Update - More HDMI Switch Controversy - Belkin vs. Monoprice

[geekwithfamily]

It looks like everyone’s favorite super-expensive ethernet cable company, Belkin, are inflating the price of their $199 HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch, the same OEM HDMI box as BetterCables and Comects’ Neptune (also favorably reviewed by Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, described as “inexpensive” at $222). It appears Monoprice has the same hardware for $67.46.
You have to ask yourself what premium you are willing to pay for branding from BetterCables and Belkin. As AV consumers we expect higher quality from our boutique brands. We assume that we are paying a higher price for their product because the company invested many hours on R&D and quality assurance. But what if that warm feeling is just a placebo caused by a rebadging of an OEM product? What if the only creative thought that went into these products was where to place your logo and how to spin the tech copy to justify its price and also scare you away from more affordable (or even fairly priced) alternatives (that look suspiciously like the same product).
Video switchers are not a sexy product, they are completely utilitarian. It’s awful that we even have to consider paying this much money for a boutique company’s product that is really an affordable OEM with the exact same functionality and performance. A backlash to industry wide HDMI price gouging is growing fueled by the extremely low prices of Monoprice and other discount cable suppliers (like RAM Electronics).
I assume as a response to my post this morning (and being featured on Gizmodo), BetterCables has removed the pricing and description of their HDMI switcher. I hope they explain themselves soon. The Secrets site was down this morning (coincidence?) but when they came back their review of BetterCables HDMI Switcher was unchanged.
Tags: Home TheaterHome Theater

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[Steelheart1948]

I've been involved in this insane hobby for over thirty years now. Over this period of time, I've seen and heard so much nonsense and so many lies (and occasionally been taken in by it) that I sometimes think this hobby is dominated by lawyers and politicians. The difference between the two switchers is nothing, nada, zilch. Get the Monoprice switcher and with the money you save, get yourself some movies.

[Otto]

Thanks, Kyle. I may be in the market for that type of device, and it's nice to know I can find one for a reasonable price.

[lcaillo]

geekwithfamily wrote:

As AV consumers we expect higher quality from our boutique brands. We assume that we are paying a higher price for their product because the company invested many hours on R&D and quality assurance.

Remember what they say about the beginning of the word assumptions...

Belkin has rarely had the best value on much of anything. They certainly are not an OEM or doing any R & D on products like this.

Like with everything else, you have to look at each product on its own merits, not assume that any brand is better because of a "boutique" image.

You get what you pay for only when you do your homework, are intelligently skeptical, and sometimes, if you are lucky.

[mechman]

I have had the Monoprice HDMI 5X1 switch for awhile now. It works as advertised with no problems whatsoever. I highly recommend it! Excellent detective work Kyle!


mech

I live 2 blocks away from monoprice. The best deals become no brainer deals for me.

[Anthony]

to play devil's advocate -- and by no means to I know if this applies here:

Sometimes manufacturers make the same product to different specifications and release them to different brands. My personal experience is in the tool and appliance sector. Case and point: Craftsman. Craftsman does not make any of its tools. Some are made by Bosch and Porter Cable, others are made by chinese companies. In most cases, the tolerances and build quality are only slightly less than the equivalent Bosch or PC product, but usually at a much reduced price. Not saying it's better or worse, just FYI.

Another example I can think of is garbage disposals. I put in a Kenmore disposal that was EXACTLY the same as the same In-Sink-Erator. Pricing wasn't much differnet than a deal from Lowes or Home Depot, but -- Sears gave it a 5 year warranty where the standard was only 1 year. In this case, the branding (Kenmore) gave the same product with better support.

For things like the switcher here, I would only pay the premium if it came with a much better warranty, or if there were anecdotal evidence that the cheaper ones had case dents, or noisy power supplies (sometimes the cheap ones buzz or hum faintly).

But if indeed the units are the same (warranty, return policy, and all) with a different sticker on the front, then by all means, get the cheap one and some movies.

Okay, rambling over, it's time for lunch

[Otto]

Well, I recently bought a 3x1 HDMI switch from Monoprice. I think it was about $40. Works great! Thanks!

[cholly]

I bought one of the Monoprice 3 input switchers to use with my Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player and my TiVo Series 3 HD DVR. I used three 6 foot HDMI cables for hookup to the single HDMI input on my Sony KDF55-A20 RP LCD HDTV. The TiVo worked faultlessly, but sadly, the HD DVD player would lose the HDMI handshake after just a few minutes. I RMA'd the switcher back to Monoprice. In retrospect, it probably would have worked fine with the current level of firmware and premium 3 foot cables from Monoprice.
Because of the problems I had, the HD DVR is connected to one of the component inputs of the TV and the HD DVD player is connected to the HDMI input.

[Kerbango]

Amazon.com has the Belkin PureAV 3-into-1 HDMI Switch with Remote Control for $78.44

[Fred33]

That is crazy how they are so similar. Don't the companies worry about people catching on?

Fred33 wrote:

That is crazy how they are so similar. Don't the companies worry about people catching on?

I think many people don't realize how overpriced Belkin products are and tend to purchase these things "bundled" at the same time as their TV or surround sound in a box at their local electronics megastore. I can't even count how many times I've seen poor unsuspecting customers be coerced to spend much more $$$ than they should have just because they "need" this or that cable for their new TV or receiver (or even computer for that matter). With the lower profit margins on the actual TVs and large ticket items I think the megastores are really cashing in on the high markups of the "add-on" miscellanea.

[olddrum1]

I once worked for a company that made one piece of equipment. The difference between John Deere, International, and the house brand was a single lever that sent it to different paint tanks. Of course the price of the three was quite different. One needs to look at the specifics of each and determine the worth of the difference. A company such as ATT will sell its products at a premium given its reputation and they do get the sale because of perceived quality. I would say Belkin does the same and may off shore (I am not saying they do for sure, because I do not know) the equipment from the same manufacturer as their competitors.