[buttons1121]

I am looking for some hle in connecting allof my AV kit, togehter. i want to store it all in a cuboard and have some sort of switch or splitter that will manage this all for me. I ahve some HDMI devices, some scart, Coaxial Arial and an S Video device. Was looking at the Philex switches, but these don't seem to carry all the Input types, Any hlep is very welcome.

[davepuma]

Welcome to AVF

What kit do you have? (Makes and model numbers will help). An AV Receiver will do most of what you want in that they can switch sources using the same connection type and if supported, some that have video conversion features, can 'upconvert' analogue sources to HDMI. AV Receivers do not tend to have SCART connections though. They would also give uprated sound! The RF coax signal has to be passed to the tuner whether that is in a DVD Recorder or TV itself.

I have seen some combined switching devices of late but I don't think they have all the connections you want. I'm afraid it sounds like some of your equipment is old, so be brutally honest, you will have to decide whether it is worth investing in old equipment.

[buttons1121]

Thanks for your message. I would need to connect the Vigin Plus box - connects HDMI, the Wii console, again HDMI, the Sony DVD surround sound system with connect S video. I am hopint to connect up a DVE recorder at some point. I don't have very expenisve kit, but i want something fairly decent, and end up with just one cable going to the LCD TV.

Any suggestions of waht i need would be really good.

[davepuma]

The Wii uses either the supplied (poor quality) composite cable or the optional (better quality) component cable.

As I said an AV Receiver should do what you want but S-Video connections are fast disappearing. As the S-Video device is your home cinema system, it would be a good excuse to upgrade to a separate Bluray player and AV Receiver/Speakers, wouldn't it?

There is no cheap device that will convert analogue sources and output over HDMI. The switch unit I linked to above, is exactly that, so if you input SCART, you have to output SCART, the same goes for HDMI.

If the AV Receiver option interests you, they start at around £300 for a Denon AVR1610 with analogue to HDMI conversion. You would need to budget for speakers too (Your current ones will most likely not be suitable esp. the sub).

The Denon will do exactly what you want in that it will take multiple devices using various connections and output over a single HDMI cable to the TV.

[buttons1121]

That is really elpful, thanks. I am sure this is quite a stupid question, but i have gt to thinking about looking at maybe upgrading the system i have. Is there a device that i could plug everything into, that woudl do my surround sound, but also do things like be a net mustic player too?? Plus we have all our DVD's stored on a 1TB hard disk along with out music, so is it possible to link this in It would seem that if i am to upgrade i might as well link tese things in too. I am not an Audiofile, and i don't get moist about outputs, but is there somehtign which is half decent, that woudl do ths, or am i about ten years too early?
Any suggestions wouldbe helpful, and if there isn't something that will do allof this, is there something that will do some?? I hate cables and boxes, so the mre things one box does the better!!

[davepuma]

Some higher end (Expensive) receivers have network functionality and will can play music stored on a PC/NAS. Video streaming on receivers/amps is a relatively new technology and I don't know how effective it is. The likes of Sony STR-DA5500ES offer video streaming but cost £1300. The Sony site should have details and manuals for download.

Separates wise, you can stream music and video to devices such as the PS3 and Popcorn Hour. You can find details of video streaming devices HERE. The latest wireless-N routers are required if you want to go wireless. Homeplugs or cat5/6 are best for wired solutions.

Music streaming can be added relatively cheaply using Sonos, Apple Express or Squeezebox. I use 2 x Squeezebox to give me cheap multi-room in 3 rooms of my house. My music (ripped in lossless FLAC format) is stored on an external HDD hooked up to my laptop which runs the server software. Details of music streamers can be found HERE

PS. Cables and boxes are an occupational hazard of the AV hobby I'm afraid