Belkin AV360 1080P HDMI-MDP Input Adapter Review

[bringinsexymac]

What are you talking about???!

The iMac can only take 720 and 1440 and one more small one.

They may have different algorithms which makes the quality better or worse, or may look better to someone.

I believe that the atlona can output 1080p but the iMac just won't take it.

I have the latest iMac and it can handle 1080p as well as 720. I don't know what you are all talking about. But you seem to have no clue about the imac resolution.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I have the latest iMac and it can handle 1080p as well as 720. I don't know what you are all talking about. But you seem to have no clue about the imac resolution.

You're talking about display resolution, not the resolution of inputs that it can accept. As for display resolution, there's no reason to do anything other than native unless you like looking at sub-optimal larger sized elements.

 

[Willo3G]

As I pointed out above, the iMac doesn't support more than 720p over input, so the fact that these converters can scale to the iMac's native resolution is pointless at this juncture. Apple needs to update the iMac.

Hey chrmjenkins, you know if apple is working on 1080p input? that will be awsome if they do it!!! HOPE SOOO (ANY NEWS?)

 

[chrmjenkins]

Hey chrmjenkins, you know if apple is working on 1080p input? that will be awsome if they do it!!! HOPE SOOO (ANY NEWS?)

No idea. Seems like a feature that isn't that critical, meaning it could go either way. For now, just get a box that can upconvert 1080p to native.

 

[Willo3G]

No idea. Seems like a feature that isn't that critical, meaning it could go either way. For now, just get a box that can upconvert 1080p to native.

any brand, links, store for this box! thanks for your info man!

 

[chrmjenkins]

any brand, links, store for this box! thanks for your info man!

Start with OP. I doubt you'll find this sort of box in any brick and mortar store. Maybe Fry's if you have one near. There's other brands and features besides the belkin too.

 

[slicecom]

Looking into buying this, but I have a question. I know that it can play audio thru the iMac's internal speakers, but I have studio monitors connected to my iMac thru a USB Audio Interface. Does the audio go to the output source you have selected in OSX, or does it only work thru the internal speakers?

 

[iMacN00b]

No idea. Seems like a feature that isn't that critical, meaning it could go either way. For now, just get a box that can upconvert 1080p to native.

I love my Kanex XD (currently limited to 720p, but supports 1080p, if & when the imac display allows it.) but I would loooove it even more if Apple would allow 1080p on the display EDID!

I guess I can dream....

 

[slicecom]

I love my Kanex XD (currently limited to 720p, but supports 1080p, if & when the imac display allows it.) but I would loooove it even more if Apple would allow 1080p on the display EDID!

I guess I can dream....

I was leaning toward the Belkin AV360 as from what I understand, it can accept both 720p AND 1080p (of course it downscales that to 720p) but that way I would never have to worry about switching my PS3 back and forth from 1080p to 720p when I unhook it from my TV and hook it up to my iMac.

 

[iMacN00b]

I was leaning toward the Belkin AV360 as from what I understand, it can accept both 720p AND 1080p (of course it downscales that to 720p) but that way I would never have to worry about switching my PS3 back and forth from 1080p to 720p when I unhook it from my TV and hook it up to my iMac.

Sounds sensible. I only have a 720p TV (An old Pioneer 43") so don't have that issue, and the Kanex was the only option in my apple store here in Norway.

The Kanex is a good convertor though, I experience no lag or issues whatsoever. Sitting back a few feet the screen looks OK, but it would be the icing on the cake if it did 1080p. As I don't have a 1080p TV I would love to try out some Blu-Rays on the imac too.

We can't download films from iTunes here in Norway, so it's like Apple are doing everything they can to prevent me from seeing HD film!

Blu-Ray drive = Nope
iTunes HD film download = Nope
1080p input from an external Bluray (ps3) = No sir.

If I wasn't a chilled type of guy, I might actually be frustrated by that.

I guess Apple have their reasons.

/iMacN00b.

 

[chrmjenkins]

There are options that will upconvert 1080p to native. The AT-HD620 is one example, but it is expensive ( $200). There are more options out there.

 

[tc3jg]

There are options that will upconvert 1080p to native. The AT-HD620 is one example, but it is expensive ( $200). There are more options out there.

Like?

 

[slicecom]

Looking into buying this, but I have a question. I know that it can play audio thru the iMac's internal speakers, but I have studio monitors connected to my iMac thru a USB Audio Interface. Does the audio go to the output source you have selected in OSX, or does it only work thru the internal speakers?

Never did get an answer on this...

 

[TheSandman2236]

Never did get an answer on this...

It goes through any audio source your iMac is connected to -- I have a 2.1 system hooked up to it

 

[TheSandman2236]

Start with OP. I doubt you'll find this sort of box in any brick and mortar store. Maybe Fry's if you have one near. There's other brands and features besides the belkin too.

I bought mine at the Apple Store here in Chicago locally.

 

[wilko251088]

I have been using a drbott hdmi to mdp convertor for a year now. It was £75 off eBay from Germany ( I live in uk ) the picture in 720p looks just as good as most hdtvs as the mac screen is superior quality and the led technology is the best out there I'd say.

 

[Xenc]

Is the image sharp and clear?

 

[slicecom]

Is the image sharp and clear?

No, it's not at all. It's a little more clear with the Atlona AT-HD620, because it upscales from a 1080p image rather than a 720p image, but it's still not sharp and clear. It is the best that can be done on a 2560 x 1440 display with only HD input though. I'd say it looks sharp if you're about 5' away from the monitor, but not if you sit where you normally do to use OSX.

 

[Andythed]

I hear people say that the image is blurry

Is this only because people sit so close to the mac screen?

At the distance people sit from a mac, doing the same with a tv would surely not be great either?

I dont know, questions....

 

[Xenc]

No, it's not at all. It's a little more clear with the Atlona AT-HD620, because it upscales from a 1080p image rather than a 720p image, but it's still not sharp and clear. It is the best that can be done on a 2560 x 1440 display with only HD input though. I'd say it looks sharp if you're about 5' away from the monitor, but not if you sit where you normally do to use OSX.

Thanks for the reply. I've now had the chance to use both the Atlona AT-HD620 and the Kanex XD with my iMac, and found the image quality of the latter to be the better of the two. I experienced interference with the AT-HD620 when connecting my Xbox 360 to it.

Sitting near to the screen, like you mentioned, does give a rather blurry image. However the quality looks great when sat at a distance.

 

[anfrice]

OK Listen here peeps....
I own a Belkin AV360....
I use it to marry my ps3 with my iMac 27inch
The iMac only supports 720P even though the device allows 1080P...
I sit pretty much the same distance as I do when I am surfing the web and the picture looks very very very good...
A lot go games run on 720P anyways so its all good and since your playing on a 27inch screen with more pixels and less space, the picture naturally is great...
The sound will naturally come from the hdmi source into the iMac ( ps3 to iMac )------ although on you device, ps3, xbox, blu ray etc you can have plugged in what ever audio source you desire like gaming headsets, surround sound system or whatever and just select on ur device that u want ur audio to come from the desired device an BAM... done
Generally if your iMac is switched on, and all your connections are plugged in, one you turn on the device attached to the av360, the mac will switch straight to the picture. Once you switch off your device then the mac swill switch back to your osx. ALTHOUGH... if it doesn't do this automatically or you want to switch screens without turning off your devices such as pausing your game, going on ur osx then back to your game... simply hold the command key and press F2. This will allow you to switch between both screens.
Even though the av360 automatically converts the res to 720P, meaning you can leave your device (ps3 etc) on 1080P, I would recommend changing your device to 720P. This will give you a more crisp 720P picture as the av360 doesn't have to work as hard to downscale your picture and lets it use all its powers to give you a smooth connection between devices.

In a nutshell, picture is awesome, sound is awesome.... Belkin a v360 = Awsome...

Please look me up on youtube under anfrice or reply to this blog if you want me to post youtube videos of my set up.

peace out

 

[Richdmoore]

I would love to buy one if it supported the thunderbolt iMacs. Hopefully it is something that will be invented in the future.

 

[slicecom]

Even though the av360 automatically converts the res to 720P, meaning you can leave your device (ps3 etc) on 1080P, I would recommend changing your device to 720P. This will give you a more crisp 720P picture as the av360 doesn't have to work as hard to downscale your picture and lets it use all its powers to give you a smooth connection between devices.

Not true. The AV360 takes the 1080P picture and UPSCALES it to 1440. You get more detail that way, but yes, the image is interpolated up to 1440. Having viewed both, 1080p upconverted to 1440 looks better than 720p on a 1440 screen.

 

[anfrice]

Not true. The AV360 takes the 1080P picture and UPSCALES it to 1440. You get more detail that way, but yes, the image is interpolated up to 1440. Having viewed both, 1080p upconverted to 1440 looks better than 720p on a 1440 screen.

Yes but if the iMac is only going to give you 720p, then that was my point. I think I get a better picture when the ps3 is set on 720p and not 1080p when using my Belkin with the iMac 27

 

[slicecom]

Yes but if the iMac is only going to give you 720p, then that was my point. I think I get a better picture when the ps3 is set on 720p and not 1080p when using my Belkin with the iMac 27

The iMac gives you 1440p no matter what because that's how many pixels it has. The difference is its either upscaled from 720p with the Belkin or 1080p with the Atlona.