To WiderMouthOpen,
Let me explain why I am using an HDMI switcher.
3 years ago, I installed a television and surround soundbar located above the fireplace. The subwoofer and rear speakers communicate to the surround soundbar through bluetooth (this eliminated having to run additional wiring to these speakers). There are not enough HDMI inputs on the television/surround soundbar, to connect all of my equipment through individual HDMI cables.
The rest of my equipment is in a cabinet to the side of the fireplace with a minimal amount of cabling running through the wall to the television/surround soundbar. The Cox Contour DVR is connected by an HDMI cable to the HDMI switcher, to the television/surround soundbar. The phonograph is connected into the receiver, and the receiver is connected by an HDMI cable to the HDMI switcher, to the television/surround soundbar. The Blu-ray is connected by an HDMI cable to the HDMI switcher, to the television/surround soundbar. My television does not have analog inputs for my VCR, so for my VCR I have an analog to digital converter with HDMI output, which is connected by and HDMI cable to the HDMI switcher, to the television/surround soundbar.
Note: The HDMI switcher minimizes the amount of cabling in the wall, and greatly simplifies use and installation. Otherwise, I would need to switch the HDMI cable between equipment, which involves moving equipment inside the cabinet. I just select the input source on the switcher, to select the equipment i want to use. My switcher has 5 inputs available, and I am using 4 inputs (I have room to add another piece of equipment, like a gaming console).
