PlayStation
3. Xbox 360 Elite. Blu-ray. DVR. HD-DVD. Cable. Satellite. These are some of the
high-definition devices that are filling gamers’ entertainment centers. If your
HD set has only one or two HDMI ports, this presents an exhaustive problem when
it comes to switching devices. First you have to reach behind your TV and grab
the HDMI cable, trace it back to the device you wish to unplug, yank it out
(gently – you don’t want to break anything), find the slot on the device you
want to use, and plug it in.
If this
scenario rarely pans out in your household, chances are just one HD unit reigns
supreme. But if you’re like me and are constantly switching platforms, the chore
of cable switching can be very annoying. OPPO Digital aims to have a solution
with the HM-31 Advanced 3×1 HDMI Switch. The HM-31 is a small, lightweight box
with three separate HDMI ports. Using this device’s handy remote control,
gamers, movie buffs and TV junkies alike can hop between their HD equipment with
the press of a button.
Switching
Time
The HM-31 is
as straightforward as they come. On the front you’ll find a power (light)
indicator, a device selection button (for when you can’t find the remote), an IR
remote sensor, and three HDMI input indicators. The ports – DC in (power
adaptor), IR in, three HDMI in, one HDMI out, and RS-232C – are found on the
back.
Underneath
the device are three slots for wall mounting, which is where the IR in port may
be necessary. Under normal circumstances, you’ll use the remote as is. But to
work, it requires direct line-of-sight. If your HD setup prevents that from
happening, it won’t work. You’ll have to get up and push the select button.
Ouch. The thought of getting up when you technically shouldn’t have to is just
too painful to think about.
To alleviate
this problem, purchase an external IR remote sensor. Place it directly in front
of your line-of-sight and you’ll be all set.
Hard.
Where?
The HM-31
feels solid, but it’s not the kind of thing you’ll want to bang around. That
goes for any anything HD device, but the remote is light and sturdy enough to
withstand at least a few drops to the floor. It uses a CR2025 lithium battery,
which helped reduce weight and allowed the designers to create a remote that’s
thinner than your thinnest television. That will change once the near-paper-thin
Organic LEDs replace LCDs, but that’ll be a while.
If your home
theater has an integrated control system, your custom installer can download the
RS-232C control protocol from the support section of the OPPO Digital Web site,
www.oppodigital.com. OPPO doesn’t specify which home theaters are supported,
but the manual notes that it can be integrated “into most custom home theater
control systems.”
Should there
come a time when you need to store the HM-31, there’s a thin, Velcro-latched
case included with the package. It won’t keep it safe from a fall, but at least
you won’t have to watch dust accumulate in every crevice like your retired game
consoles.
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Pros:
-
Quick and painless
switching between HD devices -
No noticeable drop in
picture or sound quality (supports all HD resolutions, including 1080p) -
May be added to your home
theater’s control system -
Can be wall-mounted
Cons:
-
The $99 price tag is a bit
steep -
Needs a separate power
source -
External IR remote sensor
not included
Verdict:
8.0
Not a must-own
for everyone until HD devices become more prevalent. But if you’re an early
adopter of high-def devices, the HM-31 gives you the chance to hook up three of
them simultaneously.
