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audio/videoZONE Products for the week of January 7, 2008
Accell Says…
UltraAV 4-2: Added to Ever-Expanding Family 4-2
Accell brings enhanced versatility to home theatres by allowing two displays to simultaneously access up to four HDMI devices.
Accell, a leader of enhanced connectivity, today announced the release of the UltraAV 4-2 HDMI Switch. Equipped with four HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs, this latest offering from Accell allows for easy switching of multiple HDMI sources and can play content on two high definition displays simultaneously. Priced at just $199 MSRP, the UltraAV 4-2 offers Accell's premium technology at a price point similar to entry-level consumer switches.
The UltraAV 4-2 is designed to bring enhanced versatility and control to the home theater system. The switch can route high definition video and audio signals from any four sources, including HD-DVD players and HD satellite systems, and mirror the high definition content, without degradation, to two displays at the same time. For added ease of use, the UltraAV 4-2 HDMI Switch features smart auto-switching technology that automatically detects the active video source and switches to it.
"While 4-1 HDMI switches have saturated the market, the UltraAV 4-2 fulfills a unique market need and brings enhanced versatility and control to the home theater system," said Tenny Sin, Accell's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Accell is rapidly expanding our line of audio/visual distribution products and the new UltraAV 4-2 reflects our mission to offer consumers innovative solutions at attractive price points."
EN-Genius Says…
The Accell UltraAV HDMI 4-2 Audio/Video Switch offers HDMI 1.2 compatibility for four HDMI sources feeding two HDMI displays and audio loads. The standards permitted are 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, plus computer resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.
Control can be over an IR link (with a distance extender) with a remote but the switch will automatically source an active HDMI signal if only one is available. The switch is powered at 5 V from a wall wort.
A repeater in the switch allows extension of HDMI signals to 25 m.
Accell have made their mark in the industry as a cable supplier. Now they have embraced the future with HDMI repeaters and switches. While others have focused on two switches that feed a single display, this 4:2 solves the needs of the two-display family -- one maybe in the home theater area and the other in the children's space. The built-in repeater gives additional value because the majority of home theater-type installations are certainly going to need extra reach. Although the suggested retail price is $199 the lowest offering I could find online was at $224 from bizrate.com. My only reservation about the product (which is visually attractive -- if it needs to be seen) is why the company felt the need to go the "gold" direction with connectors. The next stage must be to provide a matrix such that the two outputs from the switch can be from different HDMI sources.
The UltraAV HDMI 4-2 is in production. The box is 20.4 cm W x 12.6 cm x 3.8 cm and weighs 312 g.
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