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Oppo HM-31 3X1 HDMI Switch
With the ever-increasing number of AV sources
using HDMI to output high definition video and advanced audio formats, quality
switching of multiple HDMI sources to a single output has become very important.
Many of the new receivers and preamps provide such switching, but in many cases
only the higher end models have more than a few inputs. There are a number of
HDMI switchers on the market, but many of them are either very expensive or
don't handle 1080p transfer well. Enter Oppo Digital, renowned for their high
performance, reasonably priced DVD players, with the HM-31 HDMI Switch. The
HM-31 offers full HDMI 1.3b1 with Deep Color compatibility and does so for only
$99.
Features
The HM-31 is a small black box, only about
7-1/2" by 4-1/2". It has a clean, simple front panel display with a
source select button, IR receiving eye and source and power indicators. The back
of the unit provides just about every feature the professional installer could
ask for. In addition to the 3 HDMI input jacks and single output jack, there is
also both a direct IR control input and an RS-232 control input. Finding RS-232
control at this price level is really amazing and allows for bulletproof control
of HDMI switching. For those who want to wall mount the HM-31, there is an
additional IR receiving eye on the top of the unit.
The HM-31 uses a high quality Silicon Image
SiI9185 chip for its switching. The chip will handle signals up to 1080p@60Hz or
720p/1080i@120Hz with 12-bit color depth.
The three HDMI inputs are numbered 1, 2 and 3
and are prioritized, with port 1 having the highest priority and port 3 the
lowest. When the HM-31 senses a new input signal on a port with higher priority
than the currently selected port, it automatically switches to the high priority
port. When input signal ceases on the currently selected port, the HM-31
automatically switches to the port with next priority and active signal. This
allows you to use the switch without resorting to the remote control. If you
have a cable box or other device that always has an active output, you can put
it on input 3, as the other inputs will take priority when turned on.
The HM-31 has a built-in signal equalizer that
boosts the incoming signal. The equalizer removes distortion from the input HDMI
signal after it travels over long cables and restores the signal
quality/strength before sending it out again.
Performance
To test the HM-31's ability to switch between
HD sources without signal loss or degradation, I hooked up a PS3, DirecTv HR20
HD DVR and a Toshiba HD-A2, then output it on an 18' run to a JVC RS1 1080p
projector. The switch worked flawlessly with all sources, the picture quality
from the PS3 at 1080p/24 Hz looking as perfect as it did without the switch.
Even though my remote was programmed to switch between the inputs, the auto
switching accomplished the job every time.
In an attempt to trip up the HM-31, I ran the
switch through an Onkyo SR605 receiver, letting it pick up the Dolby TrueHD
tracks before passing the signal to the projector. Once again, there was no
discernable difference in picture quality. This is not surprising as Oppo has
tested the HM-31 passing 1080p signal successfully with a 50-foot cable between
the source and the HM-31's input, and another 50-foot cable between the HM-31's
output and the TV. Thus, the total cable length from the source to the TV in
this test is 100 feet. Very impressive results for a $99 box.
Conclusion
Well, there's not really much more to be said
about the Oppo HM-31 HDMI switch. It does its job flawlessly and at a price that
even an enthusiast on a budget can embrace. If I were to change anything, I
might add a way to disable the auto switching (for those who have more than one
source that's always active), but this is a minor point as you can always switch
to the correct input via the remote, or program it into a universal remote.
Another winner from Oppo.
Mike
SurfRemoteControl.com
Calibrator and Reviewer, ProjectorReviews.com |
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