FAO:everyone bussin' component connections

[Canton Province]

What's everyone using for multiple component connections for progressive scan? What switcher or what amp, the quality and the price they've paid?

I know this has croped up a few times, I just need more user feedback before I can make a choice for myself. Thank you.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Im using a Denon 2805 AV amp , 3 component ins and one out. It also upconverts composite and S Video signals to component.

A very nice amp it is too - costs about ?550 or so.

[Canton Province]

Is upconverting a composite signal to progressive, just as good as a component connection straight through to the input?

[mid]

Well, no - the colour information just plain isn't present in a composite signal.

If its just a basic video switcher you need, and run your audio seperately to an amp, one solution is a cheap composite AV switcher. Ones with basic manual switching buttons won't even notice that the left and right audio wires are now being used for Cb and Cr instead.

If you've got lots of component devices, and need to switch audio as well, I hear good things about the "Pelican System Selector Pro" from the US - its about $99 over there. Standard 17" hifi component width, and contains optical switching as well.

[Canton Province]

If its just a basic video switcher you need, and run your audio seperately to an amp, one solution is a cheap composite AV switcher. Ones with basic manual switching buttons won't even notice that the left and right audio wires are now being used for Cb and Cr instead.

Or a standard 5.1 amp with composite input/outputs?

[007]

How much are you looking to spend? As I recomended a lesser Denon Amp to a friend (the 1705) And that does component switching. He has his DVD player, Xbox, and GC all plugged into this one unit, all for sound too. Switches one button and everything comes on.

Anyway, i've got the Denon 2805 too. Monsterous amp. But they also make some brilliant lesser amps.

[Canton Province]

Safe 007. Checked it out here. Does that have specific component inputs or is like what Mid says and accepts component through composite channels?

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/avr1705-rear-1500x519.jpg

Theres the back of the 1705 - it has 3 actual component inputs which is very, very good for that price, so you can switch audio and video all nicely in one.

A bargain for ?200!

[YOUWIN]

lo guys,

interesting read, i was all set for the denon 2805 till reading this thread.
The reason just for the fact of the 3 component inputs and tne ability it has to convert s-video to component.
I wanna conect GC/DVD/XBOX to plasma screen (once i've either convinced/killed wife) - but i really need either s-vid/composite conversion to go throught the component output too. The reason being for my camcoder to display on the plasma - i have no intentions of using a scart terminal on the plasma you see, just want component input and vga.

Scott/Totu do you know if the den 1705 is capable of doing this conversion, as the 2805 is?? If so you could have just saved me around ?350 - 8)

[phresh]

You CANNOT, and I mean CANNOT use a normal A/V switcher for these. Although it does use the same plugs, the switching circuitry cannot handle the bandwidth of the component signals.

[mid]

That depends on a couple of things:

1) What resolution you're pumping down the cables. Some switchers cope with the bandwidth of 480p, just not 720p or 1080i.

2) If its a really, really simple one (think the composite equivalent of the legendary Argos scart switcher), its pretty much a direct wire switch, and bandwidth isn't a problem. Its more complex ones designed to do auto-switching that are most unlikely to work. I know a bunch of US mates who use composite switchers for their HD boxes without problems.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

You CANNOT, and I mean CANNOT use a normal A/V switcher for these. Although it does use the same plugs, the switching circuitry cannot handle the bandwidth of the component signals.

Sorry, but thats plain wrong.

I've been using it for my DVD player, Xbox and Gamecube all connected via component, and there is absolutely 100% NO drop in quality.

[007]

You're not using a normal switcher, you're using the Denon aren't you Thoseoftheunlight?

YOUWIN, i'm not sure if the 1705 does it, but there are others, like I think the 1905 and 2105, or similar to that, i'll find out for you.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Yep, using the Denon.

the 1705 does do it, but I guess its what you want out of the amp.. what speakers would you be connecting it up to?

[YOUWIN]

Thanks TOTU and scott, yeah i want it all running through an amp.
XBOX/DVD/GC all on component then to plasma (as i guess you blokes are doing)
Could i connect the camcorder to the svid terminal on the front of the amp and see the picture on the plasma via the component connections already connected to the plasma?
Phresh's post really threw me.

The speakers i have are just ones that came with my Sony surround sound system/Amp (5.1) its about 4 years old. I cant afford to upgrade speakers aswell atm, but i am happy with the sound as it is. I can't imagine any of those DEN amps sounding any worse than the sony i already use..

YW