0503HCC10 Head2Head*P

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Head2Head
ONE FOR ALL SV-1610 OR JOYTECH AV CONTROL CENTER? ITS TIME TO GO
An often overlooked, but essential, piece of kit is an AV switching box. Rik Henderson looks at two models and wonders how he ever coped with a single Scart socket
any flatpanel manufacturers are finally responding to the needs of a multi-equipped
antennas, all of which have a good reputation. Its also plunged into the Scart control centre market with, what appears on paper, a well-featured switching box. In looks, it doesnt match any kit I can think of and is the AV equivalent of a bull mastiff; short, squat and terrifyingly ugly. The silver, bevelled fascia has too many buttons for its basic purposes. Its almost as if it was a case of, How do we make this look important given its diminutive and, ultimately, unappealing physique? Thats easy, stick on more buttons it worked for Darth Vaders chest. One saving grace is that the large, obtrusive circle in the middle actually doubles as an IR receiver that allows for remote control access. Another interesting and highly commended feature is that, though no remote is included, the SV-1610 can learn signals from any handset you care to use (I used a Philips Pronto, but you could always utilise a defunct control). Alternatively, you can assign a button on each of your AV kits remotes (such as On) which will make the box switch over as soon as you wish to use a new source. There is an auto mode that, when activated, senses which feed is live and switches accordingly. Unfortunately, though, you have to switch off your last viewed source beforehand as this function doesnt recognise newly live feeds if another is already on.
The meat of a switching box, though, is its connectivity and, barring one or two omissions, theres enough here for most uses. Four RGB-capable Scart inputs are supplied with one of the input channels complemented by composite audio and video, and S-video sockets. On the output side, theres one Scart (RGB or otherwise), composite AV and S-video, but you cant convert with the SV-1610, its all simply plug-through. So you cant get a picture using the S-video input if outputting through Scart and vice versa. This can make for lots of fiddling with connection combinations, which can be frustrating. I was also unimpressed with the picture quality (even when using top quality cabling). There seems to be little differentiation between the sharpness of signal when using an RGB or composite feed it adds a minor level of noise to both. Also, when I tested it on both an old CRT and LCD TV, powerful signals occasionally lost stability when blaring out bright scenes (white, essentially). In some instances the CRTs EXT channel even switched off and on. Distortion of audio was far less of a worry as it only happened with sources using a high output level. But, considering the SV-1610s other foibles, its hardly a boon. And, to further rub salt in the wounds, it comes with a two-pronged plug youll have to invest in an adaptor.
household by adding a wealth of connections round the back of their sets or connection boxes, but for some it still never seems enough. When you have a DVD player, digital recorder, VCR, games console (or three), Freeview, cable and/or Sky+ box, Scart switching can be a most physical activity. Theres only one solution in this circumstance, regardless of your TVs connectivity; a switching box. Cheap Scart splitters can be both non-RGB compatible and have a reputation of degrading the signal. Also, you dont want to have to manually change inputs constantly, so remote access is essential. Two likely candidates have caught HCCs eye, and we put them through their paces. (Note that they are similarly priced; even though the One For All SV-1610 has an RRP of approximately 70, its widely available online and in shops for less.)

ONE FOR ALL SV-1610 N 70 (Approx) N 00 N www.oneforall.com
One For All is best known in the UK for its Kameleon range of remote controls and independently-powered, interior
SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS COMPARED

ONE FOR ALL SV-1610

Specifications: AV switching box; remote-learning mode; RGB pass-through; electrical switching; auto-detect Connections: Four RGB-enabled Scart inputs; composite AV inputs; S-video input; RGB-enabled Scart output; composite AV outputs; S-video output Dimensions: 293(w) x 67(h) x 150(d)mm Weight: 4.5kg
JOYTECH AV CONTROL CENTER
Specifications: AV switching box; RGB pass-through; Signal Regulator Technology; credit card-style remote control Connections: Four RGB-enabled Scart inputs; four composite AV inputs; four S-video input; four optical digital audio inputs; RGB-enabled Scart output; composite AV outputs; S-video output; optical digital audio output Dimensions: 430(w) x 55(h) x 255(d)mm Weight: 2kg
JOYTECH AV CONTROL CENTER N 50 (Approx) N 700 N www.joytech.net
Videogames peripheral company Joytech has several AV products now
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Tried&Tested

available, including a mini-LCD display and a portable DVD tablet, but its this control centre that will see the company making ripples in the home entertainment market. Whereas the SV-1610 looks like a shoebox with buttons, the AV Control Center is, possibly, the sleekest AV accessory Ive seen in a long time. The silver front panel is punctuated by just a few well-spaced and tactfully designed buttons, plus futuristic blue and green glowing LEDs. Its also the same size as conventional home cinema kit, so it racks up nicely. And its also available in jet black, if you prefer. Getting it up and running is much easier than the One For All because it comes with its own credit card-style remote control. It can also be used by technophobes as theres only five buttons to cope with (which also made it easy to program into my Pronto controller). The downside
of this is that the machine has no auto-switching functionality. What it does have, however, is more inputs than the SV-1610. Four bays on the back each have inputs for RGB-Scart, S-video, composite AV or, for the first time on a switching box, optical digital audio. And matched outputs make up the final set. The pice de rsistance is the quality of signal. Not only is it perfectly matched on every source, with no interference when all feeds are live, Joytechs signalboosting circuitry actually seems to improve colour performance. When fed directly, lower-end DVD players have a tendency to be mildly washed-out, however, the Control Center brings them to life. Im not sure why, as its not a listed feature, but its certainly a plus in my book. Also, I ran a Center through another with absolutely no loss in image quality, opening up even more input possibilities. Sound transfer is also faultless.

Not only do I find the Joytech Control Center impressive, its essential. Its a shame that it doesnt have any auto functions, but with such a well designed remote control it is only the laziest of viewers who cant bothered to press a button to change channels.

RATINGS

Highs: Auto-switching modes; remote-learning feature Lows: Unstable pictures; mild sonic distortion; ugly

Conclusion

This is a surprisingly mismatched head 2 head. Initially, it was the price difference that worried me most, especially when the SV-1610 proffered so many features, but theyre clumsy in use, with some seeming superfluous. Rather, its the Joytech Control Center, at a fraction of the RRP, that is head and shoulders above in performance. Specifically, in picture quality and general versatility. It would be nice to see a switching box that can also handle prog scanenabled component ins/out, but until then, Im more than happy with Joytechs deck I
Connectivity Performance Build OVERALL

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Highs: Sleek design; easy to use; fantastic picture transfer Lows: No auto-switching

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The Joytech remote has four sets of inputs
The credit card-style remote control is a real bonus
The SV-1610 has an IR sensor, but you have to provide your own remote
One For All offers the same number of video inputs, but no digital audio
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Essential Accessories

Ah, the Joy of switching
www.joytech.net Overall Rating
Cinema Choice Accessory of the Year award in 2005 for a versatile Scart switching box thats still as impressive today. However, with standard-denition connectivity falling from grace in this new age of high-denition and clearer pictures, its time for an updated box of tricks. The Control Center 540C is predominantly designed to match an Xbox 360, featuring the same aesthetic build and colour scheme as Microsofts console. Its front fascia is similarly interchangeable (Joytech will be releasing twin fascia packs to ponce up both machines in the future) but that doesnt mean its exclusively for the use of 360-owners: theres enough connectivity around the back to satisfy the most vehement anti-games activist. Indeed, the connection for an Xbox 360 is actually hidden away on the back panel, utilising a proprietary socket and lead, essentially free-ing up its four further connection banks for other equipment. Each of those banks has a set of inputs for component video, digital optical audio, S-video, composite video and stereo analogue audio, plus a hidden ap on the front of the unit reveals further composite video, Svideo and stereo analogue audio inputs. An equivalent range of outputs are supplied, naturally, along with ve Ethernet (LAN) inputs and one output, which run independently to the video switching essentially, its an added network hub, handy for Xbox Live, PS3 or Wii online, media PCs, high-denition disc players (second generation Blu-ray players are to have internet connectivity), and Sky HD in the future. The 540C is HD Ready in the sense that the nature of the signal going into the box will be perfectly replicated throughout the chain and back out again, including 720p, 1080i and 1080p images. In addition, proprietary Advanced Signal Regulator Technology monitors the output channel for signal weaknesses and compensates suitably. This shouldnt be mistaken for internal picture processing, thats not what the Control Center is about, what you put in it is what you get out. If you feed the box composite images, it will only output via composite theres no upscaling in evidence. As a spokeperson from Joytech recently told me, Quality upscaling? A four component, four digital optical, six-port Ethernet, fullyprogrammable HD-compatible switcher hub for under 90 and you want upscaling? Why not take a pound a esh whilst youre at it. And, to be fair, hes got a valid point.
Switching boxes may not be pretty, but they are essential for AV enthusiasts. Rik Henderson gets plugged in.
ts been a good year and a half since Joytech last graced these pages. The company, best known for its videogames peripherals, scooped the Home

SPECIFICATIONS

Connections 1x proprietary Xbox 360 input; 4x HD-capable component inputs; 5x S-video inputs; 5x composite video inputs; 5x digital optical audio inputs; 5x stereo analogue audio inputs; 1x HD-capable component video outputs; 1x S-video output; 1x composite video output; 1x stereo analogue audio outputs; 1x digital optical audio output; 6x Ethernet ports Dimensions 309(w) x 83(h) x 256(d)mm Weight 3kg

In use

What it does do, it does brilliantly. Pushing HD pictures through component gives totally artefact-free images the other side (as long as the source is similarly faultless); indeed, it may just be me, but Im convinced that, like the companys Scart box before, colours become more pronounced when Control Centered. The only minor (almost microscopic) quibble I have with the box is that is has no auto-switching functionality to change channel you need to use the supplied remote control. On the upside though, a digital read-out on the front panel clearly states which source

92 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

JANUARY 2007

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Oehlbach 2100 HDMI Switch
A well-made HDMI switchbox with two inputs and one output. We can conrm that - thanks to its 1.65GHz switching bandwidth the 2100 will go all the way to 1080p. Also supported is HDCP, for full compatibility with copy-protected sources. The audio formats guaranteed to work, meanwhile, are Dolby Digital, DTS and 48/96kHz PCM. A button on the front of the unit, which is powered by a wall-wart mains adaptor, selects between the inputs - theres also an auto mode that will select the rst active source it can nd. Other features include signal boosting to ensure 100% optimum quality over longer cables and goldplated terminals. It works as claimed, and although here at HCC we seldom talk value we do have to wonder why this switchbox is so expensive. Its selling price of 550 will buy you an HD-DVD player and software. How you must be kicking yourself for not buying that TV with two HDMI ports! Oehlbach also sell a 4-input version (the 4100) for 750. www.oehlbach.com/

Tech+Link Switch 2 HD4110
The Tech+Link Switch2 HD4110 is simple in concept it accepts up to four HDMI audio/video input sources, and outputs one of these to a display device. Its described as a lossless switcher, compatible with all HDMI sources and display equipment. Itll handle 480p, 720p, 780p, 1080i and 1080p signals, including HDMI 1.2, and is HDCP compliant. Source switching is automatic, or can be done manually with front panel buttons or the supplied remote control. Active repeater circuits are included. A neat black and silver plastic box measuring 170 x 100 x 35mm, the HD4110 comes with an external 9V power supply. Front-panel buttons include power on/off, and auto/manual, source select and channel switching buttons, which are repeated on the credit card-sized infra-red remote control. LED indicators show the active input, and in auto mode the unit will switch itself to standby if no signal is detected for ve minutes. If youre lucky enough to have four HDMI sources the 170 cost probably wont be a problem, and this is certainly one of the nicer looking switchers, if thats a factor in your buying decision. www.techlink.uk.com 400
youre tuned to and you can change what it displays (for example, from DVD to Sky HD). You can even choose whether or not its backlit and black on yellow or yellow on black, plus, when the unit is ranged vertically, the display automatically alters to read top to bottom.

Conclusion

For those with too few component and digital audio sockets on our amps, Joytech has created an essential piece of kit. And, cough, its 90 a billy bargain, even if you dont have an Xbox 360

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