MuxLab has been on the leading edge of audio/visual connectivity for more than 30 years, and the company has just announced several new products to support 4K-UHD content. In this article, we’ll take a look at the new range of extender kits, an HDMI audio extractor, and the new line of MuxLab UHD-4K HDMI Matrix Switches. These professional-grade devices are ideal for commercial or residential A/V systems.
The HDMI Matrix Switches, UHD-4K
MuxLab’s 4x2, 4x4, and 8x8 UHD-4K HDMI Matrix Switches are remote-controlled A/V switches that can connect four or eight HDMI sources to up to two, four, or eight HDMI displays. Users can access each source on any and/or all of the displays by simply selecting it via the included IR remote control. Of course, it is also important to note that the Matrix Switch supports 4K-UHD, 2K, and Full HD 1080p video resolutions, as well as all 3D formats. It also supports independent EDID control.
The Matrix Switches are a great solution for anyone who wants to switch between multiple devices quickly and easily, including Blu-ray players, streaming media players, home theater PCs, and game consoles. In addition to the IR remote control, sources can be selected via RS-232, TCP/IP or by using the selection buttons on the front panel of the switcher. The kits include the switcher unit, an IR remote control, an IR sensor, an IR emitter, a 12VDC power supply, and removable rack-mount ears.
Extender Kits
The backbone of these new devices is the HDBaseT signal standard, which allows users to transmit audio, video, Ethernet, and remote control signals over a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable. This is remarkable technology that not only simplifies the setup of A/V systems, but also offers considerable savings by eliminating the need to run multiple cables over long distances.
The MuxLab HDMI 4-Play Extender Kit comprises a transmitter and a receiver, with corresponding inputs and outputs for HDMI, Ethernet, a three-position RS-232 block terminal, and a 3.5mm jack for the included IR emitter and sensor. A 4K-UHD video signal can be extended up to 230 feet (70 meters), and if you are working with Full HD 1080p, all four signals can be extended up to 330 feet (100 meters) via a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable.
The MuxLab HDMI Wall-Plate Extender Kit comprises a transmitter and receiver unit, each designed to be mounted within a standard 1-gang electrical box. The transmitter and receiver feature corresponding inputs and outputs for HDMI, a 3.5mm IR sensor jack, a 3.5mm IR emitter jack and a 5V DC power jack. The units are tethered together by a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable, which can extend the signal up to 230 feet (131 feet for 4K-UHD). Each faceplate features a brushed-aluminum finish.
The MuxLab HDMI/VGA/Audio Wall-Plate Transmitter is a double-gang, wall-mount device for transmitting HDMI, VGA, and audio signals via a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable. A 4K-UHD signal can be transmitted up to 131 feet (40 meters) and a Full HD 1080p signal with Deep Color can be transmitted up to 230 feet (70 meters). In addition, the HDBaseT connection supports multiple control methods, including front panel buttons and RS-232 via a 3-pin terminal block.
The HDMI/VGA/Audio Wall-Plate Transmitter supports VGA resolutions of up to 1920 x 1200 and features a built-in VGA/HDMI scaler function to ensure the signal matches the native resolution of the display. The transmitter is compatible with MuxLab’s 500454 HDMI/RS-232 Receiver and the 500451 HDMI Mono Receiver, both sold separately.
MuxLab’s wall-mount kits present an attractive and technologically elegant connectivity solution that is ideal for classroom projector systems, digital signage, boardroom A/V systems, or really any environment where you would rather not juggle a mess of A/V cables. Of course, given the relative affordability of Cat5e and Cat6 cable, they are also a great cost-saving option.
HDMI to HDMI with Audio Extraction
The new MuxLab HDMI Audio Extractor features one HDMI input, one HDMI output, one 3.5mm stereo output jack, and one optical (S/PDIF TOSLINK) audio output jack. A switch on the front of the device allows users to select one of three operating modes. TV Mode extracts the audio from a television’s HDMI output. Bitstream Mode supports up to 5.1 channels of compressed audio, such as Dolby and DTS; and LPCM 2CH Mode supports two channels of linear PCM audio. The video signal can pass through via the HDMI output, but the device will extract the audio even if no display is connected. Finally, it bears mentioning that the audio extractor supports 4K-UHD resolution video signals.
For more information on these and other MuxLab products please stop by the B&H SuperStore in New York City or contact our experts over the phone at 1-800-606-6969 or online via Live Chat.
2 Comments
The best thing is that the MuxLab 100 meter HDBaseT senders and receivers are compatible with other manufacturers full feature set HDBaseT senders and receives... like the ones built into some of the latest displays and projectors. I advise you to check the specs and/or call sales support before plugging it in.
I like where the UHD thing is going.