Extron Electronics has announced two new high performance HDMI switchers that support data rates up to 18Gbps and signals up to 4K/60 with 4:4:4 colour sampling.

The two input SW2 HD 4K PLUS and the four input SW4 HD 4K PLUS are HDCP compliant, and support HDR, 12-bit Deep Colour, 3D, Lip Sync, HD lossless audio formats and CEC pass-through as well as providing automatic input cable equalisation up to 7.6m on Extron HDMI Pro Series cables.

Ethernet, RS-232 and contact closure ports provide plenty of options for integration with control systems with both models featuring an EDID minder. The EDID minder maintains communication with connected devices and guarantees that the HDMI sources power up properly to allow correct video output.

“Extron SW switchers have been a favourite among AV integrators for years, and we are pleased to introduce the next generation for reliable display and switching of HDMI 4K/60 video signals.” says Extron vice president of worldwide sales Casey Hall.

“The SW2 HD 4K PLUS and SW4 HD 4K PLUS also feature Ethernet control and monitoring for remote operation and management, and support a variety of HDMI 2.0 signal options to deliver a more transparent experience for the end user.”

To simplify integration, the SW HD 4K PLUS provides integrator-friendly features which include automatic input cable equalisation, automatic colour bit depth management, indicators for monitoring and troubleshooting, as well as peripheral device power on the output.

Automatic input cable equalisation corrects signal loss due to lengthy input cables, ensuring signal integrity up to 7.6m when used with Extron HDMI Pro Series cable. The SW HD 4K PLUS automatically adjusts colour bit depth based on the display EDID which prevents colour compatibility conflicts between source and display.

Front panel LED signals provide immediate visual confirmation of HDCP authentication and signal presence for each input and output. If HDCP-encrypted content is transmitted to a noncompliant display, a full-screen green signal provides visual confirmation that protected content cannot be viewed.

The SW HD 4K PLUS also provides +5 VDC, 250 mA on the HDMI output for powering peripheral devices like an Extron HD 4K 101 Plus cable equaliser.