HDMI Switcher with Optical/Coax audio extraction

[aud19]

I'm looking at getting a Roku 2 media streamer to play our mkv and flac files off our NAS (via Plex) but my older Rotel pre/pro does not support HDMI. So I'm looking at purchasing an HDMI switch that has optical/coax audio extraction to send audio to the Rotel and the video over HDMI to the TV. Gaining a few HDMI inputs is a side bonus.

However, I have no idea who makes a good HDMI switch. The only name I recognize is monoprice who have this unit that would appear to fit the bill:

http://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-105557-Toslink-Digital-Coaxial/dp/B003L14WB8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1444758317&sr=1-1&keywords=Monoprice+105557

Monoprice 105557 4x1 HDMI Switch with Toslink, Digital Coaxial and 3D Support

4x HDMI audio/video inputs with one front-panel input for convenient connection to portable devices
1x HDMI audio/video output, plus 1x S/PDIF Optical (Toslink), 1x Digital Coax, 1x Analog 3.5mm audio outputs
Supports 225 MHz/2.25 Gbps per channel (6.75 Gbps total) bandwidth
Integrated audio converter for simultaneous digital and analog audio output on all audio output channels
Support for 1080p and 3D video output
Designed exclusively for low voltage class 2 installation
Nail-On type single gang
Built-In loop to tie off cable

But there's about a million companies that make them. Anyone recommend something better? Is the Monoprice unit ok?

[wkhanna]

IIRC, Kal has offered some suggestions in the past regarding good-quality HDMI switchers.....???

[aud19]

Wouldn't doubt it. I did a general search with no luck earlier....

[Chris D]

Jason, you've probably already had this thought process in your head. But to make things ideal, would it be possible to replace the Rotel? You can get some great receivers or pre/pros for not so bad a price. And some of the newest tech is VERY much worthwhile, such as Dolby Atmos, that you wouldn't get with a switcher. Matter of fact, would you be interested in my Marantz AV7702? I could replace it.

Or, as I'm guessing finances may be strapped, have you considered just getting a low-cost receiver as an HDMI decoder like I did, before getting the AV7702? If your Rotel has multi-channel analog inputs, you could go that route and at least get HDMI high-res audio decoding like DTS-MA and Dolby TruHD, that isn't possible over legacy coax/optical. I have an entire thread on that in the Parasound section.

[aud19]

Yeah I looked in to it but as you say with Atmos (and the DTS version), the latest HDMI 2.2, 4K video it's a crappy time to try to upgrade (all bleeding edge). I was looking at the Marantz SR6010 but it's ~$1800 CA.

So a ~$50 HDMI switch/audio extractor is looking pretty good :lol:

I doubt you could sell me your 7702 for what I'd be willing to pay :rofl: (Especially at the current Canadian exchange rate )

It has HDMI 2.0, correct? Upgrade-able? Same with DTS X?

[Ovation]

While I eventually got an HDMI equipped AVR, I made do with a similar switching device for several years and had no issues. I've also had good experiences with Monoprice gear, for what it's worth.

[aud19]

Well I ordered the above switch, a Roku 2 and a 0.5m HDMI cable. We'll see how it all works...

Unfortunately it all seems to be on a slow boat from China :lol:

[aud19]

Switcher and cable surprisingly showed up earlier this week and Roku today...so hopefully I can get it all going this weekend!

[Ovation]

Good luck and enjoy. :T

[Kal Rubinson]

IIRC, Kal has offered some suggestions in the past regarding good-quality HDMI switchers.....???

The switchers I have used did not offer any audio processing or extraction. Sorry.

[aud19]

Well it worked :T arty:

Now I have to figure out why Plex is transcoding some (but not all) DTS files to DD. It's really weird in that some pass through and play as DTS no problem while others get converted to DD...