If you do not have enough component video ports on your TV or computer to plug in all of your DVD Players, Blu-Ray Players, Cable Television boxes, Gaming Consoles like an Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or a Wii, or any other device that uses a component video cable (these are those cables with three plugs for video – colored Green, Blue and Red – instead of the regular composite video cable which is a single yellow plug that has been popular in the past), then you need a component video switch.
Most TV’s only come with one (and if you are lucky, two) component video ports. This is surely due to cost and design placement constraints. This means that whenever you want to switch from watching a DVD to viewing cable television or playing a game on your console, you have to reach behind your TV and unplug your DVD player before plugging in your cable television or game console.
You should always use the three plug component video cable if your DVD player or other device supports it, instead of the regular single yellow cable composite connection, as the difference in visual quality is simply amazing. Use of a HDMI cable if it is available is also a sound choice.
In fact, this video standard was created to take advantage of higher quality video from DVDs and Blu-ray that were not around when the composite video standard was created many years ago. You will notice the difference in quality when using component video immediately, and you will never be able to go back to the regular old yellow cable connection again! One of the main reasons is that component video allows you to view your DVDs and games in full HD quality, if they support it.
With one of these boxes in hand, you simply plug all of your devices into the box and the box into your TV. Then, with the simple touch of a button on the front of the device you can automatically switch between your different devices. As you also plug in the audio from your different devices into the switch, it also takes care of selecting the correct audio as well! Depending on the model you buy, you can even get one that has a remote control – you don’t even need to leave the couch!
Considering these devices start from about $50, there really is no excuse to be fiddling behind the TV any longer. Not every switch is created equal though – and if you have paid a lot of hard earned money for your TV, DVD Player, Blu-ray player, Home Theatre system and gaming consoles, it would be a shame to end up with a bad quality signal to save a few bucks. So make sure you shop around for the product that is best for you, and is of good quality.
