Let’s face it—every time a new type of A/V connection comes out, it really gets under my skin that my existing receiver or processor doesn’t support that connector type, or at best only has one or two of them, and I need more to switch between multiple components. You don’t have to admit it publicly, but if you’re an A/V nut like me, I’m guessing you feel the same. Don't we all like to have the latest and greatest technology, providing us with the absolutely best possible picture and sound? Such is the case with digital video connectors in the last few years, meaning DVI and its more fully implemented brother, HDMI.
This is nothing new; the same thing happened when composite video first arrived on the stage, then S-video, then coax and optical digital audio, then component video. Chances are, if you have a receiver or pre/processor that’s more than a couple years old, it doesn’t support digital video, and since the latest version (HDMI 1.3) was only released two months ago, any product you already own unfortunately won’t fully support the high-res audio and video it’s capable of transmitting.
Every time this happens, you can either go out and buy a completely new receiver or processor just to add these new connectors, or take the more cost-effective second option of adding an external switching device for the new jacks. Sure, a purist will tell you that for video, it’s best to run connections directly from your sources to the video display, bypassing additional middle connections. But what if you have more video sources than inputs on your display device? And more importantly, how do you plan on using the new capabilities of sending high-def audio with the video signal, over one cable to your receiver or processor?
Ever since the introduction of DVI around the turn of the millennium, a few companies have started making switchers for DVI and/or HDMI. The Zhd is Parasound’s solution for HDMI connectivity, but does the job better than any other switcher I know. The problem is, up to now, I had yet to find a product that actually worked for my personal system. My equipment rack is not co-located with my video projector, meaning I run a 30’ HDMI cable from my equipment alcove to the projector on the rear wall. DVI and HDMI signals notoriously degrade over longer distances, requiring high-quality products, so I bought a quality Gefen cable that works great if I run it from my projector directly to any one of my components. I currently have three devices in my theater equipment rack with digital video capability, though—DVD player, satellite tuner, and computer.
So I need the capability to switch at least three digital video sources… preferably more so I can soon add Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, a DVR, etc. I first tried a Gefen four-source digital video switcher, but it introduced flicker and red-lines in every video source, occasionally dropping the video signal completely. Typical signal degradation. At the end of last year, Gefen released a new HDMI switcher that included tuning knobs by each input jack to boost or attenuate the signal for longer video runs like mine, making the digital picture as clear as possible. This new switcher worked okay for my satellite tuner and computer, but still showed signal loss from my Denon DVD player. Apparently, Denon players are known to have somewhat “weaker” digital signals.
Finally, I tried Parasound’s Zhd after anxiously awaiting its anticipated release. I had to find SOMETHING that would meet my switching needs, and I’m not the only person out there running longer HDMI cables. For us, Parasound added a “signal boost” option on the unit, which undoubtedly will go unappreciated by the majority of Zhd users that have shorter runs. As soon as I connected the Zhd, I turned on my system and anxiously switched from one video source to another, finding no signal problems at all, even though I used the exact same cabling as with the previous switchers. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I hadn’t even turned on the Zhd boost function yet! Enabling the boost function didn’t change the picture at all, so I left it off.
The Zhd is part of Parasound’s Zcustom component series, not just an isolated product developed by itself. These tiny components are manufactured “half-rack” sized, so that two units can be joined to fit side-by-side in a standard 19” component rack, if desired. Each one is also only one standard racking unit tall, so you can’t really get any smaller packaging for A/V equipment. The Zcustom models’ size, variety, and modularity make them ideal solutions for many custom setup needs. (I have reviewed other Zcustom equipment separately here: http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=21694)
I’ll be taking advantage of the dual racking capability, mounting the Zhd together with a Zbreeze cooling unit into my theater’s equipment rack. Both units feature rear-panel 1/8” IR input jacks, and the Zhd also sports an RS-232 jack for connection to automated control systems. However, it has an additional capability even more perfect for me—it connects via an RS-232 cable directly to Parasound’s surround-sound controllers, such as my Parasound Halo C1 processor, enabling seamless switching control. When I change an audio/video source on my C1, the Zhd automatically switches to the assigned HDMI input as well. For users that don’t have need of either RS-232 capability, the Zhd also includes an IR remote control, which I found to function just as well.
Overall, I don’t think the Zhd could possibly be any better, much less any more ideal for my particular setup needs. With five inputs, it can switch between more sources than any other product I know of currently on the market. Now that the HDMI 1.3 protocol has been released, the Zhd is also fully compliant, meaning that it will meet all needs of the HDMI 1.3 products about to be released, switching and transmitting full-bandwidth high-definition video AND multi-channel audio without signal loss. As a small, sleek, component, the Zhd can fit into any component stack, or even be hidden completely out of view when utilizing its various remote control connection capabilities. It’s even dual-voltage, usable by any buyer around the world.
I can’t have a review without a few negatives, though, so let’s see what I can come up with. HDMI jacks are not yet lockable or the most stable, so as I’ve been evaluating the Zhd and jostling it a bit, the HDMI cables came slightly loose. I believe this was the reason that a couple times, the Zhd did not respond to my C1 controller’s instructions to switch inputs and a few other quirks. Fully reseating all connectors on the back panel seemed to resume normal operation. I’ll be watching this during continued operation, now that I’m securely rackmounting the Zhd, to see if it occurs again. While it’s by far the best digital audio/video switcher I’ve found yet, (and the ONLY one that worked for me) at a $600 MSRP, it’s also the most expensive switcher I know of.
Lastly, the Zhd makes a great HDMI switcher, but now that the HDMI 1.3 protocol is official, I and many others want very, very much to see Parasound incorporate HDMI audio input and decoding capability to their A/V controllers. Right now the Zhd can pass on sources’ high-res audio perfectly, but it does no good unless something is on the receiving end to use the HDMI audio stream. Half of the Zhd’s capabilities are going unrealized by Parasound’s own A/V processors. This is not yet a fault, as HDMI 1.3 is brand new, but would be a travesty if not actualized with an upgrade or new models in the reasonable future.
It’s no exaggeration to state that the Zhd is the finest digital audio/video switcher I have ever found on the market. I’m surely not alone in finding the Zhd to be the ONLY switcher that even worked in a setup with longer cable runs, either. Hopefully, Parasound fully completes the HDMI implementation into their own products with HDMI input and decoding capability in Parasound A/V controllers.
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