Best HDMI Splitter Reviews 2017

There are many factors that affect the price of an item in the market, and the accompanying features rank high on the list of these factors. Feature-packed items often tend to cost more than others in the same category but which have less sophisticated features. You should also note that not all features in an item will be beneficial to you, so to avoid buying an expensive product with features that you may not need, it’s important to clarify the purpose for which you need the item, and then check your purse to know how much you can afford to spend on the item.

From our featured products, the price of an HDMI splitter can be as low as $13 or as high as $60. During our research, we came across some cheap HDMI splitters, but, since they didn’t meet up with our quality standards and we know you’d want only the best, we didn’t bother with those.

For an HDMI splitter to be classified as great, it should have some features which directly affect its functionality. These features include:

• Number of ports
• Input option
• Model version
• Size of the unit
• Extra features

Every HDMI splitter must have more than one output port in order to be classified as a splitter. This is because it will accept an input signal from one source and then split it into two or more signals, which it then transmits to the output screens connected to the output ports. You can have HDMI splitters with as little as 2 output ports or those with as many as 8 output ports. The number of ports doesn’t in any way affect the quality of the output signal; rather, it increases the distribution and coverage of the splitter. You may want to check the number of screens you’ll be hooking up to the splitter before buying, so that you don’t end up shortchanging yourself and your devices.

Most HDMI splitters are designed to accept a single input signal from different sources. Although there are specialized HDMI splitters that are configured to accept signal inputs from a particular device or source, those types are rare as consumers tend to go for more versatile units that they can use with virtually anything. For a device to be connected to an HDMI splitter, the device must have a dedicated HDMI port; so, be sure to check that your device is HDMI compliant. Some input sources include DVD player, Blu-ray, gaming console, laptop computer, television, projector box, Xbox, among others.

An HDMI splitter may also have more than one input port, thus being able to connect to more than one input source at the same time. This feature makes it possible to switch conveniently from one source to another without the hassles of unplugging and plugging wires.

An ideal HDMI splitter unit has a portable build that’s lightweight and takes up little space. This makes it convenient to move around. A large unit will certainly be too bulky and unnecessary for the purpose of the HDMI splitter. Also the compact design of most splitters makes them ergonomic and a perfect addition to your home electronics collection.

Most HDMI splitters come with a plug and play, no hassles set up which allows for easy configuration. And for further clarification, almost all splitters come with a user manual that spells out what needs to be done and how to go about properly setting up the unit.

HDMI splitters usually come in two versions: V1.3 and V1.4. The V1.4 is the latest and upgraded version with more features and capacities. It’s usually high performance and supports virtually all available video and audio formats unlike the V1.3 model which may not have the capacity to support some advanced or high resolution video and audio formats.

HDMI splitters have the capacity to bypass HDCP protection embedded in most video and audio files as an anti-piracy measure. It’s virtually impossible to record or save a HDCP-protected file but once your source is connected to a HDMI splitter, you should be able to record and save your favorite programs and files on any storage system you like. This feature is most especially useful to gamers who play on PS3 or PS4. It helps them record their played games for uploading or sharing on the internet.

Some HDMI splitter models can be connected serially in a cascade to form a larger distribution network for a bigger audience or coverage, which doesn’t in any way adversely affect the video or audio quality of the shared output. This comes in handy when you come across a particular brand that you trust but you have more screens you want to share the output to than the splitter unit can accommodate. All you need do is buy as much of the splitter unit as needed and do a cascade connection.

To increase its performance, some HDMI splitter units have open vents on the sides of the box, which makes for proper airflow within the unit, cooling the system and preventing it from overheating and possibly blowing out. Most splitters are automatically powered once the power cable is plugged into a power outlet, but some of them feature an on/off switch on the unit box so you can better control the powering system.

An LED indicator light may also be part of the features of the splitter. It shows the different modes that are currently running on the HDMI splitter and helps you to know when a particular function is not active or malfunctioning.