Belkin Readies HDMI Video Switch

By Digital Trends Staff Published October 25, 2009

Belkin today added a new HDMI video switch for supporting multiple HD components. The new PureAV HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch will be available in July for $199.99.

The PureAV HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch, said Belkin, accommodates for connecting and switching up to three digital sources to a single HDMI port on a TV or A/V receiver. To use it, one connects the HDMI sources to the switch and then accesses the chosen source by either pressing the input-selector button on the switch itself or using the included remote control for wireless selection.

Recommended Videos

Other features of Belkin’s PureAV HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch include HDCP support; connecting and switch both HDMI and HDMI interface-to-DVI cables; and an included six foot HDMI cable.

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Audio / Video

Kanto’s new Ren active speakers with HDMI take aim at your TV room

The front of the Kanto Audio REN powered speaker.

The Canucks at Kanto Audio are at it again, announcing the addition of another new set of powered speakers to its lineup. The Kanto Ren are a 100-watt pair of active speakers that, in a first for the company, offer HDMI ARC connectivity.

After unleashing its new Ora Desktop reference speakers a few months back and then announcing their cousin, the Ora4, at CES 2024 last month, the Canadian speaker maker has set its sights on TV connectivity with the Ren, a $600 set of compact powered speakers that can be connected to your TV with HDMI ARC and be controlled with an included remote or with your TV's remote, with the help of CEC. The new connectivity makes the Kanto REN an intriguing soundbar alternative.

Audio / Video

HDMI ARC or digital optical: what’s the difference, and which is best for you?

The TCL 5-Series (S546) shows three HDMI ports, AV inputs, 1 RF input, and an ethernet port , aUSB 2.0 port, optical audio, and audio out headphone jack.

When wiring up your TV and home theater system, you’ll have a few different options for getting picture and sound from source components, like cable boxes and game consoles, to your OLED, QLED, or LED-powered screen. The most common connection you’ll find is HDMI, which has been around for a while, and is capable of sending large amounts of picture and sound data across your AV system. But there’s another type of digital connection that’s reserved exclusively for audio, which is known as digital optical.

Both of these port and cable types are an integral part of your modern entertainment mecca, but is one better than the other? The short answer is yes, but that’s just scratching the surface. To truly understand the differences between both connections, one must dive a little deeper.
A war of audio capabilities

Audio / Video

HDMI 2.1: What it is and why your next TV should have it

HDMI 2.1 port.

If you've bought a modern TV lately, chances are most of the connections are HDMI 2.1. This high-speed cable is one of the best ways to connect your soundbar, games console, home theater system, and UHD Blu-ray player to your TV. It has full support for the latest 4K and 120Hz standards, supports eARC, and is entirely backward compatible with older generations of HDMI.

In short, HDMI 2.1 is the only connector you need for pretty much any modern device that connects to your TV. You don't have to use it for older devices, but unless you're sitting on a stack of older HDMI cables, you might as well.