I have a problem with the amount of HDMI inputs offered on most of the HDTV sets available today. Typically, you only get three HDMI connections and some TVs offer even less. That means for users with multiple game consoles with HDMI, Satellite boxes, Blu-ray players or an Apple TV you end up manually changing cables frequently.

Gefen has added a pair of new HDMI switchers to its line at different ends of the price scale that will remedy this situation. The GefenTV Multi Format Switcher retails for $499 and offers the ability to send composite, component, and s-video devices to the TV with one HDMI port needed. The device supports full 1080p resolution.

The much cheaper GefenTV switcher offers four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output supporting HDCP and 1080p resolutions. The device retails for $199 and will work with any HDMI device. Gefen promises that neither HDMI switcher will degrade the image quality of content.

Gefen