HDS4x2
Features and
Specifications

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Features

True ultrawide bandwidth: 400MHz
We've gone out of our way to bring the quality and specifications you'd find on a professional video switch, to the home theater market. And we started with bandwidth. To correctly display sharp images at 1080p60, a switch or distribution amplifier must be able to pass at least the third harmonic of the video signal, and the third harmonics of a 1080p60 can be as high as 280MHz. With a -3db bandwidth of 400MHz, the HDS4x2 effortlessly passes 1080p60 and all it's third harmonics.

A non-blocking matrix switch with 4 inputs and 2 output zones
Each zone consist of three channels. A component video channel, an analog audio channel, and a digital audio channel. The HDS4x2 is a non-blocking matrix switch, any input can be switched to any output. The outputs can be mirrored and be switched synchronously allowing you to use the HDS4x2 as a dual zone distribution amplifier.

Easy to use front panel control of switching
Front panel buttons are available to directly select each input. You are not forced to sequence through all inputs when switching a zone from Input 2 back to Input 1.You are also not forced into a series of three or four key presses each time you want to change an input. Front panel operation is as simple as selecting a zone (or zones), and then switching between inputs as simply as you would with a single zone switch. The dual 7-segment LEDs always display the mapping of each zone, and are easily seen from across the room.

Front panel audio and video breakaway
Full audio and video breakaway is available on the front panel. Switch just the audio channels or just the video channels of any zone. Watch the game while listening to CD's!

A real analog audio section
Analog audio is not an after thought on the HDS4x2, nor is it just another channel of an internal video switch. The HDS4x2's analog audio section has been designed using very low noise, low offset amplifiers, switches, and buffers designed specifically for analog audio. To prevent video and digital noise from leaking into the audio section, the HDS4x2 audio section has its own power supply regulation, which is not shared with the video or digital sections.

True digital audio switching
Be weary of a manufacturer that states their "digital audio coax" channel can double as a composite video switch. This is a good indication they are using a composite video switch to route digital audio, and that they are not S/PDIF compliant. To be S/PDIF compliant, a switch must be able to receive a full range of input voltages, and yet output a nominal 500mv signal into 75 ohms, regardless of the input voltages. A composite video switch will simply pass out of spec levels straight through to the output. It's impossible for a S/PDIF compliant switch to pass composite video.

The HDS4x2 can accept any range of inputs from 200mV to 7V and and regardless of input values, will drive the coax outputs with the proper 500mV required by the S/PDIF specifications. We use high current drivers with the power needed to drive extended length cables. True S/PDIF audio switching also allows us to clean up noisy signals and automatically convert between coax and optical on both the inputs and outputs, something that cannot be done using a "composite video" channel to route digital audio.

D.C. coupled video inputs and outputs
D.C. coupled inputs and outputs are usually found only in professional, or passive (relay based) switches. In the HDS4x2, D.C. coupling is used throughout the video section. A completely black screen is passed with no field tilt distortions, as well as a completely white screen. By using a D.C. coupled design, we've also eliminated the "roll" that sometimes occurs on A.C. coupled switches when the screen changes quickly from very dark to very bright (or vice versa).

D.C. coupled audio inputs and outputs
D.C. coupling is used throughout the audio section, there are no blocking capacitors to cause audio distortion. The HDS4x2 audio frequency response extends from 0Hz (D.C.) to 125KHz, well beyond human hearing. There is no bass roll-off in the HDS4x2, which means no loss in those chair rattling subharmonics that can reach down into the single digit frequencies (<10Hz).

Adjustable mute switch delays
The HDS4x2 supports video / audio blanking during switching, sometimes called "Fade to Black". Each zone can be individually set to blank its video or mute its audio for an adjustable amount of time during switching. This can help eliminate the "rolling" that sometimes occurs when quickly switching between two un-synchronized video sources. The adjustable audio mute delays can also help eliminate the "thumps" that sometimes occur when digital audio is switched quickly.

Complete control is given over all switching delays on the HDS4x2, not only is each zone individually adjustable, but each channel of each zone is individually adjustable. For instance you can have Zone 1's video blank for 200ms, while the digital audio only mutes for 10ms, and yet have analog audio switch with no delays. Zone 2's timings can be set differently.

All timings can be adjusted to match the needs of any piece of equipment you have connected to the HDS4x2.

Five separate power supply regulators
To help keep digital noise from finding its way into the analog sections, the HDS4x2 incorporates five separate power regulators that supply power to the Video, Audio and Digital sections. By using separate regulators for the different subsections, we've reduced the possibility of video banding caused by digital audio signals leaking into the video section. Or the possibility of analog audio buzzing because video sync pulses have leaked into the analog audio section. These are problems that can occur when power supplies are shared.

Built in RS-232 with K.I.S.S.™ (Keep It Simple Serial™)
Zektor's K.I.S.S.™ is one of the easiest to use, serial port protocols, on the market. Yet the extensive bi-directional command set allows total control over the HDS4x2. Easily operate the HDS4x2 in either a Master / Slave mode, or a fully Asynchronous mode.

Full control over breakaway is available through the RS-232 interface. Each channel of each zone can be independently switched. For instance Zone 1's analog audio channel can be switched to Input 3, while its video channel is switched to input 2. Any combination of zones and channels can be selected.

Full featured IR interface, includes all discrete codes
The HDS4x2 uses a full featured IR command set. IR commands include: Power toggle, front panel control (there's an IR code for each button), codes to sequence each zone through all inputs, codes to toggle or set or reset zone muting, and discrete codes for power on and power off. There are even separate discrete IR codes for each combination of Input to Zone mappings. And if this is not enough, use the preset option to define your own discrete code that maps any or all zones to your given inputs.

Presets (User Defined Discrete codes)
Setup the HDS4x2 the with the inputs mapped to the output zones desired, and then save the setup as a preset. Now by pressing a single button, the HDS4x2 will turn itself on, and remap its inputs to the preset zones. Teach a universal remote the preset code, and by sending a single IR discrete code, the HDS4x2 will turn itself on and switch to your preset zone mappings. There's no need for macro programming of your remote control, there's no possibility of missing one of a series of codes being sent, and there's no need to mess with timings between codes and the problems associated with sending the codes too fast or too slow. User defined discrete presets allow for highly reliable IR control of the HDS4x2 in custom installations. Up to 24 presets can be assigned.

Opto-isolated hardwired IR Jack
Hardwired IR control has always been tricky. There are no voltage standards and no polarity standards. Does the IR connection share a common ground with video or audio connections? Should the IR signal be modulated, or unmodulated / demodulated? In an effort to achieve the near impossible goal of "Just plug in your IR controller and it will work!" we've done everything we could think of to answer all the above questions with "It doesn't matter, it'll work!".

We started by opto-isolating the input jack. So grounding is no longer an issue. We accept a wide range of voltages, from 3 to 15 volts, which can be positive or negative. If your controller sends unmodulated signals, then we'll use them as is. If your controller modulates the signals, no problem, we demodulate them, and use the results. All done automatically.

Your time should be spent configuring your system, not configuring your system to work with us.

Features Zektor's exclusive IIR™ Learning
The HDS4x2 comes with it's own remote control. However if more than one HDS4x2 is used in one room, the HDS4x2 features Zektor's exclusive IIR (Intelligent Infra-Red) learning. Zektor's IIR™ learning allows the HDS4x2 to work with virtually any remote control! All discrete codes are supported as well.

Auto dimming display with adjustable LED intensities
The LED indicators can be set to Bright, Dim, Auto Dim, or Off. The Auto Dim mode will fade the LEDs from the Bright setting to the Dim setting about 4 seconds after a input is selected.

The intensity levels of the front panel LEDs are also adjustable, allowing the HDS4x2 to be used in a wide range of lighting conditions. The front panel can even be made to gently dim its front panels lights to 'off', when the front panel is not in use.

Rack mountable metal enclosure (1RU)
Enclosed in a heavy gauged, steel chassis, with a beautiful brushed aluminum front panel, available in black and silver. When combined with the fully adjustable front panel LED intensities, the HDS4x2 easily integrates into any existing home theater environment.

Optional international power supply
Available with an international power supply for 90-264VAC, 47-63Hz operation. The international supply comes with adapters for UK, EURO, AUS and USA use.

Available in black or silver