At first, I opened the HDMI switcher. It didn't have a power adapter. So, I read the directions. "Works when connected to power source". But no adapter was provided. I went to Best Buy, got one of those generic plugs. Hooked it all up, nothing worked. Needed a 5V adapter and all they had was one that would switch from 4.5 to 6 V. Needless to say, i was pretty upset. Then, i signed on to Amazon here, and read everyone else's reviews.

They said it doesn't need the power adapter. So skeptically, I disconnected the adapter, hooked everything else back up. And sure enough, works like a charm. The remote doesn't work, but like everyone else says, you don't need it as long as you power down all of the other devices that are connected to the HDMI Switcher. Then you just power up what you want, and it automatically goes to that device.

Works like a champ once you try it without a power adapter.