What are some good A/V-switches? I'm looking for one that can fit between existing components of a regular A/V-stack, so it must be the same size (approximately) as a DVD-player or stereo-amplifier. So I'm not looking for one of those silver plastic things or crazy-shaped A/V-switches. Most of my search leads me to things that resemble a UFO...
Get the Pelican System Selector Pro. It looks like it belongs in your setup, and it's got inputs out the wazoo. It's pretty cheap as well, for a good switch-- $100, retail.
or you can get the cheaper one by pelican thats $20 that has 5 inputs and accepts a/v and s-video, got one myself works great.
If you absolutely need it to be component size, this one's no good. It's about the size of a VHS tape, slightly thicker and about half an inch longer on the longer side.
En weer een Nederlander, welkom! ;-) Aangezien er blijkbaar mensen geen prijs op stellen als je in het Nederlands post ga ik wel verder in het Engels. I don't know if there's any A/V switchbox that matches the required shape, but I have to say that while you're at it get one that does SCART and not just composite ("tulp"), and MAKE SURE IT SWITCHES RGB! Goddamn cheapass ones sometimes do SCART, but the RGB lines are not switched through so the video reverts to S-video or composite. Well worth the investment Trouwens, zijn er nog leuke (retro-) gamewinkels in Rotterdam? :-D
So does the 'Pelican System Selector Pro' support RGB on the inputs and final output? Because it looks sweet and is definately what I was looking for, it even has optical in, great tip! But I think RGB is only possible through a scart connection? And for the true couch potatoe, anyone know of any remote controlled units like this? And AntiPasta, thanks for the welcome! Check your PM for directions on a recently opened gameshop in Rotterdam.
I know the US version definately did not have SCART or outputted RGB, but maybe there was a PAL version... :smt045 What the heck is so wonderful about SCART anyways? Mesa confused!
Scart in Europe is fairly similar to our component video here - close enough to RGB without having to buy a damned RGB monitor.
It's the 21-pin Cable-O-Doom - for connecting RGB with composite sync (the purest form of transmitting analogue video* - no more of that PAL/NTSC crap!), simultaneous bi-directional composite video and stereo audio (useful for VCRs and decorders/satellite receivers, etc.), and automatic switching (no need for that pressing buttons malarky!). Can also be used for s-video, but support isn't that common. It's been pretty much mandatory for TV sets sold in the EU since about 1997/8 to have at least one SCART socket, and most decent brand sets had them since around 1990. I don't know when they were first introduced but I've seen a Philips 21" set from 1985 with one. Many bigger sets these days have 2-4 sockets! A lot of TVs have only SCART sockets for AV inputs. All modern VCRs here have SCART sockets (usually two - one for inputs and one for outputs, but composite only), and so do all DVD players, satellite TV receivers, non-American made cable decoders, some LCD projectors, and some A/V amp's. The sockets are quite big, though (about 4.5x1.5cm), so they don't fit on a lot of protable/handheld devices. *OK, there's RGB with H- and V-sync, but no TV-type monitor I know of supports that!
Plus, if I were to buy an 'RGB-cable' for any console it always ends in a scart connector. So I was under the impression that RGB is A. the best connection for console to TV and B. only possible through a scart connection.
That's right... well today in Europe anyway. Older computer monitors (BBC Micro, Spectrum, CPC, etc.) often used DIN plugs, and also in some rare cases BNC connectors are used for RGB, but you don't need to worry about any of that with any consoles.
Yep, I have BNC from my PC to my monitor, 5 plugs right? But when it comes to A/V selectors, it's a bit of a mystery. This Pelican Swith might not be the best buy for Europeans as it does not have scart, so I would have to buy a lot of new cables, in this case component for best picture quality, and I'm not sure I can get those cables for Dreamcast, Playstation, Nintendo etc.
