HDMI switcher roundup

HDMI has quickly become the most important home-theater connection, capable of transferring 1080p HD video and uncompressed high-resolution audio in a single cable. The problem is that while more devices are becoming HDMI capable, most people are still stuck with only two or three HDMI inputs on their HDTV or receiver. The way to get out of this jam--without buying a new HDTV or receiver--is to buy an HDMI switcher. With an HDMI switcher, you can easily add four or five inputs to an existing home-theater setup--and they all operate via IR, so you can integrate it nicely with a universal remote.

You'll notice that the ratings for these switchers are pretty close. That's because for the most part, they're all fairly similar. We were able to find some differences in speed or reliability over long cable runs, but they basically all do the same thing--which means consumers should select mostly on price. The one distinguishing feature buyers should be aware of is that a couple of these switchers--the Accell and the Apogee--don't require power, which saves you an extra slot on your power strip. While the Accell charges a premium for this luxury, the Apogee is the cheapest switcher we've reviewed.

Finally, take note of the caveat in each review explaining that all HDMI switchers have compatibility issues in certain setups. For example, an HDMI switcher may work perfectly well in one setup and then not work in another arrangement because of a different combination of home-theater components. For this reason, no matter what switcher you buy, make sure you can return it in case it doesn't work in your home theater.