Kinivo 501BN Premium 5 port High Speed HDMI Switch Review

Kinivo 501BN
Kinivo HDMI Switch

The Kinivo 501BN Premium 5 Port High Speed HDMI Switch will allow you to switch a maximum of five HDMI devices into a single HDMI output. It is a useful addition to your home theater setup that will add a significant convenience factor to your use and enjoyment.

The HDMI Switch comes loaded with features that customers love, not the least of which is that the switch actually does what it is supposed to. You can choose to either auto or manually switch between devices and it can be used with just about all HDMI compliant devices such as HDTVs, Blu-ray players, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4s. You can feed up to five devices into the Kinivo 501bn and you will soon see that the tangle of individual HDMI cables immediately disappears. The HDMI switch is the perfect cable de-cluttering solution for anyone who has multiple devices attached to their TV. It is also great for those that have TVs with only one or two HDMI inputs.

Features of the Kinivo 501BN

Design – can switch 5 high speed HDMI inputs into a single output

Suitable For – HDTVs, Blu-ray players, Xbox 360, Xbox One PS3/PS4, and other HDMI devices however it may not work with the Apple TV

Auto Switching – will switch automatically according to the active inputs at the time

Manual Switching – you can also use manual switching via the IR wireless remote, or you can also use button on the device to switch manually

Resolutions – will support 3D, HD resolutions up to 4K and also 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i

Compliant With – HDCP 1.2 and 3D technology

Color – 36-bit deep color

Clutter Reduction – this is one of the main benefits as the HDMI switch reduces the number of HDMI wires to your HDTV

Easy to Use – just plug the HDMI input sources into the input connections on the switch as well as the output connection to your TV or projector. The Kinivo 501bn automatically switches to the currently active input source. It will do this even if there is only one active input. For multiple active inputs, use the IR remote to select the source you want, or simply use the select button on the switch itself.

What’s included?

1 x Kinivo 501BN HDMI switch
1 x AC power adapter
1 x IR remote control with battery
1 x User manual

Specifications

Warranty: 1 Year Warranty
Item No: 501BN
Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.9 x 2.5 in

Kinivo 501BN User manual

What’s Great About the Kinivo 501BN?

Kinivo 501BN_side
Side and Back View – Kinivo
  • Can switch between 5 x DVRs
  • Works just as it is supposed to
  • Flawless automatic switching
  • Comes with five ports
  • Simple to set up and use
  • High quality appearance
  • Compact

What’s Not so Great

  • Ports are located on the side of the device rather than at the back
  • Does not work with the Roku XDS

Customer Feedback and Reviews

The Kinivo 501BN is one of the most popular HDMI switches available online and customers give it an excellent rating. Things they like about it include the fact that it does exactly what it was supposed to do, is easy to use, simple to set up, is compact in size, has a quality appearance and works automatically. They also like that it has five ports. Some customers commented that they didn’t really like some of the ports being on the side of the unit however it did not hinder the Kinivo’s performance in any way. To read more about what customers had to say, you can read their review here.

Recommendation

The Kinivo 501BN 5 Port HDMI Switch is available from online retailers and is competitively priced. You can find the latest price for it here. Customers love the functionality and performance of the Kinivo and based on their feedback, the number of purchases of this great switch and our personal experience with the Kinivo, we are pleased to recommend it to you.

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BlueRigger High Speed Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable Review

BlueRigger High Speed Micro Cable

The BlueRigger High-Speed Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable With Ethernet is a premium, high-speed cable that connects PC peripherals with an HDMI port to a display such as an HDTV. This means that the peripheral device, such as a smartphone or Kindle Fire, with a micro HDMI port can be easily connected to the regular HDMI port on your HDTV.

The micro HDMI cable will deliver high quality audio and video so that you are able to have more options with your home theater. You can also connect to a projector with a full sized HDMI port.

Features of the Bluerigger Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable

Design – a cable to connect Micro-HDMI compatible smartphones and PC equipment, such as hard drives and printers, to your HDTV
Gauge – 32 AWG and fully shielded
Metal Jacket – Full metal jacket for strength and durability – also prevents interference Certification – Category 2
Connectors – are gold-plated for improved signal and corrosion resistance
Sound – will support 3D, Ethernet, and Audio Return with True HD Dolby 7.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed multi-channel digital audio
Video – will support guaranteed resolutions of 1440p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i
Compatible With – smartphones, camcorders, and digital cameras as well as PC equipment such as hard drives, printers with a Micro HDMI port
Available Lengths – 3ft, 6ft, 10ft and 15ft. Depending on the size of your home entertainment area, customers suggest using a medium to long cable so you don’t end up too close to your TV.

Specifications

Measures: 6 feet in length
Manufacturer: Bluerigger
Connector Type: Micro HDMI Male (HDMI D), HDMI Male (HDMI A)
Item No: MICRO-HDMI-6FT
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

What’s Great About the BlueRigger Cable?

  • Crisp, clear videoBluerigger High Speed Micro HDMI
  • Can stream movies from Amazon to a Kindle Fire and connect to HDTV
  • Cable is thick
  • Can connect Xoom, Razr and a Droid Bionic to HDTV
  • Easy to use with indents for your thumbs
  • Works as well as expensive cables
  • Well built
  • Durable materials have been used

What’s Not so Great

  • You’ll be too close to your TV if you opt for the short length cable

Customer Feedback and Reviews

This cable has a large number of reviews from customers, and they give it an outstanding rating. Given how fussy customers can be about HDMI cables, this rating endorses the functionality and performance of this micro full-size cable. Things customers liked about it included its durability, quality, and crystal clear picture. They liked the price and felt that this cable was equal in functionality to more expensive cables.

Customers recommend a medium to long cable rather than a 3-foot cable so that you don’t end up being too close to the TV. To read more about what customers had to say, you can read their reviews here.

Recommendation – Buy

The BlueRigger High-Speed Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable is available online, is very competitively priced, and comes with free shipping if you qualify. To check for the latest price, you can find it here. Most customers rated the cable with outstanding feedback about its functionality and performance. Based on customer reviews, we are pleased to recommend it to you.

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Rocketfish HDMI Cable Review

The Rocketfish HDMI Cable is an upper mid-grade cable that, according to users, performs just as well as expensive cables but far better than very cheap cables. The cable will connect one HDMI source to a display device for outstanding video and audio reproduction. It has all the latest features, such as 18 Gbps bandwidth and gold-plated connectors to ensure that data and signal transfers are not impeded in any way.

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Rocketfish HDMI Cable

This cable is worth the money and can provide a top-quality picture and sound for the right price. Many users have commented on the fact that it is also reliable and durable, having successfully used the cable for many years without issue.

Features of the Rocketfish HDMI Cable

  • HD picture quality
  • HDMI compliant features, including Ultra HD 4K, 1080p, 120Hz refresh rate, deep color, lossless audio and Lip Sync
  • 18 Gbps for maximum performance
  • Back-twisted conductors for impedance control and excellent data transfer
  • 24K gold-plated connectors for excellent signal strength
  • Fully shielded, enclosed metal connector for outstanding RFI and EMI protection
  • 3-layer shielding for electromagnetic and radio frequency interference resistance
  • Protective connector covers help keep debris at bay while routing through walls or cabinets

These features ensure that your home theater equipment provides a quality audio and visual experience. It’s worth noting that some users thought that the quality of visuals they received with TV and DVD did not extend to gaming. So, if you were thinking of purchasing the cable for gaming, it would be worth following up with this.

Product Details For the Rocketfish Cable

  • Bandwidth – 18 Gpbs speed rating
  • 192kHz 24 bit sound resolution
  • Lengths – 4, 8, 12, 24, 50, 100 Feet (Link to all lengths on Amazon)
  • Warranty – Limited Lifetime
  • In wall installation – certified for in-wall installation
  • Manufacturer –Rocketfish Products

Pros

  • Great value for your money
  • Works very well for both video and audio
  • Reliable and long lasting
  • The shorter length can be very handy – good option to have

Cons

  • A couple of users had workmanship quality issues with the connectors breaking
  • One user found the cable worked very well for DVD but was not happy with picture quality for gaming on a PS3

User Ratings

Customers that have left reviews for the Rocketfish HDMI Cable give it and excellent rating. We rate it at a 4.2 stars out of 5 stars. Most customers are very happy with the Rocketfish cable’s performance and find it to be a good alternative to more expensive brands. To see what customers have to say, you can read the reviews here.

Price

The Rocketfish HDMI Video Cable is available at Amazon. To check for the most current price, you can find it here.

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Twisted Veins High Speed HDMI Cable Review

Twisted Veins HDMI Cable
Twisted Veins HDMI Cable

If you are looking for a quality, inexpensive, reliable HDMI cable then it is worth your while to check out the Twisted Veins HDMI Cable. This cable has become popular with home theater fans. My experience with this cable has been nothing short of fantastic.

The Twisted Veins cable includes Ethernet capability and supports the latest 2.0B HDMI standard, ensuring a quality viewing and sound experience. I would consider this a premium cable. I like that it comes with additional shielding and a braided jacket that provides extra protection. The ‘braided look’ that typifies the Twisted Veins brand.

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You can expect all the latest features with the Twisted Veins such as TrueHD, 4K, 1080P, 3D, Audio Return, Deep Color, etc. because the cable conforms to the latest HDMI standard. Twisted Veins triple tests these cables to ensure that customers are able to easily set-up and manage their cables. Free velcro cable ties and a 90 degree right angle adapter are also a nice bonus. I personally use the 90 degree adapter because one of my TVs is mounted very close to a wall.

Features of the Twisted Veins HDMI Cable

Design – standard 6 ft in length

2.0b HDMI Standard – is the previous HDMI standard, and this cable is compliant

Supports – Pretty much anything you can throw at it. (High speed Ethernet, 3D TV, audio return, DTS-HD, deep color, True HD, game consoles, 4K, 1080P)

Connectors – are custom quality and gold plated and from my observation make a solid connection which in turn creates an excellent visual and audio experience

Protective Jacket – the cable has custom shielding as well as a braided jacket. The braided jacket is a nice addition from an aesthetic perspective, but it doesn’t really affect the functionality of the cable.

Extras Included – a right angled adapter is included so that you have a TV mounted close to a wall you have another option. The downside is that the more connections you have, the greater chance there is for signal loss. I haven’t noticed any issues while using the 90 degree adapter. There are also three Velcro cable ties provided so you can keep you cables nice and tidy.

Specifications

  • Lengths: 3, 6, 10, 15, 25 and 50 feet
  • Item No: ACHB6
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty

This cable comes in 5 different lengths, you can see them all here.

What’s Great about the Twisted Veins Cable?Twisted Veins 2

  • Quality build
  • Excellent performance
  • Works as well as the expensive cables
  • Good value
  • Attractive braided appearance
  • Sturdy and durable
  • Comes with extras (right angle adaptor and Velcro cable ties)

What’s Not so Great

  • The braiding makes the cable thick and this may be an issue if you need to bend the cable around some corners

Customer Feedback and Reviews

The Twisted Veins HDMI cable is one of the more popular recently available cables. Customers rave about this cable and give it and outstanding rating. Things other purchasers like about the cable include its quality, performance, price and sturdy build. Customers also enjoy the braided appearance of the cable. As with many less expensive HDMI cables, I found the Twisted Veins performs just as well as more expensive cables. To read more about what other customers have to say, you can read their reviews here.

Our Recommendation

I am more than pleased to recommend the Twisted Veins HDMI Cable for the quality build and the included extras. The video and audio have been flawless. I’ve tried this cable with a number of TVs and inputs without any issues. 4K, 3D, and HD work fine, as do different audio formats. I, along with many other buyers, think this is a great buy if you are looking to replace an existing cable or need new cables for a new video component or home theater.

BlueRigger HDMI Cable with Signal Booster Review

bluerigger long hdmi cables

The BlueRigger HDMI Cable with Signal Booster has proven to be a popular choice with customers. The cable is designed to cater for long runs between input devices and output devices such as a TV or projector. It is also certified for in-wall use and is an ideal cable for home theaters as well as gaming. The built in booster ensures a quality signal at all times.

It is important that customers should note that the cable operates in one direction only as a result of the built in signal booster. This simply means that care should be taken to ensure the input connector is connected to an input device such as a DVD / Blu-Ray player for example and the output connection is connected to a HDTV or a projector. Please read on for more information.

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Features of the BlueRigger HDMI Cable

Design –35, 50, 75 or 100 foot HDMI cable including a built-in signal boosterRatingCL3 is suitable for installations within or through walls. Customers should note that testing the cable prior to in-wall installation is always advised.Signal Booster/Amplifier – is built in and able to fully support resolutions of 720p, 1080i, 1080p and 4K. The built-in signal equalizer ensures the signal can be transferred over the full length of the cable with no loss of picture or sound quality. As a benefit, the equalizer is powered by the internal 5VDC signal within the HDMI cable which means an external power supply is not needed.Shielding – the HDMI cable is fully shielded and has gold plated connectors in addition to a PVC jacket along the length of the cable. As such, it is regarded as a premium, heavy duty grade cable. The metal connectors are strong so that customers can expect the long HDMI cable to be durable as well as immune to the interference that some other cables are prone to.Compatibility – is compatible with all Blu-Ray players as well the new gaming systems from Microsoft and Sony. It is also backwards compatible with earlier HDMI devices that will automatically search out the most suitable connection.Sound – fully supports True HD Dolby 7.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio

TipThis Bluerigger cable is a one way cable as a result of the built-in signal enhancer. This means it will only work in one direction.

Specifications

Measures: 35, 50, 75 or 100 feet in lengthLeft Connector Type: HDMI ALeft Connector Gender: MaleRight Connector Type: HDMI ARight Connector Gender: MaleItem No: HDMI-CL3-BL-75FTWarranty: 1 Year Warranty

What’s Great About the BlueRigger HDMI Cable with Signal Booster?

  • Quality cable
  • Reasonably priced and provides good value
  • Performs as it is meant to
  • Easy to install
  • Provides excellent picture quality
  • Good signal
  • Shielding around the cable is thick
  • Flexible enough to make connections easily, i.e. easy to use

What’s Not so Great

  • A couple of customers felt the signal was inadequate however the majority of customers did not experience this.

Customer Feedback and Reviews

Customers that have left feedback for this long BlueRigger HDMI Cable give is an excellent rating. We give it a 4.2 out of 5 stars. Things customers like about it include its value price, longer length, durability, quality build and performance. To read more about what customers have to say, you can read their reviews here.

Recommendation – Buy

The BlueRigger HDMI Cable with Signal Booster is available online and you can check for the lowest price for it here. Customers clearly find that the BlueRigger brand provides good value and are pleased with the performance of the cable. Based on customer feedback, we are pleased to recommend the BlueRigger long cable as a value for your money purchase.

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