Home theater systems might benefit from a degree of adaptability. To perform things like wirelessly streaming an HDMI signal (see our article) or even removing the audio from an HDMI connection (see our guide again), you may use a variety of tools, especially those related to HDMI. For those who need it, an HDMI Splitter is a fun gadget to own.
HDMI Splitters can be used to distribute a single video source to numerous places at once. Running a cable to two rooms or connecting ten or more displays together may be all that is required. Some drawbacks exist with HDMI splitting but in general, they work as expected.
If you’re not talking about HDMI switches, which we cover elsewhere, you might have some questions concerning HDMI splitters, such as how they function and whether or not using them would affect the video quality. Here are some frequently asked questions concerning HDMI splitters, and the solutions to them.
Does the use of HDMI splitters actually work?
HDMI splitters, as we showed in our lesson, perform exactly what they claim to do, allowing you to save hundreds of dollars in additional gear and content subscriptions by dividing a single HDMI source across many displays.
Is the quality of an HDMI splitter affected?
Because HDMI Splitters are replicating a digital signal, they do not inevitably lower quality. However, a non-powered HDMI Splitter or lower-quality gear is less of a guarantee. If you use an HDMI splitter with a very long connection, you may experience signal quality concerns.
The answer to this question is yes.
Adding an HDMI Splitter will add milliseconds of lag, but it’s negligible. If there is a 2ms delay, you won’t notice it because it is so brief. Using a powered HDMI Splitter will ensure that the splitting occurs at that rate.
Does my HDMI splitter need to be plugged into the wall?
In order to assure high-quality digital signal copying and to normally increase that signal, we strongly recommend installing a powered HDMI splitter. This reduces the possibility of interference due to extended cable lengths.
The Operation of HDMI Splitters
When you buy an HDMI splitter like this one from Amazon, it may save you hundreds (or even thousands!) We’re going to focus on HDMI Splitting on a smaller scale today, but there are some scenarios when the owner of a business location like an office or restaurant may desire a dozen or more displays all showing the same thing.
HDMI splitting can save the average customer money if they merely wish to stream material to many TVs at home. Using an HDMI Splitter is an excellent idea if you have many televisions in your house, such as a home theater room and a TV in your bedroom, as well as a media room, a den, or a living room.
If you have a service like DISH Television or Cable TV that only reaches one location, such as a single cable box, this can be really useful. Services like these charge you for a second cable box, and thus just dividing that signal into two places may save you literally hundreds of dollars in hardware and membership expenses.
But unlike other wires, HDMI splitters have to do some heavy lifting. HDMI transmissions convey audio and video…sometimes very high-quality audio and video. In addition, they allow two-way communication between the screen and the content source itself via the HDMI port. EDID signals are used to do this (which we have more info on here).
So, in order for HDMI splitting to operate, a few things must happen perfectly. We all know there are powered HDMI splitters like the OREI 4k 1×2 HDMI Splitter that allow you to connect two HDMI devices at the same time (on Amazon). When it comes to HDMI, they are very small, specialized computers that must first replicate the signal in order to deliver it to two other devices.
Your concerns regarding slowness, quality, and how these gadgets affect your setup are not unique. Let’s go for it.
Quality and Lag are two issues HDMI splitters have to contend with
In the event that you’re considering HDMI splitting, the quality of each component in the chain is vital, and it won’t come as a surprise.
Quality
A 4K TV and a 4K HDMI connection are required if you wish to stream a 4K video source to your screen. Since 4k is now the norm, none of these issues arise.
By splitting the signal, you’re adding another link in the video management chain and a new piece of hardware. It’s hardly a secret that 1080p splitters exist, and if you use one, your 4k video stream will be reduced to 1080.
To avoid this, all you have to do is buy a splitter rated for the output you want. Earlier in the essay, we spoke about how a splitter’s performance is constrained by the downstream screen with the lowest capabilities, but this hardware topic is quite different. Streaming 4k to two 4k displays necessitates a splitter rated for 4k.
Other than that, there shouldn’t be any concerns with quality as long as you’re utilizing a powered option. Splitting a signal has no negative effects on visual quality, however, you may detect a little amount of lag or latency.
Latency & Lag
Even though the HDMI Splitter can cause considerable Lag (aka Latency), this is only a concern if the unit does not have any kind of power. The Enbuer 14 HDMI Splitter (on Amazon), or any splitter that connects to a power supply, has the proper internal technology to duplicate the HDMI signal without any additional processing or funny activity that might slow it down.
Because the HDMI splitter adds a new link in the visual signal chain, it will introduce some additional delay. However, this delay is only a few milliseconds with an energized device (ms). Having a delay of 2 milliseconds isn’t anything to be concerned about. Two frames of a 60hz transmission are shown. That indicates you’re exactly the sort of consumer who doesn’t need to worry about anything: if these phrases are unfamiliar to you, don’t worry.
If you’re a serious gamer, you’ll want to seek a splitter that promises a precise refresh rate. It is essential that the splitter, as described in the previous section on product quality, be capable of splitting to 120hz displays, which means you’ll need all the additional instruments necessary to do so correctly.
Summary
Using an HDMI splitter has its challenges, as you can see, but a good rule of thumb is to use a powered device wherever possible. Everything else should fall into place if you remember to take care of that first.
When purchasing a splitter, you may also need to ensure that it is certified for the resolution you intend to use, as well as that the downstream video receivers (your displays) will also need to be certified for that resolution, otherwise the signal will be reduced by the splitter.
This is a great way to save money on your home entertainment setup without sacrificing quality. When it comes to your home entertainment setup, splitters may save you money and provide you with additional alternatives.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.