HDMI Switchers - Any recommendations?

With the purchase of the PS4, i now have a small problem. My living room TV has 4 HDMI inputs, all being used already with PS3, Blu-ray, WDTV and SatelitteTV decoder. To connect the PS4 i had to disconnect the WDTV.

Since i don't want to connect / disconnect cables all the time, i'm looking for a decent quality HDMI Switcher. I've discovered there's no types, manual and automatic (eletric powered). From what i can see, 99% of them are chinese cheap quality stuff.

The manual usually has a button to switch between the inputs, being powered by the HDMI connection itself. I've read that this could end up having issues with image and sound quality, hdmi handshake problems (blinking signal) and even cause blown hdmi ports because of more than one "powered" inputs. This seems like a possible problem even if they don't have an auto-select source feature. The automatic, being eletric powered doesn't mess with the HDMI for powering, but still has a mechanic switch inside. It does have an auto source switching feature that sounds safer but again no guarantee.

Most of the manual / non-powered ones being sold are rebranded versions of those two:



The choice for eletric powered ones are rather slim:



The only HDMI switch i could find around here, from a respectable brand, was this one from Akasa: http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?...pe=Cables&type_sub=HDMI Cables&model=AK-MX015 . My only complain is that the weird design doesn't help hiding the cables.

I really like my living room TV, it has an amazing image and black levels, even after 4 years. I even discovered it has a 10 bit panel, one of the best from it's time. So i don't want to risk it having a blown HDMI input port or even blown HDMI output ports on those equipments. That's why decided to ask this, since it could help some other people. I imagine that by now, i'm not the only having this kind of problems.

 

See that square you posted? Don't buy them, my friend bought a bunch of them and they all flicker.

 

I have the re-branded square one shown on your second picture. It actually does auto-select. That select button is an override switch for time when if you have multiple devices that operate on standby mode that interfere with auto selection. I believe the other three models you shown were powered externally only because they take IR remote.

If you want something of quality why not consider getting a HDMI AV receiver? You get the added benefit of surround sound and added piece of mind that switching protocol used is in spec (assuming you buy a major branded AV receiver).

 

Invest in a decent AV Receiver that has more HDMI inputs. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/denon-1...iver/4093029.p?id=1219096318591&skuId=4093029

You can feed 8 things to this, and it will take up one HDMI port on your TV. I recall seeing you post about audio gear in other threads IIRC. Heck, you can even use a cheaper one than this that has 4 HDMI inputs (around $250USD) and that'll free up 3 of your inputs on your TV.

 

I'm using a couple of different HDMI splitters.

I have an HS-V3A0-US HDMI splitter. I've had it over a year and half. I've got a PS3, 360, Scart to HDMI scaler and an HDMI pigtail splitter with an additional 3 HDMI ports connected to this. I've got a Roku 3 and Wii w/HDMI converter connected to the pigtail splitter. I've never had any problems.

The HS-V3A0 does not auto-detect, but port changes are made by remote. My model is not available anymore, but there are different variations of the HS-3A0 still available online:

http://www.securitystoreusa.com/HDMI-SWITCH-4PORT-W-REMOTE-1-3-VERS-p/hs-v3a0-a.htm


PDF specs - branded as Actionstar:

http://www.actionstar.net/manual/HS-V3A0-A QSG.pdf


The pigtail HDMI splitter that I'm using - I have two of these and I really like them (inexpensive):

http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-HD1831...&qid=1414987427&sr=8-11&keywords=hdmi+spitter