XtremeMac's four port HDMI switch for Apple TV

<<<... For being just $99, the same price of many competing cables, one might worry that XtremeMac's switch takes too many shortcuts. However, the fit and finish of the unit is solid, sharp, and attractive, mirroring the Apple TV with a rubberized bottom, a glossy plastic top, and a metallic finish on the sides (though the color is slightly off by a shade or two).

Audio and Video

Paired with matching XtremeHD cables, the unit's HDMI inputs can be used with devices sporting the compact HDMI port -- such as Blu-Ray players, the Sony PlayStation 3, and Microsoft's Elite version of the Xbox 360 -- as well as devices or computers with standard DVI outputs. HDMI is equivalent to the digital video portion of a DVI connector along with stereo audio. The HDMI output can similarly be used with a DVI display, although DVI does not supply audio. When using a DVI display, separate audio cables will be needed for all the devices plugged into the switch, along with multiple audio inputs or a standalone audio receiver to switch between the audio inputs. If the HDTV set used will also be delivering all the audio, it makes sense to get a set with an HDMI input to avoid having to run extra audio cables. I also tried the HDMI switch box with an 20" Apple Cinema Display, which worked fine. Computers attached as inputs to the switch box could sense the model and resolutions supported by the display, so the switch doesn't interfere with normal signaling. Switching between inputs was rapid, and all of the devices I tested had similarly stellar HD video quality.

HDMI = No Analog

A DVI plug can also be used to carry analog video, which HDMI does not support. For example, some Powerbooks and Mac Books supply a dongle that extracts analog VGA video from the laptop's DVI port. The DVI port on those laptops carries both digital DVI and analog VGA signals over different pins. Because HDMI lacks any backward support for analog video signals, this switch -- like any HDMI switch box -- does not support using VGA display; many video projectors only support VGA as their highest quality video input. Any display used with an HDMI switch will need to accept DVI or HDMI input. more>>>