# Video switcher for several component/DVI sources?  Warning -- Jargon!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-switcher-for-several-component-dvi-sources-warning-jargon/259880>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 14, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-switcher-for-several-component-dvi-sources-warning-jargon/259880 "2004-08-14T23:38:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-switcher-for-several-component-dvi-sources-warning-jargon/259880/1 "2004-08-14T23:38:51Z")

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I have a DLP TV with a DVI input. My computer video card has a DVI out, and I’m figuring on getting a DVD player with one. Also the cable installer guy told me that if I harass the cable company enough I can get a cable box with a DVI output. In the meantime, I have I have 4 sources with component video outputs (2 DVD players, an HD antenna/receiver box, and an HD cable box), and two more with standard video output.

I was shopping for a home theater receiver/amp that could handle all these, and the only thing that came close was this [$4.5K Plus Sony monster](http://www.crutchfield.com/S-gizZAsKFSIg/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=4&g=10420&I=158STRDA9K&o=p&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=). It will take 2 DVI and 3 component video ins, along with a huge number of audio channels for surround systems. So if I plug in my computer and switch one DVD player to a new one with DVI out, and DON’T get a new box fom the cable company, this can handle all my signals. But all the boxes I would plug into the receiver don’t add up to even $1K total, and spending that amount of money seems ridiculous.

Do I have a cheaper alternative if I look at different boxes to handle my video and audio signals? The bottleneck is the number and type of video signals – I have found numerous MUCH cheaper (under $1K) receivers that can handle all the audio signals I have.

Can somebody point me to some video-only gear that might handle the job. It’s gotta work by wreless remote.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-switcher-for-several-component-dvi-sources-warning-jargon/259880/2 "2004-08-15T00:03:21Z")

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The product you want (multi-DVI input receivers) apparently does not exist yet at a rational price point, but will more than likely be available in a few months to a year or so as DVI output products continue to proliferate.

In the meantime here is a 2 to 1 outboard DVI switcher for $ 250. with remote control that will let you get a reasonably priced receiver with a single DVI inpout.

[Gefen HDTV DVI Switcher](http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_1/gefen-hdtv-dvi-switcher-3-2004.html)

The stuff you want is right around the beind timewise. It might be best to simply live with component analog out for a few more months, and a total solution will be available in the near future.