Biffuz Blog: news archive

2009-11-15 HDMI odyssey

Past week I purchased a new 23" Full HD monitor, a Philips 231E1SB. First, it was some time I wished to go full HD, second I wished to solve some compatibility issues with my A/V receiver, an Onkyo TX-SR606, which I thought they were because my former monitor - a Samsung 225BW - was not Full HD.

Well, I was wrong: the Philips just does not work with the Onkyo. When I switch computer, my MacBook begins to loop from single monitor to multi monitor mode without actually displaying anything on the Philips, while my PC needs to have the HDMI cable unplugged and then plugged in again to detect the monitor.

Even worse, I cannot return the monitor, and even if I could, I already sold my poor faithful Samsung: I couldn't test the new monitor earlier because the design of the back panel doesn't leave enough room for a HDMI cable plus a HDMI adapter below the DVI port, and I had to buy a DVI to HDMI cable.

I felt so frustated, I just ordered a simple HDMI switch - in the hope it'll work. If I know myself, I'll end up replacing the monitor again.

Other discoveries I made:

Avoid cheap USB switches - the kind that lets you connect a single USB device to multiple computers and have buttons to select the computer you wish to use at the moment. They're mechanical, and every time you use it there's a chanche it will send a shock to the computer's USB port or the device, possibly damaging them. If you can't find an electronic switch, remember to protect the computers and the device with USB hubs, even if this raises the final cost.
Contrary to its manual, the Asus Xonar DX sound card does not have a coaxial S/PDIF output, only optical.
The Philips monitor's base just allows to slightly tilt the screen, and you can't replace it. My older Samsung's base could turn, tilt, and raise the monitor, and could even be replaced. To raise my new monitor, I had to put a book underneath it, actually my copy of "Modern Operating Systems, 2nd Edition" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum. I read most of it, anyway.

Update: the HDMI switch has arrived and is working very nice! It's an Aten VS481A. Very welcome since I had bad surprises with my old KVM switch, also from Aten. Is Onkyo the culprit then?

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