Can the 950 do it, like the Denon 3803 and 3805? In other words, can I have just one video cable going from 950 to TV regardless of what video inputs the DVD player, cable box, and VCR use on the 950? Thanks.

I'm not sure what sort of video switching the 3803/3805 offer -- there are a very limited number of products that will upconvert composite and s-video to component, which the 950 does not do. The 950 does support conversion between s-video and composite.

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gonk -- 950 Review | LFM-1 Review | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | Saloon Links

To add to what gonk said, the 950 has 2 component inputs it can switch between. So, at the minimum you could have 2 video cables going from your 950 to TV if you wanted to use all 3 types of video signals into the 950.

-Joe

no it cannot switch video like the denons.

I have the s-video out going to my tv and my sattelite and dvd player hooked up directly to the 950, works great. I think that is what you are asking. What exactly is the video swithcing the Denons do that the 950 doesn't?

The Denon 3803, 3805, and 5803 will convert composite and s-video inputs to a component video output, which the 950 will not do. That's the switching that curegeorge (and I believe Pez) is referring to.

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gonk -- 950 Review | LFM-1 Review | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | Saloon Links

I see what Pez was asking now, my fault, since I don't own an HDTV YET, I see how that would be a pain, maybe on the next generation Outlaw???

It's a feature that needs to be very carefully implemented, as you really don't want to be mucking around with your component switching any more than you have to (for fear of signal degradation). I think in time it'll become more common, along with more component inputs (two was pretty typical a few years ago, but three is becoming more common) and eventually DVI switching. For now, I prefer to keep my component switching limited to purely a pass-through switching process and I don't expect to have more than one DVI source for a few more years (I'll be getting an HD cable box soon to go with the HDTV I've got ordered, but will be staying with component outputs for my DVD for one more player generation).

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gonk -- 950 Review | LFM-1 Review | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | Saloon Links

and then there is a lot of talk about DVI being replaced by HDMI... I wouldn't buy a piece of audio equipment soley based on its video switching capabilities, although it would be a plus.

I've seen a lot of talk about that, but the weird thing in my mind is this: HDMI uses the same format as DVI for the video signal (which is why you can buy HDMI-to-DVI adapters; they just shuffle the pins around like the old 25-pin and 9-pin serial cable adapters we used to use with PC's), but lumps an audio signal in with the video. That's handy for hooking a DVD player or HD decoder to a TV with nothing else involved, but a lot of us (particularly early adopters of this technology) are going to take the audio and video signals in different directions: the video will go to the TV, while the audio will go to a receiver or pre/pro for processing. I'd rather "hassle" with an extra cable for the audio to keep the two signals separate. I can't quite see what all the hub-bub is about HDMI, or why we would want to simply discard DVI and replace it with HDMI. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the two formats over the next couple years.

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gonk -- 950 Review | LFM-1 Review | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | Saloon Links

component upconversion is nice, because most hdtvs lack enough component inputs (i.e. two). not to say that i would run hdtv through my receiver or even a dvd unless I HAD TO, but some people have hdtv, dvd, game console, pvr, etc. and need the ability to have more flexibility as far as inputs go.
gonk, i agree with you on the thought that i cant understand why there is a push (seemingly) towards a one cable connection (hdmi). it does make it simpler for the novice, but most people that are really into home theater are going to have a seperate processor for their audio and not use the tv for sound at all... i am not sold on dvi yet either, i guess it is better for a pixel based image producer (as is reported), but i have compared it side-by-side with component on hd-cable and on my 65in rptv in a blind test i couldnt tell them apart. maybe if i had dlp, or lcd projector, or whatever i could see a difference. i understand the advantage of the signal being digital longer, but its not very discernable.

HDMI is a smaller connector...

Can the 950 be my switch between two 1080i HDTV component connections? I have an HTPC w/component and a Comcast HDTV box. My Mitsu TV only has ONE 1080i connection ...the other lower res component connections are only good for my DVD player and game box.

The other option is to buy a $300+ switch box.

The 950 is capable of switching two component video HD sources.

Jeff Mackwood