Hello!

I'm looking for a 4x1 (or larger) 7.1 multichannel audio switch for switching multiple 7.1 audio sources into a preamp with a single 7.1 audio input.

Does anyone know if this sort of switch exists and where it could be purchased?

Ideally, it would have a way to be remotely controlled, by IR or serial, or contact closure. Also, my preference would be that it is rack mountable in 1 RU, but this is not a requirement or deal killer.

How do you switch multiple multichannel audio sources?

Thanks, Pete

Switching multichannel analog sources is something of a problem these days - there are almost no such products available. The closest is probably the Zektor CVS4 which can provide 4x6ch switching with an IR remote or RS232.

Looking on the Zektor site...
I noticed this is the 5.1 audio switch...
some cool stuff !
but where is the 7.1 ?

Nobody seems to be making 7.1 switchers - possibly because there's only one source component in existence with a 7.1 output (the Panasonic Blu-ray player).

Zektor's site tells us the MAS7.1 is "coming soon"... as it has for several months now.

This from Zektor, re MAS7.1:

Hello Pete,

We will be shipping this model at the end or April.

The unit will have three 7.1 analog audio inputs, three channels of digital audio (both SPDIF and Optical) and three channels of HDMI. There is a breakaway feature that will allow you to switch two of these functions independently, meaning you can be watching video from one input and listening to audio from another.

MSRP will be $599.00

We should have the new information on the website this week.

Thanks!
Jeff

Interesting - feels a bit pricey at $600, but certainly promising with the coaxial/optical and HDMI switching rolled in with the 7.1 analog. You could potentially use that and the 990 to have four DVI/HDMI video sources (including three with both digital and multichannel analog audio). That would support an HD cable/satellite receiver, DVD-A/SACD player with upscaling, a Blu-ray player, and an HD-DVD player.

When OUTLAW comes out with next pre/pro (i.e. after hdmi 1.3) I would really like to see this incorporated. For those who don't want this feature OUTLAW could offer the 970's replacement without these extras.

If anything, the arrival of HDMI receivers and processors will make demand for 7.1 switchers even smaller, not greater. The equipment that leaves people in search of switchers are HD-DVD, Blu-ray, and DVD-Audio/SACD players. It takes at least three different players to get all four of those formats in your system, and copy protection or bitstream bandwidth issues force all of them to rely on multichannel analog. Once you add HDMI v1.1+ inputs, though, all of that changes: all HD-DVD and Blu-ray players include HDMI, and many newer DVD-A/SACD players do as well. A next-gen Outlaw processor will presumably have at least four HDMI inputs, which would support a Blu-ray player, an HD-DVD player, a DVD-A/SACD player, and an HD cable or satellite receiver without using anything but HDMI cables. Outlaw will want to hang onto one 7.1 Direct input for very high-end players and for older DVD-A/SACD players that don't support HDMI, but additional 7.1 inputs would be a significant expense that would almost never be used.

That's right Gonk...

Someone should develop the LAST MCH audio switching device WITH analog bass management - say the ICBM with 2 additional sets of inputs. But, I doubt it - analog inputs are a dying breed...

gonk wrote in response:

but additional 7.1 inputs would be a significant expense that would almost never be used.

Indeed it would be. However, it is fortunate that there are other opions for the 7.1's. For some of us (though maybe few) there are reasons to want several 7.1's. Hopefully outlaws will consider this. If not... ZECTOR or (in my case) patchbay.

It's expensive at $599 but I think this is what some of us have been waiting for.

http://www.zektor.com/mas71/index.html

Ah, cool - neat to see some pics of it. Is it shipping now?