Gefen's new 4x4 HDMI Matrix switch

One of the reasons why we still love component video is because of the availability of component video matrix switches. Matrix switches are like a Ethernet switch for HDTVs, they allow any source to connect to any HDTV throughout your house. That way you can stack up all your equipment in your closet, and enjoy any one of your sources on any one of your HDTVs. Finally regular consumers can get the same matrix action out of their HDMI gear, with Gefen's new 4x4 HDMI Matrix switch, which routes your video and sound, and can be controlled via IR or a RS-232 connection for your home automation system. As cool as this product is, it isn't for everyone. The switch costs $1,999, and who knows how much those long HDMI cables from the closet will cost you, but if you have four HDTVs, a Series3 TiVo, an Xbox360, an HD DVD and a Blu-ray player, you can probably afford it.

[Chris @ Apr 27th 2007 3:02PM]

Do they even make HDMI cables long enough to outfit a 3000 sqft house?

[Ben @ Apr 27th 2007 3:12PM]

They make HDMI cables as long as you want them.
100' is about $130 from monoprice.com

[Cameron @ Apr 27th 2007 3:26PM]

I've had my gefen HDMI switch since January and I love it, but I don't think its that new. I shopped all over and I think http://sewelldirect.com/gefen-4x4-hdmi-matrix.asp is the lowest price online.

[Dave @ Apr 27th 2007 3:26PM]

I thought the HDMI spec was so horribly inefficient that runs over 25-30' aren't recommended without a signal amp.

[Brett @ Apr 27th 2007 4:55PM]

Gefen and others make HDMI to Ethernet to HDMI cables for runs up to 330 ft, so that should cover about any size of a house. See it here http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2484

[Dave @ Apr 27th 2007 5:05PM]

Brett-

That's kinda my point. $700+ to extend the range is painful when they could have just engineered good ol' coax cable to handle 1080p, HDCP, -and- a much longer cable length. But, that wouldn't have brought in nearly as much cash for the licensees or licensors with a new market for now needed devices like the one you just linked.

Dave

[Joe Maki @ Apr 27th 2007 4:44PM]

5X2 with a monoprice 5x1 switch and 1x2 splitter for just about $204 + S/H

[Carmack @ Apr 27th 2007 4:44PM]

Anything more than twenty feet or so and you'll need a signal repeater cable. Still, with some RF remotes and a well-wired house, this would be a fantastic accessory. Can't wait to start to start drawing schematics for my dream house. ;)

[Brett @ Apr 29th 2007 2:31PM]

I see your point but if you have the dough for everything to connect to, 700 to connect isn't too big of a deal. Still not sure how they can get HDCP through Ethernet, surprised someone hasn't hacked that yet.

[Carlton Bale @ Apr 27th 2007 5:09PM]

Beware, these switches do not support the HDMI repeater bit, so they can't be installed between a source device and a HDMI A/V receiver -- the switch output must be directly attached to a display. So, if you plan on using an A/V Receiver for surround sound with this switch, you're out of luck. Here are more details:
http://www.carltonbale.com/2007/03/1080p-hdmi-distribution-an-impossible-dream

It is a known issue with no solution.

And yes, this is yet another problem caused by DRM (HDCP within the HDMI spec.) If it weren't for all of the DRM requirements, this switch would cost $200 instead of $2000. Don't you just love DRM's benefits to the consumer?

[ethana2 @ Apr 27th 2007 7:15PM]

Put it across regular Ethernet and, oh wait- efficiency "isn't where the money's at."

If I did that, that's the way I'd do it. And if DRM gets in my way, well... Nothing gets in my way without me doing something about it. Not even lobbyists. (Direct teledemocracy, anyone?)

Although it's high time for USB 3.0. It's a shame they include a max number of pins and max frequency in the protocol. That should just be a variable, so it can scale for the next 20 years. USB 3 Ethernet, USB co processors, USB hard drives...

[Ben Hobbs @ Apr 28th 2007 12:15AM]

Aren't there home cinema amplifiers that do this and so much more for around half the price, including upscaling s-video and component to HDMI as well as HDMI switching.

[Carlton Bale @ Apr 28th 2007 10:24AM]

Ben Hobbs: This is completely different from home cinema A/V Receivers. All of them will take several inputs and route only one of them to the HDMI output for one display. The Gefen matrix switch can take 4 inputs and route any input to any of 4 outputs. So, all 4 outputs could be displaying the same source or all four outputs could be viewing unique sources. A/V receivers are simple switches for one display.

[Ben Hobbs @ Apr 28th 2007 4:01PM]

Fair enough, still don't understand the use, how are you going to get 4 different users/displays to have access to control their selection of HDMI source, let alone control the actual 4 HDMI source devices? This things more expensive than buying four PS3's etc...

This thing also costs more than a Media Centre PC, 4 xbox360's and 4 HD-DVD drives. I don't really see why people get all excited about HDMI. This box must of cost all of $30 to make and personally being in the trade myself I can't think of a single use for it. You can run High Def down a cat-5 cable, actually you could run 4 lots of high def visuals and sound down a single cat-5.

[Eric @ Apr 28th 2007 12:51AM]

http://www.comprehensiveinc.com/product.asp?product_id=HDMI-HDC-82&cookie%5Ftest=1

This should be sufficient for all but the largest home.

[Carlton Bale @ Apr 28th 2007 10:29AM]

I think this 100 ft. cable would be a much wiser investment. Same performance, lower price.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024001&p_id=2894&seq=1&format=2&style=/

HMDI signals are digital. There is no need to waste money on a premium cable. This is not just my opinion, but something that has been verified in the lab:
http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196900944

[Dave @ Apr 28th 2007 3:23PM]

For a short run you are correct: The quality of the cable means nothing. If the signal is making the distance then it doesn't matter if the cable cost $2 or $200. The signal is digital and it's all getting through.

HOWEVER, on a -long- cable run (more than 25' for HDMI) it absolutely matters what the cable loss difference is between a well engineered cable and a poorly one. The well shielded cable might be able to cover the 25', the poorly made cable will not have a readable signal at the end of the length. If you think you can plug in a cheaply designed 100' HDMI cable and have 100% signal on the other end you are very wrong.

[Carlton Bale @ Apr 29th 2007 10:27AM]

Dave, did you even read the article to which I linked? Specifically pages 4 and 5? The researcher ran HDMI signals over standard, unshielded, $.10/foot Cat 5 Ethernet cable. There were no boosters/adapters/signal amps involved. There is way too much pressure from Monster Cable to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive cables that do not offer tangible benefits beyond the marketing message.

[Ben @ Apr 28th 2007 4:06PM]

Ben,
Matrix switches are very useful.

One thing you can do is watch whatever you want in any room of the house. Start watching a HD show on your Series3 and want to finish it in the bedroom? No problem just hit the switch.

Also why own multiple units when you only need one? One PS3, one 360, one Series3 and one HD Sat box.

More importantly you can integrate this with your home automation system, and have one touch panel to control everything in your house and even watch the big game on every HDTV in the house all off the same STB.

As for paying extra for HDMI, other than for true 1080p output like HD DVD or Blu-ray, I agree. For the same 2k you can buy a 8x8 component matrix switch, that also switches analog audio and toslink.

[Jim @ Apr 29th 2007 3:58AM]

Here is a direct link the Next Generation 5x4 HDMI Switcher / digital audio splitter. Only place on the web I know that sells this unit for under $400 is here:
http://www.summitsource.com/5x4-enhanced-hdmi-switcher-splitter-combo-plugnplay-5-intput-4-output-digital-audio-outputs-1080i-resolution-high-definition-multimedia-interface-connection-hub-19-pin-port-socket-part-next-generation-switch54-p-6258.html?manufacturers_id=52

It may not have RS232 control (which is limited to 20-30ft runs) but I own one in our showroom and it works awesome!

[Carlton Bale @ Apr 29th 2007 10:07AM]

Jim: The model to which you linked is not a matrix switch. It will display the same input on all 4 outputs, but it can't matrix multiple unique inputs to multiple outputs at the same time.

[Dave @ Apr 29th 2007 4:58PM]

Carlton-

You are completely missing the point! Comparing the architecture of the HDMI spec to a Cat 5 Ethernet cable to a good ol coax is comparing apples to oranges to blueberries. The HDMI spec is -horrible- for transferring data over long distances. Cat 5 and Coax do not have those same problems. The nature of their build allows loooong runs. It has nothing to do with what type of data is being sent, it entirely has to do with how the spec dictates the cable to perform and be built.
You would be absolutely foolish to pay a premium for high end cables like monster (wouldn't buy monster regardless) for coax, audio, ethernet, usb, etc. But HDMI cable is unfortunately a different breed in it's architecture. Just like the old SCSI cables could barely reach more that a few feet. You cannot run HDM cable over a long distance without some sort of booster or relay. Period. And that limitation only gets worse if you have a cheap HDMI cable with more signal loss and impedance.