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Mad Catz PS3 3-Port HDMI System Selector Review
Relief for your TV's ever-waning supply of HDMI inputs.
by Scott Lowe
May 27, 2008 - In recent years, HDMI has become the be-all and end-all of mainlined consumer audio/visual cables. With its all-digital support of up to eight channel audio signals and image resolutions of up to 2560x1600, HDMI certainly seems to deserve its crown. As a result, most of the newer entry level and mid-range LCD and plasma televisions have begun to minimize or rule out component inputs all together. Newer screens typically feature one or two component inputs at most and anywhere from one to four HDMI inputs. For those falling into the lesser area, squeezing all of your HDMI-output devices into one screen requires that either your drop several hundred dollars on an expensive receiver with HDMI pass-through or take a chance with the broad and often treacherous market of value-added, standalone input HDMI selectors. Third party gaming accessory manufacturers, Mad Catz, offer a categorical alternative with their new 3-Port HDMI System Selector for the Sony Playstation 3.
The 3-Port HDMI System Selector is by all conventional standards a standalone HDMI system selector. It is independently powered, it comes with its own remote, and use with a PS3 is technically optional. Obviously, however, the 3-Port HDMI System Selector was aesthetically designed for the PS3, and it features some nice benefits for PS3 users. For starters, the 3-Port HDMI System Selector doubles as a cooling system with its two built-in cooling fans. Additionally, the system selector also integrates with the PS3 and the included remote can be used for controlling DVD and Blu-Ray playback.
