Oppo Flips On 3-in-1 HDMI 1.3 Switch

By Geoff Duncan Updated October 5, 2007

Oppo Flips On 3-in-1 HDMI 1.3 Switch

As more folks adopt high-definition technology in their televisions, home theaters, and PCs, HDMi switches are becoming a common way for users to expand input options on their systems—particularly since a number of high-definition TV offer limited HDMI inputs. Oppo Digital‘s new HM-31 3-in-1 HDMI switch is designed to eliminate those problems, and—since it’s a fully-certified HDMI 1.3-complaint device—it won’t introduce any compatibility problems between devices.

The HM-31 is EIA/CEA-861D, DVI 1.0, and HDCP 1.1 compliant, supports DDC and HPD switching, and comes with both a remote control (so users can switch sources from across the room) and an RS232 port so it can tie into remote management and home automation systems. And, since it’s HDMI 1.3-complaint, it supports 1080p resolutions, and PC video resolution up to 1,920 by 1,200 pixels. The unit is also available with an optional external IR sensor, so the switch can be tucked away behind cabinetry or other items, leaving just a sensor poking out for remote-control use.

The HM-31 is available now for $99.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Deals

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Gana 3-to-1 HDMI Switch

While the modern world has some great technology, one big downside is that there are just too many things to plug in and not enough ports to plug them into. This can be a problem, especially if it's something like a recessed TV where you constantly have to try to get behind it to reach the HDMI ports or switch the plug between devices. Thankfully, there is a solution, and HDMI switches help solve the issue of having too few ports. A Gana three-port HDMI switch is even on sale right now at Amazon for $13, down from $18, so it's certainly worth a shot if you're looking for a more convenient way to hook up multiple devices to a TV.

With this little device, you only need to plug it into one HDMI port on your TV to connect three different devices. It works perfectly fine with pretty much any device that connects via HDMI, from gaming consoles like an Xbox to streaming devices like an Apple TV. Even better, this little device can handle 4K at 30Hz, which is pretty impressive for something that costs a little bit less than $15. While most devices run better on higher resolutions, 30Hz at 4K isn't too bad. Also, given that it's HDMI 1.4 compatible, that means it should handle 1080p at 120Hz just fine, so for those of you who don't have a 4K TV, this device should function exactly the same as if you had connected the cable directly.

Audio / Video

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Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 front touch panel.

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Audio / Video

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HDMI Cable

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A small upgrade for a small group of people
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What is Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM)?