Customer Reviews

StarTech.com SVID410IR 4-to-1 Composite/S-Video and RCA Audio Switch

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

RESEARCH:
After some internet / Amazon research, I purchased the StarTech SVID410IR 4-to-1 RCA Composite/S-Video A/V Switch Box to use as a centralized interface solution between my various S-Video recording / playback devices connected to my Neuros OSD Unit w/External Iomega 500GB Hard Drive.

SPRING/SUMMER ARCHIVING PROJECT:
Recording (digitizing**) old Family Video's (VHS & Super-Hi8mm) & misc DVDs via **Neuros OSD Unit > External Iomega 500GB Hard Drive. All recording / playback devices have an S-Video OUTput, which is the better choice (picture quality) vs. the Composite Video (Yellow) RCA plug.

MANUAL PROCESS - pre A/V Switch Box:
Plugging-in & out the S-Video & Audio RCA cables between the various recording / playback devices to my Neuros OSD Unit became old very quickly.

A/V SWITCH Box BUILT QUALITY:
Very good to excellent. (see pic's I submitted into Amazon's gallery above)

1) SWITCH BOX: Logical, simple, functional & solid design.
.... a) Front panel layout is clean and clear.
.... b) Back panel layout is well spaced, clearly labeled and connectivity is very solid.
........ 1. FOUR: INputs each w/Composite (R, W & Y) RCA plugs & S-Video.
........ 2. ONE: OUTput w/Composite (R, W & Y) RCA plugs & S-Video. (See Note 1 below)
.... c) INput #1 - #4 each have a little round LED Light above indicating which one is selected.
........ 1. LED's (& possibly INput switching) powered via supplied 9 V DC Power AC Supply.
.... d) INputs can be selected from the front panel right side silver grey button or supplied remote.
........ 1. Pressing the front panel button has a tactile click for each INput change. (See Note 2 below)

2) REMOTE: Same with the switch box, solid & functional. Design is simple as it should be.
.... a) 2 AAA batteries required but not included.
.... b) Switching between any INputs is silent and responsive - works as designed.
........ 1. Having a Remote adds the value to this A/V Switch Box!!!

===============================
NOTES:
1. The A/V Switch Box does not mix Composite Video (Yellow) and S-Video signals.
.... a) If you connect one video device using Composite Video (Yellow) & another S-Video signal ...
........ 1) You must connect both Composite Video (Y) & S-Video OUTputs plugs to your monitor / TV.

2. Due to the light weight of the switch box, the box can move when you press the front panel button.
===============================

OPERATION:
The StarTech SVID410IR 4-to-1 RCA Composite/S-Video A/V Switch Box works as designed and advertised. Switching between my various S-Video recording / playback devices is now seamless, especially with the use of the Remote - unique @ $25 price point and provides an added value to the A/V Switch Box!

SUBJECTIVE REVIEW:
Having S-Video was a priority since it provided the best picture quality thru the Neuros OSD unit. I'm happy to see that adding the A/V Switch Box did not degrade the digitized recorded PQ (picture quality) from my External Hard Drive after comparing a few of my recordings with vs. without the A/V Switch Box!

FINAL THOUGHTS:
If you require a Audio / Video Switch box, I can easily recommend the StarTech SVID410IR 4-to-1 RCA Composite/S-Video A/V Switch Box w/Remote for its solid & functionally simple design.

If you're like me and you have more video to input into your home theater than ports available, you probably need one of this. This obviously isn't HD compatible since it lacks either component or HDMI. However, I have a security DVR, Video iPod and Sony Camcorder which all do no better than S-Video. Since I can't spare an open input on my Home Theater Receiver for each of these gadgets, this handy switch is the best way to share them. The remote capability is essential. Once you use the included remote to program your universal remote, it becomes trivial to switch between camcorders, iPods, Satellite TV, DVD, etc.

I wanted a remote AV switch, and this one has been working fine, and is cheaper than some non-remote switches. It works fine with my Logitech Harmony remote. It was even listed in the Harmony configuration software, so I didn't have to do anything special to get it working.

It would be nice if it converted composite to s-video, but not a really big deal. I have my DVD player connected to my TV's s-video input, and everything else (PS2, FIOS set top box, VCR) through this to the composite input. Once I get an s-video cable for my PS2, I'll rearrange things so that the VCR is the only composite device, going directly to the TV, and everything else will go through this unit via s-video to the TV.

It's nice that this unit is capable of being configured to work with any remote that has unused buttons, in case you don't have a programmable remote that supports this unit, but I haven't had to use that feature because the Harmony already supports it.

It is also nice to be able to switch inputs with the button on the unit, especially when setting up everything. The included remote seems okay too, but I've only tried it a couple times just to make sure it worked.

A special device of this type isn't going to have a code available from the companies that make universal remotes. It's just too specialized. So, this StarTech switcher overcomes that obstacle because it will easily learn from any universal remote that you have. If your remote will control 6 different things, for example, and you only use 5 of them, you just utilize the 6th mode for this StarTech switcher. You set your remote into that 6th mode (let's say it's "aux"), and you tell the StarTech to learn number keys 1-2-3-4 from your universal remote. Voilà! You don't have to get out of your chair to switch devices and you don't have to have a separate remote to control the StarTech. You just hit "aux" on your remote and then hit a number key on your remote and the StarTech switches to that device. The remote that comes with the StarTech seems durable but my family always somehow destroys remote controls or loses them. Getting another would be a hassle. But? Don't need it. When you receive your StarTech you can just throw away its little remote if you use a universal remote that has an unused mode you can dedicate to the StarTech. Or, if do use the StarTech original but it breaks down someday, you can always buy any cheap universal remote at the store and the StarTech switcher will work with it.

Everything has a flaw. This StarTech switcher's flaw is that it makes a snapping sound through the audio circuit of your sound system whenever you tell it to switch to another device. If you have a full fledged loud volume sound system, you will definitely want to turn down the volume before switching with the StarTech. It's a flaw I can live with because the StarTech switcher does everything else so well. If it didn't snap, I'd have given it 5 stars.

Audio and video transferred through this StarTech is as good as the original signal as far as I can tell. I'm picky about those aspects and I have to say that I can not detect any degradation of the source signal. Colors appear true. There's no "white burst" blank-out as has been reported with some other switching devices. Audio seems to come through totally unadulterated.

This device, of course, only has composite and S-VHS connections. It does not provice the R-G-B component video connections. Some of you may wonder if you can use S-VHS for some devices and composite for others at the same time? I don't know. I'm using this switch only for devices using the plain old composite connections (video-audioL-audioR).

I was skeptical when purchasing this thing. I'm not familiar with the StarTech name. I figured it was only $20 so I'd give it a try. It surprised me. It works. I really wish it didn't "snap," but such is life. I think it's worth what I paid for it.

Now, we'll just have to see how long it lasts. I hope it lasts at least 4 or 5 years. That remains to be seen.

I used this video switch for a day before it just didn't respond to the remote control anymore. I had to unplug the unit, then plug it back in, to make it work again...for another day.
I returned the unit for replacement and had the same problem with the new one.
Obviously there is a design problem, so I would not recommend this switch.

My purpose in writing this review is in response to the negative reviews associated with the faulty remote control.

There is not much to say that has not already been said.
Box works as designed and is well worth the price.
Did not give it a five because:
1- batteries are not included
2- instruction manual makes no mention that batteries are not included
3- instruction manual makes no mention that batteries are required for remote
4- instruction manual makes no mention what battery size is required for remote
5- remote control exterior makes no mention what battery size is required
6- remote control interior makes no mention what battery size is required

After contacting technical support, it was determined that the required size is AAA.
After going to the store to purchase Duracell batteries and placing them in the remote control, the remote control did not work.
After contacting technical support, they informed me that the remote control was fine; the problem was a result of the battery posts being too short and it was a known problem and that the remote was being redesigned to handle the short post AAA batteries.

Went out and purchased Sony AAA batteries and the remote control worked just fine.

In my case, picking Sony was just luck. No doubt, there are other brands that will work as well. Contact your local battery specialist to determine which brands have longer posts.

The StarTech 4-1 composite video switch is a great value especially since it is an electronic switch with IR Remote plus can be also used for S-Video.

I was just looking for a composite video/audio switch for changing inputs to my TV from my cable DVR box and an XBox 360 gaming system. The typical mechanical slider switches were nearly as expensive and obviously didn't have remote control.

For less than $25 shipped, this product has far exceeded my expectations! I have 3 components connected to it and I have the output connected to an RF modulator allowing me to feed these 3 sources (that are located in my basement) via coax to a TV in the bedroom, one floor above. My learning remote easily learned the 4 input buttons from the supplied remote allowing me to switch easily between sources. Control of the device from my bedroom, as well as the other sources, is accomplished with the Next Generation Remote Control Extender. I couldn't be happier with my purchase, it's an excellent product....and again, the price was unbeatable!

I bought this switch to connect my video game systems and TiVo to my old TV's pathetic one input.

The switch worked fine. It switched between all the sources without issue. And having four inputs is very useful! One minor complaint, but it may just be my TV, and not the switch. When I connect both the composite out and the S-Video out to the TV, the TV always tries to use the composite, rather than the S-Video, even when there's no signal on the composite. My solution was to buy cheap composite to S-video adapters for the devices that didn't have S-Video out, and just use S-Video for everything.

The remote never worked, from day one. No matter how I pointed it, it wouldn't change the input on the box. But, I have a Logitech Harmony remote, which supports this switch, so I didn't really need the remote, anyway.

The most important thing about this product is its functionality which is very good. It is very handy to have the remote even though sometimes I have to press the buttons very hard for the box to pick up the signal. I have not noticed any issues with the box itself. It does not seem to affect sound quality either. This product is very beneficial especially for its price.