Tips to find the best HDMI splitter

If your HDTV has one port or you want to route audio-video signals to multiple displays, you would need an HDMI splitter. The HDMI splitter is a sophisticated piece of the device which can split the HDMI signals to two or more displays.Having some basic knowledge of HDMI splitters can help you purchase the right devices with essential features. Here are some useful tips that will help you select best HDMI splitter as per your requirements.What Are the Available Configurations?The HDMI configuration refers to a number of HDMI outputs in the device. Some of the common HDMI splitter configuration available is 2, 4, 8, and 16 port configurations. The 16 port HDMI splitter is ideal for large installation where you need to route the HDMI signals to 16 TV’s or monitors.What Is the Ideal HDMI Splitter Configuration for You?The ideal HDMI splitter configuration for you depends on the number of devices you currently have. For example, if you have 2 HDMI devices at home, a 4-port HDMI splitter might be ideal for you which will ensure you will not run of HDMI ports very soon in the near future.Purchasing a splitter with additional ports than needed is a good idea as HDMI is slowly becoming de-facto standard to connect HD devices. Also, a large number of manufacturers integrate HDMI ports in their devices and majority of HD devices in the near future would have HDMI ports. Even if you buy 1-2 new HD devices in near future, you would not feel the need to purchase new HDMI splitter to accommodate the new devices in your home theater setup.What Are the Important Features to Look For?There are two types of HDMI splitters- active and passive. The passive HDMI splitters are designed to split the signals and route it to HDMI outputs in the splitter. The active HDMI splitters are a bit advanced due to the technologies integrated to maintain or enhance the quality of the AV signal. Here are some of the important features that you need to look for when looking for best HDMI splitter.Ï    EDID ManagementEDID is an acronym for Extended Display Identification Data. The EDID technology enables the digital display to communicate its video capabilities to the HD source which then negotiates the best compatible resolution.If the HDMI splitter has EDID management feature, it will allow the digital display and the HDMI source communicate successfully and negotiate a best compatible resolution for the transmission.Ï    HDCP ComplianceHDCP is employed by all major broadcasters and entertainment companies. The content is protected by High Definition Copy protocol which prevents copying of content when transmitted between HDMI source and digital display.Only an HDMI splitter meeting HDCP compliance or HDCP transparency would be able to route the HDMI signal successfully between the HDMI source and digital display.The above tips will help you select the best HDMI splitter that will allow you to enjoy HD content from different sources on more than one digital display.Did we miss any important feature in HDMI splitters?