# Recommend a cheap AV switcher with component video **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2007, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914 "2007-01-06T05:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/1 "2007-01-06T05:49:55Z")
I have a few pieces of equipment now that have component video outputs, but my TV only has one set on component video inputs (the rest are merely composite video, which tends to look pretty bad at times). I’d like to pick up a switcher to plug everything into in order to just connect one output to the TV’s compnent input. But since component tends to be the standard for more high-end stuff like HDTV’s, most of the switchers I’ve found cater to that sort of “have money but don’t know their equipment” user, and run into the hundreds (ie. the Monster Cable effect). Is there a cheap (less than $50) switcher that will let me do this? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/2 "2007-01-06T05:54:44Z")
A Vcr? ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/3 "2007-01-06T06:07:46Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] A Vcr? [/QUOTE] Does there even exist a VCR with component cable outputs, much less inputs? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/4 "2007-01-06T12:43:46Z")
I found [this](http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10112&style=) at my favorite “there must be something cheaper than Monster Cable” source. I should buy stock in that place. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/5 "2007-01-06T14:44:50Z")
Component video = 3 plugs, usually red/white/yellow, correct? If so, I found a switch at Radio Shack that wasn’t too much. Maybe $30. More than it was worth, IMO, but as you mention these things tend to be way more pricey than they should be. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/6 "2007-01-06T17:22:55Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] Component video = 3 plugs, usually red/white/yellow, correct? [/QUOTE] Three plugs, yes, but not red, white, and yellow. Red and white are the colors for stereo sound, and yellow is the color for composite video (all video on one cable, the worst quality.) Component uses the colors red, green, and blue (one would think they could have used a color other than red, since it was already in use, but since component cables are “fatter” than stereo cables, and usually all attached together, I guess they figured it would be easy to tell the difference between the red video one and the red sound one.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/7 "2007-01-06T17:47:08Z")
I just did a search on amazon, and they have a JVC 3-1 for just less than 50, so they do exist. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-av-switcher-with-component-video/386914/8 "2007-01-06T20:22:30Z")
[QUOTE=Athena] Component video = 3 plugs, usually red/white/yellow, correct? [/QUOTE] Those are “composite” cables, a common mistake. Component is a total of five RCA cables bundled together (three for video, two for audio).