Composite video switch recommendation wanted

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marurun
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Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by marurun »

I have 3 consoles for which composite video is currently my only option. So I will need to buy a composite video and stereo audio switch box. I was wondering if folks had a particular model they recommend for quality or durability.

Your thoughts, my expert hobbyist peers?
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CRTGAMER
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by CRTGAMER »

Nothing elaborate needed, I use a non-powered Pelican unit that has Composite and SVideo. Also use basic composite switch boxes for the other TVs. The switchbox shielding not as critical as an RF box.

If your TV is a newer flat screen which has a shared Component/Composite maybe look into a Component Switch box? This allows a mix of Composite and Component consoles and video players "wire" into the same input jack of the TV.
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Anapan
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by Anapan »

The only SD switch I ever had that was really good was a powered Philips p71150 (Often called "Philips 4-Way Component" or similar) I bought them for ~$12 each from a liquidation store in early 2K.
The signal was so clean that I used to run two chained together when I was transcoding SCART to Component. I had 12 consoles hooked up through the two of them to a TV with only one of each input if I used y-cables for audio (each I/O does Composite, S-video and Component).

-edit: Composite, not Component? Hmm, reply still stays the same, but might be a bit much since the signal noise is mostly from the consoles... Maybe get a mechanical "clunk switch" type for a bit less?
If still interested, I would part with one cheaper than a quick search listed, but the shipping from Canada, even tho it weighs nothing, might still be prohibitive for such usage...
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marurun
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by marurun »

Yeah, short of paying out the nose for cables that also do signal conversion, my NES, Duo, and Genesis are relegated to composite video. Of course, that's what they were designed for, so I'm not too worried about it. My tube TV will blur it up nicely.

All my S-video systems can go through my receiver. Component I have a digital switch for.
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Anapan
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by Anapan »

As stated above, don't get extravagant, a hard-mechanical switch from most-any manufacturer will do fine. - Madcatz had their logo on a switch that I used a while ago that was good enough in my testing. Anything cheap and powered will usually make things worse.
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by samsonlonghair »

Pelican made a neat composite switch back around 2000ish that took style cues from the PS2. It had changeable name plates that said things like DVD, PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast. I always thought that one looked cool.

Edit. It looked like this:
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by ElkinFencer10 »

As long as your RCA cables are good and shielded and not too long, the switch box doesn't really matter too much. I just use a cheap $10 one, and I haven't noticed any signal noise or deterioration.
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Sarge
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by Sarge »

I have an component auto-switcher I've used for years that came from Walmart. But simple manual switches will also work just fine. I've got a Intec and a Pelican switcher that both still work great.
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Re: Composite video switch recommendation wanted

Post by hashiriya1 »

I use a JVC JX-S100. It does RCA plus S-Video. Very high quality unit made in Japan. You can probably find them cheap on eBay. If they're too big for you then Sony makes a lot of nice ones.
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