Radio Shack 15312 AB Switch, Top View
We bought the Radio Shack 15 312 AB Audio Video Switch for the television and review it here. Now this unit allows switching between a cable box and DVD player, as viewing video and audio sources on a single television.
So we installed and looked at this two-input A/V switch a lot. We found that after more than seven years, the 15-312 still functions well. No loss of video or static sounds in the switched audio ever appeared.
Two video and audio signal inputs, switched into one output. Each input accepts both stereo aural (left and right channels) and analog composite video signals. This switcher switches all three signals at its output, between the A and B input jack sets.
For smaller stereo amplifiers, this AB switch provides switching between two audio sources into a single set of two speakers, or vice versa. That is, you can route one stereo amplifier output to two sets of speakers. Or, you can route two stereo amplifiers into one set of speakers. To do this however, your speaker cables must have RCA-style plugs. Why? Because this unit has only RCA jacks for the audio. Plus, this unit likely cannot handle very high current from amp to speakers. So we suggest not using it where audio output power exceeds a few watts per channel.
Works with any devices either producing or receiving composite video and stereo audio. These include…
Given its low cost, you could also use it as a good-quality audio exclusive switch. Example: You may connect two computers to a single set of speakers, and then switch which one is actually connected to the speaker system.
This Radio Shack composite video and audio A/B switch cost only $20 roughly.
It’s very simple to use. It has two push-button style switches on the top, and nine RCA-style ports on the back.
Each input on this composite video switch includes one video jack and two audio jacks (for stereo left and right channels). The single output includes the same jacks.
They built this switch from black plastic. It also sports light gray labeling of the jacks and buttons.
Just two buttons sit on the top of the unit. These are its only controls. This is definitely a no-frills A/B video switch. It is thus, a king of simplicity to learn and use.
The switch gives a visual indication of which input is currently active. How? A brightly colored bar appears above the currently active input button. This is mechanically done. No electric lighting here.
The case appears rather thick and the unit feels heavy for what little is inside. This gives the impression of a durable, rugged piece of electronics, and we surely like that.
Comprehensive Installation and Users Guides provided.
Self-sticking cable labels included as well. With these, you tag cables from various devices, coming into this video / audio switch.
Uses no external power sources or batteries. In fact, this is a completely passive input switcher. So, it adds no distortion or noise to the composite video or stereo audio signals.
This AB source selector switch supports neither component video, s-video, nor HDMI signal sources. Just the composite video ones (yellow RCA plug). So no high-definition HD video. Only standard definition (SD).
Must press the buttons harder than seems normal to choose the correct video source.
Plus, if you press the input selection buttons too weakly, this leaves this switch in a neither-A-nor-B (no video) state. This means that neither the A input nor the B input is connected to the output. This might confuse users, as the desired video source does not display when the switch is in this state. The user may wonder why his VCR or DVD player does not play.
Strange that the sales person offered a two-year extended warranty for this low-priced switch box, for $3.49 (I think). I just shook my head and grinned.
This box weighs very little. So you can easily pull it off a table or any smooth surface. Thus, be sure to place it where it will not fall, like inside a home theater cabinet.
You must supply all audio / video cables for this switch.
This signal switcher works with line-level audio, and is not intended for lower impedance speaker level outputs. But as we said above, you can use this device as a speaker selector switch in a pinch, for lower power speaker outputs.
No switching of optical digital inputs either. This is strictly an electrical switch that works with analog signals.
Switches only composite video (yellow RCA connector) signals. It does not work on computer VGA signals.
This video and audio switch is simple to connect up and operate. Plus, you can replace it cheaply should it ever fail. So we highly recommend this AB switch to people who only have two A/V sources in their audio systems. But before you buy, make sure that your television does not have the additional inputs you need. Given all that, we rate this switch box at 96 out of 100.
Find this home theater accessory exclusively at Radio Shack stores nationwide.
When you scan for in-range Bluetooth speakers, your JBL Flip 3 shows up as "JBL…
If you're a Spotify streaming service subscription holder, you can now listen to your playlists…
Here, we cover Unlink Spotify From Google Home Speaker. You may wish unlink (remove, delete)…
You might reset Alexa Echo Spot and return the settings to their factory default values,…
In this post, we run through how to find the Echo Spot IP address setting,…
You might reset Echo Spot WiFi to fix faulty connection behavior, put it on a…
