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The Accell UltraAV™ HDMI ver1.3 Switch can be a great addition to your home theater system.

An HDMI Switch is a useful product for owners of HDTVs with only one HDMI input connection. With the increased number of components equipped with HDMI connections (DVD players, DVD recorders, Blu-ray players, HD-DVD players, and Satellite and Cable Boxes) one HDMI input provided on many HDTVs is not enough.

The Accell UltraAV 4-1 HDMI ver1.3 Switch offers the ability to increase the number of HDMI inputs on a TV without having to buy a new TV. It is easy to use and does not degrade signal quality from HDMI sources.

Manufacturer's Site

Pros

• 4 HDMI inputs
• HDMI 1.3 Compatible
• Easy to set up and use
• Built-in signal booster to accommodate longer cable lengths
• Remote Control and AC Adapter included

Cons

• On/Off function can only be accessed via remote

Description

• HDMI Connectors: 4 inputs/1 output, HDMI Type A 19-pin female.
• Supports 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolutions, as well as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, AV Lip Synch.
• 7.5Gbps signal transfer speed with a total bandwidth of 250MHz. What this means: No problem with HD video and audio transfer.
• Supports up to 36 bit deep color and x.v. color range, and resfresh rates up to 120Hz.
• HDMI 1.3b compatible. What this means is that this switcher features the most up-to-date HDMI version compatibility.
• Signal Booster can accommodate HDMI cable length up to 65 feet from video source to switch.

• IR remote control with battery (included). Includes IR Extender: Cable Length: 5-feet.
• Power requirements for provided AC Adapter: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz
• Dimensions: 8.03-inches wide x 4.96 inches deep x 1.4 inches high.
• Switcher Weight: 11 oz.

Guide Review - Accell UltraAV™ HDMI ver1.3 4-1 Switch - Product Review

The Accell UtraAV HDMI ver1.3 4-1 switch provides a way for users to expand the number of HDMI-equipped components that can be connected to an HDTV.

The switch comes with an AC adapter and a very easy to use wireless remote. The HDMI input sources can be accessed via either the remote, front panel Source button, or by auto-sensing which source is on. An IR Extender is also provided. This allows the user to conceal the switch and position IR sensor so that it can pick up the commands from the provided remote control.

Using two HDMI sources OPPO DV-983H Upscaling DVD player, Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-ray Disc Player (on review loan from Samsung), and a variety of HDMI cable lengths (3ft to 12ft), I found that both the HDMI handshake and signal integrity was not an issue. When comparing direct connection of the HDMI components to the HDTVs used ( Westinghouse LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor and Samsung LN-R238W 720p LCD TV ) vs HDMI signals going through the switch before going to the HDTV, the switch did not introduce any visible artifacts or changes in the source signal quality.

In addition to direct-to-TV connection, I also connected the Source components to an Onkyo TX-SR705 Home Theater receiver then routed the HDMI output of the receiver to an HDMI input on the switcher, then to the TV. I also connected the source components first to the switcher, then to receiver, and the receiver to the TV. In both cases that there were no handshake issues between the receiver, switcher, or TV.

The Accell 4-1 HDMI ver1.3 switch is great for those that don't have enough HDMI inputs on their HDTV. It provides convenience and good performance. The only thing that could make this switcher any better: A second HDMI output.

For a close-up look at the Accell UltraAV 4-1 HDMI ver1.3 Switcher, check out my Photo Gallery.

Manufacturer's Site

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.