Where Can I Find a 10 Input S-Video Selector?

[Saccharin]

Hey guys.

 

I'm in a bit of a quandry, and I'm hoping you can help me out.

 

Like many of you, I have a lot of systems. I also have a few other components like a DVD recorder, satellite box, and S-VHS player. I hate having to plug and unplug every time I want to play, so I'm looking for a high quality video switch selector with at least 10 inputs. I spent an hour or so last night searching but didn't have much luck.

 

The one I'm looking for is preferably Japanese make and with gold contacts. I can't use two 5 input selectors because I only have one S-video input on my TV.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[+FujiSkunk]

Pelican makes a decent 8-port switch capable of handling S-video and component video. It will also switch ethernet and digital audio for up to three systems. I have one, and I like it. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a remote control (I'm spoiled), though it seems Pelican has released a newer 6-port model that includes a remote.

 

If eight ports isn't enough, you can always daisy-chain switches.

Edited February 9, 2006 by skunkworx

[Saccharin]

Yeah, but I don't need component or ethernet. I know I can daisy chain, but I don't like it. It degrades the signal.

 

I just want a good quality 10 port with gold contacts and S-video plus audio. A remote would be nice.

[Saccharin]

Come on, guys! I know there's others with this issue. A little nudge in the right direction would help me out here.

 

Thanks for your input, skunkworx.

[Dones]

I remember someone asking this same question a few years ago. Someone posted some photos and a link to an exaggerated video switcher unit (expensive and obviously made for professional use). Search and you shall find.

[gulag picture radio]

Ah - this is my area of expertise...

 

I do TV and video production work for a living, having a small studio of my own. I use a really nice switcher JVC made for consumer work. It does an awesome job of maintaining signal quality. it's every bit as good as the professional video switchers I have around here.

 

The one that I have is the "JVC AV Selector JX-S700". It's a little shorter than a standard VCR, but is component width. It has seven inputs (not quite enough for what you need) with S-video, and four outputs with S-video. In addition to this it has the output for the monitor, and signal loops for audio and video (meaning that you can patch in EQ or video color correction onto any signal going through the unit). Its got a remote too.

 

The idea is that you use it to dub from any of seven video sources to any of four video recorders. You can even set it up so that you can dub two signals being routed simultaneously. It may sound like it's complicated, but really it's not. You can use it as a simple multi-input unit that would fit your application.

 

Looking at some close auctions for them on Ebay, prices seem to have gone nuts on them. I think that I got mine for $100-150 back when they were going out of production. Amazing to see that one just got over $300 (though one also went for a more reasonable $140). Too bad that mine is crucial in everyday operations, or else I'd sell it!

 

I have nother model too, the JX-S900. It's actually older, larger, but has pretty much all the same features except one. It doesn't transcode S-video. It means that if you have your TV hooked up to the unit via the composite connection, and you plug something into the switcher via an S-video connection, you won't see it on your TV. It's all or nothing.

 

There might be a deal to be had because the unit is older. As long as you have the same sorts of connections on all your game units (most of mine are outfitted with S-video), you'll be golden.

 

I can't speak to the quality of the Pelican unit, but I would tend to trust JVC since they make TV's and professional video gear, etc. Good luck! Zap me with any qustions you might have.

[+FujiSkunk]

I can't speak to the quality of the Pelican unit, but I would tend to trust JVC since they make TV's and professional video gear, etc.  Good luck!  Zap me with any qustions you might have.

1016504[/snapback]

 

I have the Pelican 8-port switch myself, and while this isn't the sort of thing I do for a living, I can say that the video quality through the switch looks just as good as a direct connection, and I use it daily. It's a powered switch, so any signal loss should be minimal.

[GrizzLee]

I can't speak to the quality of the Pelican unit, but I would tend to trust JVC since they make TV's and professional video gear, etc.  Good luck!  Zap me with any qustions you might have.

1016504[/snapback]

 

I have the Pelican 8-port switch myself, and while this isn't the sort of thing I do for a living, I can say that the video quality through the switch looks just as good as a direct connection, and I use it daily. It's a powered switch, so any signal loss should be minimal.

1016508[/snapback]

 

 

I second the powered Pelican box. It is excellent.

 

-Lee

[gulag picture radio]

Re-reading what I wrote, I did sound overly negative about the Pelican without even knowing. MY post sounds a bit snobby too. Sorry that what I was trying to say came out wrong.

 

I was trying to say that JVC has a great history, and it would be hard to go wrong with one of their units (though I just looked up their current line of similar products, and they seem to make a lot of non-powered switchboxes that aren't going to be as good.)

 

Glad to hear the Pelican is good. Powered switchboxes are always a good sign, and of course the Pelican's price is relaly nice compared to what boxes like my JVC seem to be getting.

 

I'll actually be looking for another switcher to use with my home stuff. Since the JVC's are so great at the office, I thought that I would go that route again but I didn't realize that they've gotten a bit expensive. Component switching will be nice too. I'll have to check out that Pelican unit next time I'm at a video game store.

 

Thanks for the recommendations everybody!

[Saccharin]

Search and you shall find.

 

I have searched. That's why I'm here. It amazes me how often people imply that you're too lazy to do a search just because you ask a question on a forum.

 

ANYwayz...

 

Yeah, the Pelican doesn't sound like a bad option eventhough I don't need half of the connections on it. I don't like that it doesn't have gold connections though. I'll also need about 10 S-video inputs eventually.

 

One idea I had was to get a 6 input from good old Radio Shack and use a 4 input RF modulator on my antennae connection. Doing RF mod isn't the greatest but I have really good monster cables I can use on the RF S-video mod.

[Phineasfool]

I recommend the Pelican 8 input one also. Even if you don't need the component now, it's there for later if you do. I've never seen one with more inputs that you could find for a reasonable price.

[JB]

Yeah, the Pelican doesn't sound like a bad option eventhough I don't need half of the connections on it. I don't like that it doesn't have gold connections though.

Well, you can hijack the component RCA jacks and run stereo+composite through them.

 

 

Gold-plated plugs, as I understand thigns, aren't really a major advantage unless ALL the connectors in the line are gold, making them rather meaningless for video gamer purposes.

 

As always, if I'm wrong, I'd love to hear about it.

[Saccharin]

All the cables I use are gold plated.

 

Good point about the component jacks. The Pelican still doesn't have enough S-video jacks for my needs though.

[JB]

All the cables I use are gold plated.

 

Good point about the component jacks. The Pelican still doesn't have enough S-video jacks for my needs though.

1016629[/snapback]

Y ADAPTERS!11111

I kid. Signal quality being paramount, that's a very bad idea.

 

Depending on how it's set up, you could use the ethernet jacks with a custom cable...

But they're most likely all just wired together(as it's cheaper than actually switching them, as well as less retarded when you consider the ethernet standard), which makes them an overglorified Y adapter.

[Saccharin]

LOL, yeah I thought of a S-video Y adapter from my TV, but, yeah, a bad idea!

[Saccharin]

Hey guys. Just wanted to follow up.

 

I snagged a Pelican 8 input off eBay for a decent price.

 

It seems to work OK, however I still worry about not having enough inputs someday.

 

The video quality on my TV is noticeably less, but not horrible. Slightly more pixelated. They should've used gold contacts. The thing seems cheaply built—it has that "Made in China" look to it.

 

All in all, not a bad alternative for the multi-system gamer. You could always get an RF modulator to add more inputs later on.

[gulag picture radio]

The gold contacts thing is kind of a myth. It has more to do with corrosion over time than actual signal quality for something like this. The actual soldering of the connector onto the wire is more crucial to picture quality than the plating on the connector itself. Even high end video production equipment (I'm talking HD broadcast level) doesn't have gold connectors on it.

 

You do see it a lot on stuff because it looks nice, and gives manufacturers an opportunity to charge large for what should be a 25 cents piece of wire.

 

Sorry to hear that the quality isn't what you'd like it to be on the Pelican. I'll have to evaluate it myself one of these days. I guess that there might be a very good reason that the JVC units I mentioned above still command real money on Ebay.

[JB]

The gold contacts thing is kind of a myth.  It has more to do with corrosion over time than actual signal quality for something like this.  The actual soldering of the connector onto the wire is more crucial to picture quality than the plating on the connector itself.  Even high end video production equipment (I'm talking HD broadcast level) doesn't have gold connectors on it.

 

You do see it a lot on stuff because it looks nice, and gives manufacturers an opportunity to charge large for what should be a 25 cents piece of wire.

Even in places where it shouldn't be. They charge a premium for gold-plated optical audio cables, too.

 

And the salespeopel will gladly tell you it makes for cleaner sound. Because, you know, it's not enough to be digital, and it's not like the light travels through teh plsatic fiber in the center...

[Artlover]

I have searched. That's why I'm here. It amazes me how often people imply that you're too lazy to do a search just because you ask a question on a forum.

1016561[/snapback]

Well, in your defence, the search feature of this new forum software sucks in many ways. It's much harder to find what you want now then it used to be. I've all but stopped using it myself. You can still kinda find what you're looking for, but it involves knowing how to formulate your search just right and half remembering exactly what you're trying to search for. From a noob standpoint, I can see how the current search option is useless.

 

As I understand it, when the forum software gets upgraded to a newer version, some patches and fixes will be made to the search engine, and hopefully.

 

Yeah, the Pelican doesn't sound like a bad option eventhough I don't need half of the connections on it. I don't like that it doesn't have gold connections though. I'll also need about 10 S-video inputs eventually.

1016561[/snapback]

Realisticly, for the most part, some of your complaints are unfounded in real-world application.

 

Gold plated connectors for example. It only helps if you're using crappy cables with crappier plugs. Gold plating only helps get you a slightly better electrical contact being made between a poor connection. If you have a decent quality cable and plug, the gold plating does nothing for you except cost extra money. Especialy if your cable is already has gold plated plus. The gold plating doesn't help with any other aspect of signal transport or signal loss. Remember, the only place it's gold plated is at the connector. The wire is still copper and the traces on the circuit boards are still tin plated copper. The signal canl never be any better then the worse componete in the chain. Ok, actually, gold plating preventions oxidation, which helps with long term stability of established connections. But then, so does general preventative mantienance and cleaning.

 

Daisy chaining. Technicaly, yes, daisy chaining switchers can effect quality. But this is one of those real-world things. I dare most people to beable to tell the difference in a double blind test. Of course, it does matter on the switcher. Some are better then others. Some crappy ones loose alot of signal and the loss will multiply with each one throw in the chain. Better ones are well sheilded enough to prevent such issues. Amplified switchers can be a problem daisy chained too, as you'll quickly over drive the signal into distortion.

 

I'm not saying there isn't any factual truth to some of the points. But largely, it's all nutty audio/video phile insanity that doesn't matter in %99.999999 of real world applications. Like engineered oxygen free, time base corrected a/v cable at $30 a foot where it only makes a difference on an osillioscope.

 

Anywho. As you can tell, many of us use pelican switchers. Got 4 of them myself, daisy chained together, and everything looks just fine. The difference between comming off #1 vs #4 is barely an IRE or two of luminance. Can't even tell unless you happen to have two identical sources on each and can swtich back and fourth a few times. And I think that's more to do with ultra cheap radio shack cable that's running 30 feet between switcher #4 and the other 3 then anything else.

 

Anywho 2. It also really depends on how much you're looking to spend. Good high quality professional studio quality AV switchers can reach thousands of dollars, and still maybe not even offer you everything you want. A pelican runs for $20.

[Phineasfool]

Has anyone tried using the Pelican selector pro 2.0 at all? It only does 6 inputs, but it has coaxial support. Was thinking of getting that one from work for my extra systems still not hooked up, especially the older ones that use the RF.

[Zonie]

I use two pelican 5-port switches that are daisy chained. Not what I want either, but it works fine for me.

[Saccharin]

I have searched. That's why I'm here. It amazes me how often people imply that you're too lazy to do a search just because you ask a question on a forum.

1016561[/snapback]

Well, in your defence, the search feature of this new forum software sucks in many ways. It's much harder to find what you want now then it used to be. I've all but stopped using it myself. You can still kinda find what you're looking for, but it involves knowing how to formulate your search just right and half remembering exactly what you're trying to search for. From a noob standpoint, I can see how the current search option is useless.

 

As I understand it, when the forum software gets upgraded to a newer version, some patches and fixes will be made to the search engine, and hopefully.

 

Yeah, the Pelican doesn't sound like a bad option eventhough I don't need half of the connections on it. I don't like that it doesn't have gold connections though. I'll also need about 10 S-video inputs eventually.

1016561[/snapback]

Realisticly, for the most part, some of your complaints are unfounded in real-world application.

 

Gold plated connectors for example. It only helps if you're using crappy cables with crappier plugs. Gold plating only helps get you a slightly better electrical contact being made between a poor connection. If you have a decent quality cable and plug, the gold plating does nothing for you except cost extra money. Especialy if your cable is already has gold plated plus. The gold plating doesn't help with any other aspect of signal transport or signal loss. Remember, the only place it's gold plated is at the connector. The wire is still copper and the traces on the circuit boards are still tin plated copper. The signal canl never be any better then the worse componete in the chain. Ok, actually, gold plating preventions oxidation, which helps with long term stability of established connections. But then, so does general preventative mantienance and cleaning.

 

Daisy chaining. Technicaly, yes, daisy chaining switchers can effect quality. But this is one of those real-world things. I dare most people to beable to tell the difference in a double blind test. Of course, it does matter on the switcher. Some are better then others. Some crappy ones loose alot of signal and the loss will multiply with each one throw in the chain. Better ones are well sheilded enough to prevent such issues. Amplified switchers can be a problem daisy chained too, as you'll quickly over drive the signal into distortion.

 

I'm not saying there isn't any factual truth to some of the points. But largely, it's all nutty audio/video phile insanity that doesn't matter in %99.999999 of real world applications. Like engineered oxygen free, time base corrected a/v cable at $30 a foot where it only makes a difference on an osillioscope.

 

Anywho. As you can tell, many of us use pelican switchers. Got 4 of them myself, daisy chained together, and everything looks just fine. The difference between comming off #1 vs #4 is barely an IRE or two of luminance. Can't even tell unless you happen to have two identical sources on each and can swtich back and fourth a few times. And I think that's more to do with ultra cheap radio shack cable that's running 30 feet between switcher #4 and the other 3 then anything else.

 

Anywho 2. It also really depends on how much you're looking to spend. Good high quality professional studio quality AV switchers can reach thousands of dollars, and still maybe not even offer you everything you want. A pelican runs for $20.

1020270[/snapback]

 

Well, I'll have to disagree with you here. I noticed decreased video quality immediately upon hooking up the Pelican. Not huge but there's a diference. I also use Monster cables so it's not that I use cheap cables.

 

About the gold contacts, I have noticed a difference between gold and non-gold. Every gold plated selector I've used is superior in picture quality, including the Pelican. You can tell me that I'm imagining things, pile all kinds of techie logic on me, but it still won't convince me. It's just a difference of opinion here. I'm very picky about video quality and can detect the slightest difference in signal loss. Your double-blind challenge would prove you right, but only because most of the population are ignorant of the tell-tale signs of picture quality.

 

The Pelican is a cheaply made yet neccessary evil for multi-system gamers—until something better comes out.

 

And where can you get a Pelican 8 input for $20???

[JB]

About the gold contacts, I have noticed a difference between gold and non-gold. Every gold plated selector I've used is superior in picture quality, including the Pelican. You can tell me that I'm imagining things, pile all kinds of techie logic on me, but it still won't convince me. It's just a difference of opinion here. I'm very picky about video quality and can detect the slightest difference in signal loss. Your double-blind challenge would prove you right, but only because most of the population are ignorant of the tell-tale signs of picture quality.

I would bet, in general, it's more to do with the fact that they add gold-plated connectors to all the higher-end parts by default than any electrical diffrence at the connector.

It's not any good if Joe Schmo can walk into a store, see one component running X dolars and a cheaper component with "GOLD-PLATED CONNECTORS FOR SUPERIOR SIGNAL!" right next to it, so they make sure they have EVERY feature the lower-end ones have that doesn't actually make things worse.

 

 

 

The Pelican is a cheaply made yet neccessary evil for multi-system gamers—until something better comes out.

You are, to date, the only person I've seen express that opinion on the 8-switch unit.

[Saccharin]

I would bet, in general, it's more to do with the fact that they add gold-plated connectors to all the higher-end parts by default than any electrical diffrence at the connector.

It's not any good if Joe Schmo can walk into a store, see one component running X dolars and a cheaper component with "GOLD-PLATED CONNECTORS FOR SUPERIOR SIGNAL!" right next to it, so they make sure they have EVERY feature the lower-end ones have that doesn't actually make things worse.

 

That's a great point. I believe you're absolutely right.

 

You are, to date, the only person I've seen express that opinion on the 8-switch unit.

 

Check out the AVS forums. The reviews are mixed, and most of the people that like it seem to be just happy that an 8 input (w/component, ethernet, etc.) even exists.

 

Does anyone want to buy my Pelican 8? If some are interested I'll post the full rundown. I have 100% positive feedback on eGay.

[artcloud]

The one that I have is the "JVC AV Selector JX-S700".

I am looking for this very model. Do you know if it's available in Europe by any chance?

 

One of the switches that comes to my mind is this one: http://www.konigelectronic.com/en_us/55874690

Altough it does not meet all of your requirements, it's a neat piece of tech for a affordable price.

Edited September 19, 2014 by artcloud