The Intec G5239 HDMI/Component Audio Video Selector is designed specifically for those people who own multiple game consoles and need do not have enough inputs on their television set to hook them all up. At first glance, the G5239 is very similar to many of the other switchers on the market, such as Sima Corporation’s VS-502 or their upcoming VS-560.
Esthetically, this unit is designed to seamlessly integrate into a home theater setup. It is a matte black finish with a glossy front that is constructed of plastic. The front screen LED is blue when on, and red when off. The G5239 has selectable inputs on the front of the unit, or you can use the included remote control. The remote control is IR based, and can easily be programmed into a home theater using a universal remote.
The description of the unit on the manufacturer’s web site is of little help in deciding whether or not to use this product, as it is somewhat misleading. The picture that they show of the unit has four HDMI inputs and two component inputs. This photo is of an earlier design that was not released. To clarify, this unit has two HDMI inputs, four component inputs, five s-video inputs, four optical connections, four stereo A/V connectors, and four broadband Ethernet connections. The four optical inputs (and stereo inputs) correspond to the four component inputs. There is an optional s-video input on the front of the unit as well. Additionally, you can use the component inputs as composite inputs if you do not have a source capable of broadcasting high definition.
Setup and installation of the G5239 was very easy. We setup a Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft X-Box, Microsoft X-Box 360, and Nintendo WII on the component video inputs for our first test. Unfortunately, we immediately notice video interference on our NEC PX-50XR6 plasma display panel from the Sony PlayStation 3. When we disconnected the G5239, and plugged the PS3 directly into the television, the interference disappeared. We reconfigured the PlayStation 3 to output in 1080i as opposed to 720p, and the interference issue did not reappear. As a result, we made sure that the X-Box and X-Box 360 were both set to output 1080i, and the Nintendo WII was set to output at its maximum resolution of 480p. We encountered no further video interference throughout our test.
The Intec G5239 supports the HDMI specification v1.2, and thereby offers support for HDCP. Unfortunately, due to the fact that our plasma television only supports HDMI v1.1, handshaking was not possible and as a result we were unable to test the HDMI outputs on our first test.
Due to a design oversight, Intec did not include digital audio inputs on the ports that have HDMI. As a result, if your television only offers DVI inputs as opposed to HDMI, these inputs are useless to you due to the fact that you will not have any sound.
Our second test involved connecting the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft X-Box 360 via the HDMI inputs and using an Epson 1080ub Video Projector as our output device. As the home theater receiver that we have does not have HDMI switching, we had to connect the Intec G5239 directly to the projector, which means we had no sound.
Through the HDMI ports, the video performed flawlessly switching between 1080p, 720p, 1080i, and 480p. Bypassing the G5239, there was no noticeable difference in the picture quality. We tested both games as well as Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies. Lastly, in both tests, the Ethernet switching did not give us any problems, with all the devices being able to obtain an IP address on our LAN once they were powered up.
Due to the lack of digital audio inputs on the HDMI ports, unless you have a home theater receiver with HDMI support or a television that offers native HDMI inputs (and you are using the speakers provided with the television, not a home theater setup), make sure that you have the necessary connections prior to purchasing this item for HDMI use.
If you have multiple game systems or other devices that require component video connections, the Intec G5239 Audio Video Selector should perform satisfactorily for your needs. The price point alone makes it a very attractive purchase.
Pros
· Quick and simple setup
· Front screen LED can be digitally labeled for each connection.
∙ Switchable Ethernet connection
∙ Simple, efficient IR remote.
∙ Inexpensive compared to similar products.
Cons
· Noticeable video interference on component video using 720p resolution.
· Does not up convert composite or s-video to component.
∙ No optical audio on the HDMI connectors.
Intec G5239 Specifications:
General Information
Manufacturer
Intec, Inc
Manufacturer Part Number
G5239
Manufacturer Website Address
www.inteclink.com
Product Model
G5239
Product Name
HDMI Component Input A/V Selector
Marketing Information
Intec's HDMI Component A/V Selector is your ultimate A/V selector. Features two (2) HDMI and four (4) component inputs. Sleek horizontal design for horizontal component set-up. Digital labeling with remote control. Lightweight and custom-designed to fit most A/V home setup.
