CE Labs AV 700 Prograde Composite A/V Distribution Amplifier

by Cable Electronics

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15 x 4.5 x 2.8 inches ; 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BLEMIE
• Item model number: AV 700
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,310 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #60 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > AV Receivers & Amplifiers
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

The Smart Disk AV 700 7-WAY composite distributer is perfect for any home theater system. The AV 700 can be looped, cascaded, or put in tandem without loss of audio/video signals. A true one-to-one signal ratio, the AV 700 distributes signal to up to four TV's without loss.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic device for creating a low-cost multi-room audio system., January 24, 2010

By 

Loren Malm (Anderson, IN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CE Labs AV 700 Prograde Composite A/V Distribution Amplifier (Electronics)

This review is about using this device as a "hub" for building a multi-room audio system. I am not using the composite video input or output on this unit, rather I only needed the ability to take audio input from my computer and connect it to multiple amplifier and speaker systems. If you are thinking about building a multi-room audio system and are considering going wireless instead of using a unit like this one requiring you to run cables, I have included some notes at the end of this review about my experience with the wireless options which you might consider before making your decision.

I run computer audio into this unit (using a Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs (6ft)) and then using (up to) 100' Python Dual RCA Premium Stereo Audio Cables coming out from this unit to attach to AudioSource AMP-100 2-Channel Bridgeable Stereo Power Amplifier placed in various rooms throughout our house. Each room gets a set of Energy C-50 speakers connected to the AMP-100 with Raptor S14-50 50-Feet 14 Gauge Speaker Wire (Clear). Recently I added Gyration GYR4101US Air Music Remote a Gyration Air Music Remote that works from any room in the house, this is nice since it is possible to see all the Windows Media playlists on the remote itself. To reach multiple rooms on another floor from where this unit was located, I ran a single right/left pair of the Python RCA cables from this unit to the second floor and then used the output from the AMP-100 to connect to the next room (and "daisy chained" from that unit to another room.) Using this method, you could connect far more than the 7 connections provided by this unit if you had more rooms (garage, outside speakers, etc.) to connect to...

At the time of this writing, you would pay a more for this setup if you purchase all of these components through Amazon (about $100 more per room) however even at that cost such as setup still provides superior components to what a wireless multi-room system and at a lower cost.


If you are still thinking about a wireless multi-room audio system instead of running cables:

I have worked with several wireless audio systems, including those with remote speakers and also those which use Wi-Fi to connect a remote receiver. Over the course of a couple of years of trial and error, I found several inherent problems with wireless options including range, sound quality, room-to-room delay differences, cut outs, and high cost. I was looking for a way to create a multi-room system which did not suffer from these issues when I found this device; it is now the "heart" of my multi-room audio system. I have found it works very well and suffers from none of the issues I ran into with the wireless systems. My system is also less expensive; I can "add a room" anytime for less than $200, which includes the cost of a nice set of speakers and quality amplifier. Adding rooms at this price point is not possible with the high-cost wireless systems, and (in my opinion) the sound is inferior.

1) Range - Several of the wireless speaker systems I tried made lots of claims about "long range" and "works through walls" and various statements to the effect that range shouldn't be a problem. If you have ever purchased walkie-talkies with "30 mile" range you already know how this plays out. No matter what they claim or say, range is a real problem. With a hard-wired system (RCA cables to each room) this problem is eliminated.

2) Sound Quality - The sound quality from the wireless systems was not very good, several of them were sold as "remote speakers" so you couldn't connect your own amplifier or speakers and the typical sound quality about that from the speaker in a `70's era pocket transistor radio.... The wireless units would also "cut out" every so often - say every 15 minute to every half hour. This were pronounced cut outs and usually came during a great song or a quiet passage - this was really an annoying problem and one of the main issues with any wireless audio system.

3) Delay - A real problem with these wireless systems was delay. If you had some speakers playing through the main source, and others using the remote speakers, there was a small delay which created an almost "echo" effect when moving from room to room, imagine two stereo systems playing the same music about ½ second out of sync with each other. This was really annoying. Of course the wired system completely fixes this problem.

4) Expense - a single room using the leading high-end wireless audio system costs more than $350 and that's with low-end speakers. It is also a proprietary system so if you start with their "Starter set" you are pretty much committed by your initial investment and have to keep buying their modules for additional rooms at a very high cost.

Of course, your mileage may vary and a wireless system may work great for you and save you from having to run cables, however I truly believe the best sound and functionally comes with a wired system and unit like this one as the distribution amplifier to get sound to many rooms. Whichever way you go, good luck!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty awesome, September 15, 2011

By 

audiohouse - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CE Labs AV 700 Prograde Composite A/V Distribution Amplifier (Electronics)

I have some hum in my system but I am almost positive it is not due to this product.

This is actually very awesome. Basically became the "brain" for my whole home audio system for $50 instead of paying $1000+.

I just pipe rca cables all over the house and plug into different existing audio equipment. Driving from computer.

THis little guy does axactly what you would expect. I am coupling with a wireless transmitter receiver and there is 0 delay on the signal still!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star product, December 31, 2010

By 

A. Segal (FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CE Labs AV 700 Prograde Composite A/V Distribution Amplifier (Electronics)

5 stars because it does what its supposed to, perfectly. I have 7 TVs running off 1 DVD player in my store with this device. All clear without any fuzz or static. This unit is great because its POWERED. When you split a signal too much the screens will get darker unless you power it. I highly suggest this product if you need to split a A/V signal onto multiple tvs.