Features Left and Right RCA audio ports for connecting it directly with the speakers.
RCA outputs are available only for the first HDMI out port.
This is a top of the shelf HDMI hub for building up a reliable interconnection and high-quality signal transmission between different digital devices.
Switch and Splitter
4 x Input,
2 x Output,
2 x RCA (L/R audio)
1.3
Up to 1080p, 1080i, 3D, Deep color up to 36 bit
DTS, DTS-HD, LPCM7.1, DSD, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby AC3
HDCP 1.2
2 buttons on control panel, IR remote
1 year
Features 5 HDMI inputs and can auto-switch to the active source. You can also change it manually via IR remote or control panel.
An ideal switch with the option to automatically choose an active signal source from up to 5 HDMI devices and safely retransfer it to 1 display.
5 x Input,
1 x Output
Up to 1080p, 1080i, 3D, Deep color up to 36bit
DTS, DTS-HD, LPCM 7.1, Dolby TrueHD
1 year
The device has a 120 cm non-detachable output cable and doesn't require a connection to power outlet to work.
The perfect value-for-money solution for HDMI switch! It is highly functional when it comes to plugging in a handful of devices to one display.
3 x Input,
1 x Output
Up to 1080p, 3D, Deep color up to 36bit
DTS, DTS-HD, LPCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD
1 year
The metal casing and gold-plated connectors serve as a shielding from unwanted signal interference.
A USB power cable comes without an outlet adapter.
A dependable splitter for getting a signal from 1 source up to 4 displaying devices simultaneously without interference or signal loss via ≤10 m cables.
Splitter
1 x Input,
4 x Output
1.3b
Up to 1080p, 1080i, 3D, Deep color up to 36bit
DTS, DTS-HD, LPCM7.1, DSD, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby AC3
HDCP 1.2
Status indicators only
18 months
As it just throughputs signals without decoding, this splitter will work with adapters for older monitors.
A power cable is not too long.
Although this SOWTECH splitter features no fancy design or remote control, it just does its job without a hitch.
Splitter
1 x Input,
2 x Output
1.3b
Up to 1080p, 1080i, 3D, Deep color up to 36bit
DSD, DTS, DTS-HD, LPCM 7.1, Dolby-AC3, Dolby TrueHD
HDCP 1.2
Status indicators only
1 year
What is an Hdmi Splitter
Probably, every one of us has a lot of digital devices at our home or office. They connect our lives together and provide the means to work and relax. And yet, it's easy to get puzzled with the sheer number of cables they come with. So if you've ever struggled with switching HDMI cables from an STB, game console or PC to one TV screen, then these HDMI transmitters are the best solution.
And if you are looking for other PC hardware, take a look at our USB hubs and memory card readers reviews.
What Features to Compare
First of all, make sure you know exactly the kind of HDMI transmitter's
Functionality
you require. Once again, splitters are designed to take an incoming signal, duplicate it and send out to 2 or more displays. Switches are used for connecting many devices to one monitor or TV screen in order not to plug them in and out each time. And if you want the qualities of both, then get an HDMI matrix – it can transfer the signal from many devices to one or more screens.
And sometimes it's easy to forget how many things we have in our houses. So count up devices with HDMI cables that you have, check out HDMI versions that they work with (you can find this info in the manuals), and then choose the transmitter with Port Specs that will satisfy your needs. Please note, that every HDMI version supports the characteristics of a previous one.
There is still a couple of pitfalls you’d want to avoid here. Some devices may not be compatible due to the HDMI version differences. Helpfully, that info can also be found in the manuals. So don't forget to compare the Supported Formats. And Controls are the last but not the least important thing to check out. The switches and splitters may come with wireless IR remote that can come handy if you are going to put the device far from hand’s reach, while others may only have a control button right on the body.
Finally, let's take a closer look at each device and its features.
E-SDS 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switc
Universal Solution
What to do when you want to provide a signal from different HDMI devices to 1 or 2 screens at once? You can get a switch, then hook it up with a splitter, and then the splitter - to the screen. Or you can buy this E-SDS 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switch and save the trouble of having 1 device instead of 2 and any additional wires. Better yet, with this HDMI switch box, you also alleviate any possible incompatibilities between different interface versions of switchers and splitters. Also remember: fewer and shorter cables equal overall better signal quality.
In other words, the E-SDS 4x2 HDMI Matrix can pick up a signal from up to 4 HDMI sources (PC graphic card, Blu-Ray player, HDTV STB, gaming console, etc.) and bring it to 1 or 2 displaying devices at once. You can quickly switch between the inputs via buttons on the front panel or with included small remote control. Anyhow, the major reason why we've picked up this particular model over many other HDMI matrixes is that it has separate L/R RCA audio out ports for the first HDMI out to connect them directly to the speakers. It's worth mentioning that, unlike some other matrixes, all of the ports, including the DC 5V one, are placed on the rear of the box, allowing you to neatly lay out all of the wires behind it.
Concluding, this E-SDS 4x2 is the most versatile 4x2 switch/splitter combo for hooking up and sorting out all the wires of your electronic HDMI devices.
Kinivo 501BN 5 port HDMI switch
Functionality
If you are looking for a device to wire up all of your devices with HDMI cables to one monitor, the Kinivo 501BN is the one you need. It is a 5-to-1 HDMI switch that can retransfer the signal from different sources to one TV, PC monitor or projector. It comes in a body so compact that the 5th input is on the side panel right next to the power supply port. With the help of this gadget, people may finally be able to sort out some of the tangled mess that usually accompanies office hardware. Nuff said!
Ports Specs
The Kinivo 501BN switch has one of the biggest number of inputs when compared to peers. There are 5 input slots for HDMI cables and 1 output to connect them to the receiver. All of the ports support HDMI version 1.4, which makes this switch fully compatible with most of the modern equipment with HDMI output. There are totally 7 marked ports on the rear and flank sides of the device: 1 for AC power supply (adapter included), 5 for input and 1 for output.
Supported Formats and Controls
The Kinivo 501BN switch supports all of the standard HD resolutions up to 1080p and also supports 3D. Speaking about the picture quality, by using the standard HDMI cables, colors, sharpness, and contrast look unchanged, just as expected. An IR remote will surely be handy if you are going to use it with projector or TV. The switch also has a useful function: it detects the active source and automatically switches to it if the other 4 are inactive. Otherwise, you can still manually change the signal channel with a button on the front side of the device.
Fosmon HD1831 3-Port 4k HDMI Switch
Functionality
Ports Specs
The Fosmon HD1831 Switch has 3 input HDMI ports, meaning, you can simultaneously connect up to 3 digital devices. It did just okay with video of all the formats. Some customers had some worries about it having built-in output cable, however, it’s the kind of the device that you plug-in and leave alone. And 24K gold-plated connector looks pretty reliable and is likely to serve longer than usual cables.
Supported Formats and Controls
It supports video resolution up to 1080p with 12bit Deep color per channel and also 3D. It did just fine with common audio standard formats: DTS Digital, Dolby Digital, DTS-HS, Dolby TrueHD, and uncompressed audio formats, such as LPCM. It works with HDCP 1.2, therefore, pay attention that it might not support the devices that require HDCP 2.2 or higher. One-button-operation allows you to manually select the input port. Another cool feature is that it requires no additional power supply. It only detects the signal with power supply and switches to it. One less cable at your home. Finally, three LED lights near the button show you which input is active at the moment. Overall, this Fosmon HDMI Switch showed great test results and can be recommended right off the bat.
Neoteck HDMI Splitter 4 Way
Divide and Conquer
If you ever wondered how they get the same fully synchronised video on different screens simultaneously in a cafe or shopping mall, the answer is quite simple. They use a splitter, just like this Neotek 4-way model. It can be connected to one source and divide the signal from it into 4 identical streams, sending them out from all 4 HDMI ports at once. Also, this splitter can be used for equipping your booth at an expo convention, a trade show or a product presentation to run the promo materials from your laptop on several screens at the same moment and attract more attention and a bigger number of visitors in that way.
Anyhow, we give this device a high praise for a steady signal throughput without any noticeable interference that is partially achieved thanks to its metal casing design. The Neoteck HDMI Splitter supports any data types, specified by HDMI 1.3b version, including 3D video on all 4 out ports. The recommended length of the HDMI cables in both directions is no longer than 10 m. In most cases, this is long enough to run the wire from one room to another without drilling a hole in a wall. The Neoteck HDMI Splitter 4 Way comes with a short USB-to-5V DC jack cable that also renders an opportunity to connect a car DVD player to 2 backseat screens simultaneously. Inside a house or office, you can either hook it up to your computer or grab a plug adapter that usually comes with Android devices.
SOWTECH HDMI Splitter
Plug and Play Solution
The SOWTECH HDMI Splitter is a simplest possible solution for when you have to deliver a signal from a single PC or gaming console, or any other source with HDMI output to either 1 or 2 screens at once. You can employ it for when you want to play a video game on your computer but prefer watching movies from the same PC with your home theatre projector on a large screen that is set in this or another room.
Speaking about the design, the splitter is very compact and can fit the palm of your hand. It has an HDMI input with a 5V DC port on one side and 2 HDMI outputs on the other one. The splitter is pretty straightforward and doesn't require any additional equipment other than HDMI cables to connect it with all of your devices. Performance-wise, it can throughput a video signal in up to 1080p resolution. You can also hook it up to older monitors via DVI-to-HDMI adapters as well. Just like most of the modern splitters, this model supports 3D video playback. Therefore, it's possible to fully enjoy 3D video on any screen. Additionally, you can check the current port status via bright LED indicators near each port. There are no controls per se. The device simply turns on when you plug the adapter into an outlet and turns off when you plug it out. However, we strongly recommend powering it up via a power surge protector or UPS devices to protect it from voltage spikes.
Concluding, the SOWTECH HDMI Splitter is a real working horse that can save you the trouble of getting up and reconnect the wires on your screens each time you want to get the image from another device.
Sources:
1. Zachary Medved Splitters and Switches and Matrixes, Oh My! Sewell Direct.
2. HDMI Splitter, Tech-FAQ. March 11, 2016.
3. HDMI Splitter or HDMI Switch? The Easiest Way to Connect Multiple Devices to Your TV, eBay. April 14, 2015.
4. How to use an HDMI Switch to Connect More Devices to One Monitor, Tom's Hardware. November 28, 2013.
5. What’s a Matrix Switch and Why Your A/V System or Home Theater Needs One, Electronic House. July 15, 2015.
