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Key Digital’s KD-VPHD3 Processor/Switcher Offers Reliability
Video processor/universal switching device can be operated from its front panel or by its remote.
For most installers, the three tenets of a good product are consistency, differentiated performance and flexibility.
Key Digital's KD-VPHD3 A/V processor and switcher offers these traits at a price point that can be incorporated into a client's bid without blowing up the budget.
The slim unit fits easily into an equipment rack, and its back panel has enough connections to handle everything from console gaming systems and computers to traditional DVD/Blu-ray players and VCRs.
In my system, I connected my Blu-ray, HD-DVD and DVD players, a Wii system and HD/DVR cable box via HDMI and component video. Then, I ran a single HDMI cable out to a variety of display devices.
After a little bit of a learning curve, I figured out the VPHD3's menu system. I configured the processor/switcher to upscale to 1080i with the proper aspect ratio and set the other parameters without any fuss.
As someone who is constantly bouncing between sources, I found the Key unit to sync reliably and quickly -- a welcome characteristic. I also found that its processing eliminated most of the noisy artifacts in SD and HD video.
The only hang up that I ran into with the KD-VPHD3 was in converting SD television and Wii gaming to 1080p -- I was eventually led to reset the upscaling of my cable box and Wii to 1080i.
Once I reset the resolution, I didn't encountered a problem. (It's important to note that Key states outright that its 1080p output isn't available for all sources.)
With that said, the most notable aspect of the KD-VPHD3 is its overall consistency.
Choose an input and the unit switches and syncs within a few seconds. Add to that the convenience of its ability to consolidate and simplify a system's various sources into a single HDMI output and it's basically a no-brainer.
It's an easy system upgrade for installers to present to clients.
Key Digital's KD-VPHD3 A/V processor and switcher offers these traits at a price point that can be incorporated into a client's bid without blowing up the budget.
The slim unit fits easily into an equipment rack, and its back panel has enough connections to handle everything from console gaming systems and computers to traditional DVD/Blu-ray players and VCRs.
In my system, I connected my Blu-ray, HD-DVD and DVD players, a Wii system and HD/DVR cable box via HDMI and component video. Then, I ran a single HDMI cable out to a variety of display devices.
After a little bit of a learning curve, I figured out the VPHD3's menu system. I configured the processor/switcher to upscale to 1080i with the proper aspect ratio and set the other parameters without any fuss.
As someone who is constantly bouncing between sources, I found the Key unit to sync reliably and quickly -- a welcome characteristic. I also found that its processing eliminated most of the noisy artifacts in SD and HD video.
The only hang up that I ran into with the KD-VPHD3 was in converting SD television and Wii gaming to 1080p -- I was eventually led to reset the upscaling of my cable box and Wii to 1080i.
Once I reset the resolution, I didn't encountered a problem. (It's important to note that Key states outright that its 1080p output isn't available for all sources.)
With that said, the most notable aspect of the KD-VPHD3 is its overall consistency.
Choose an input and the unit switches and syncs within a few seconds. Add to that the convenience of its ability to consolidate and simplify a system's various sources into a single HDMI output and it's basically a no-brainer.
It's an easy system upgrade for installers to present to clients.
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Article Topics
News · Product News · Opinion · Processors · Switchers · Switchers · Processors ·About the Author
Robert Archer, Senior Editor, CE Pro
Bob is an audio enthusiast who has written about consumer electronics for various publications within Massachusetts before joining the staff of CE Pro in 2000. Bob is THX Level I certified, and he's also taken classes from the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and Home Acoustics Alliance (HAA). In addition, he's studied guitar and music theory at Sarrin Music Studios in Wakefield, Mass.
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