If you're tired of swapping HDMI cables every time you want to connect a new device to your HDTV, then it's time to add an HDMI switch to your home-theater arsenal. The $149.99 IOGear 4-Port Automatic HDMI Switch delivers solid performance, and—as its name implies—provides a useful automatic switching feature that eliminates the need for manual operation.

In the box you get the switch, a credit card–size remote control, a 6V power adapter, a 2-meter HDMI cable, and a quick-start guide. The tiny remote is similar in size to the one included with the Accell UltraAV HDMI Switch, and like the UltraAV's, the IOGear remote performed well at distances exceeding 20 feet. But the remote's off-axis performance tapered diminished at a relatively narrow 35 degrees. The switch is supported by Logitech's Harmony universal remotes, however.

The device measures 0.9 by 6.4 by 3.5 inches (HWD), and its rugged plastic case features a matte charcoal-gray finish outlined with gloss-black trim. Bright blue LED lights along the lower edge of the switch's face indicate which input is currently active, but the nondescript lights lack labels to indicate which light corresponds to which HDMI input. The switch also lacks mounting holes for permanent installation.

IOGear claims the switch is compliant with version 1.3 of the HDMI specification that lists a maximum supported video resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels at 75 Hz—well beyond 1080p. I've yet to see an HDMI switch properly handle the spec's maximum resolution, but the IOGear switch delivered a 1,920-by-1,200 PC signal at 60 Hz to a compatible display.

Most HDMI switch products that I've tested, including the excellent Oppo HM-31 Advanced 3x1 HDMI Switch, feature an HDMI equalizer (EQ) function to compensate for signaling issues that can arise when very long lengths of HDMI cable are used. The IOGear HDMI switch doesn't list an EQ function in its specs, but it performed flawlessly with my test setup, which included a 40-foot length of quality Ultralink HDMI cable from the source device to the switch and a 25-foot Monoprice cable connecting the switch's output to a Simplay Labs–verified HDTV (a Samsung LN52A750. With this configuration, the IOGear switch cleanly passed 1080p24 and 1080p60 high-quality test patterns that were sourced from a calibrated Sencore VP403 signal generator and a PC running DisplayMate on USB software.

I did encounter one problem with the IOGear switch when I tried to connect an older Monster HDMI cable with an oversize connect. The IOGear's glossy black trim creates a lip that prevents this cable's connector from seating properly.

The IOGear switch's automatic port-switching feature is scarcely documented in the user guide or online, but it worked well with always-on devices such as a TiVo DVR, where other switches, including the Accell UltraAV, struggled. Powering on a device connected to the switch resulted in a near-instantaneous selection of that port. Turning off the same device resulted in the switch taking just over 20 seconds to return to the always-on device—in this case, a Dish Network ViP622 DVR. The Oppo HM-31 was able to complete this "switch back" in just over 12 seconds—about 8 seconds faster than the IOGear switch. Compatibility-wise, I experienced no connection or usability issues with the IOGear switch when I tested it with various home-theater components including an older Denon upscaling DVD player, a Samsung BD-UP5000 Duo HD Player, and a Sony Playstation 3 with the latest firmware.

The IOGear 4-Port Automatic HDMI Switch isn't the fastest auto-switcher out there, but it is a solid choice for anyone who could use more HDMI ports in a home-theater setup. With online pricing about equal to the three-port Oppo HM-31, the IOGear switch's advantages are its additional HDMI port and the inclusion of an HDMI cable in the box. But if additional control options like external IR and the ability to wall-mount the switch are critical features, then the Oppo HM-31 is the way to go.

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