A Simple Guide to HDMI Splitters

Have you ever wished you could duplicate an HDMI device’s output?

Say you’re working on your computer and want to see everything on your PC monitor and two other televisions.

Or maybe you’d like to watch a movie on your TV and a projector at the same time.

The way to do this is with an HDMI splitter. With a splitter, you can duplicate video through your HDMI cords.

In this article, you’ll learn what an HDMI splitter is, the features to look for and how to connect one to your system.

What is an HDMI Splitter?

An HDMI splitter is a device that “splits” an HDMI signal into several HDMI outputs.

One HDMI input goes into the splitter box, and then multiple HDMI cords run from that box and connect to your display devices.

A splitter can work with any device that supports an HDMI input and output.

Importantly, a splitter will work with any single “output” device – which sends video and audio information to the splitter.

The unit will then split the content and pass it to several other HDMI devices. Some splitters can support two display devices, while others can support more.

The model pictured here has one input and four outputs. This is often called a 1×4 (which is pronounced one by four):

The device pictured above has all the input and output ports on the same side of the unit. However, it is more common to have the input on one side and the outputs on another.

Therefore the design may have a small impact when you wire your hardware – because it may be easier to run the cables into one side and out the other.

So this is something you may want to consider before you buy.

Why Would You Want to Split an HDMI Signal?

There are many reasons you might use a splitter.

You can use one for watching TV – connecting multiple TVs to the same output device.

In this case, you could send the output of a Blu-ray player or game console to more than one TV screen. Or, maybe to a TV and projector at the same time.

Or, if you were putting on a presentation and needed to show your information on two displays – or multiple projectors – you could use a splitter.

What’s the Difference Between a Splitter and an HDMI Switch?

Many people are confused by this, but you must understand the difference so you buy the correct device for the job.

A splitter takes the signal from one source device and simultaneously sends the HDMI signal to multiple devices.

For example, you will use this if you want to watch a movie on two televisions – you might have one TV in the living room and another in the kitchen.

However, an HDMI switch does things the other way around. It receives the output of several source devices – and displays them on one TV or projector.

You would then use a switch to select which device you want to send to your television.

As explained previously, a 1-in/4-out splitter is often called a 1×4 – and will have one input and four outputs.

Likewise, a 3-in/1-out switch is often referred to as 3×1 – and will have three inputs and one output.

In addition to individual splitters and switches, you can buy combination HDMI matrix switches/splitters, which allow switching and splitting in the same box.

So you can choose to duplicate the same signal to multiple devices or swap the input signal between different devices. The best of both worlds.

These tend to be more expensive but can save you from buying multiple units for different purposes.

To learn more about switches, check out what is an HDMI switch for – and how you connect one.

How to Choose HDMI Splitters

If you know you need an HDMI splitter, how do you choose the best HDMI splitter for your setup?

Any splitter will likely work, but the graphics and audio fidelity will vary.

One of the significant benefits of HDMI is that it’s pretty universal and includes both audio and video signals — but there are still some things to think about.

1. The number of outputs: Do you need to split the signal into two devices? Or three? Maybe even four? The number of output HDMI ports should be the maximum number of devices you need to split your signal to, but keep in mind that the splitter will become more expensive depending on the number of devices connected. Might you want to have one more port than you need right now for future upgrades?
2. Powered or passive: Passive splitters don’t require power, but a powered splitter needs a separate power connection. While it may be appealing to purchase a passive splitter, they are less likely to work as well as a powered model, and a passive splitter is more likely to introduce latency.
3. 4K/1080p support: Many people don’t realize that their cord matters. Even if all your HDMI devices are 4K capable, you won’t get a 4K signal unless your cords can pass 4K too. If you don’t want your splitter to be a bottleneck, you need to ensure that it supports the correct resolution – with the right cables to match.
4. Audio formats: As with video, a splitter will support specific audio formats. For example, if you want to pass Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos audio through to your display device, your splitter will need to support them. If it’s important, always check the audio support before buying any device.
5. HDMI Version Support: There are different versions of the HDMI specification, and these support additional features. For example, HDMI 1.4 supports the Audio Return Channel (ARC), and HDMI 2.0 enables 4K Ultra HD video resolutions. The model you are looking at should tell you the supported version of HDMI, so make sure you get the right one for your needs. Learn more about the different versions of HDMI.
6. EDID handshaking/HDCP: What is HDMI handshaking? When the unit connects using HDCP, it connects both ways; the splitter sends a signal to the devices to find out what data it can support. This means that the system operates faster and more seamlessly. For this to work and display content protected by HDCP, all the devices in your chain must be HDCP compliant – including your splitter. An EDID command also allows each device to announce which audio and video formats it supports. A model with an EDID switch may save you problems playing back certain types of video signals.

As with most peripherals, choosing between HDMI splitters will be based on build quality, features and price.

You can spend a lot more money to get a splitter that is easier to use and produces a higher quality of video and audio, or you can get a cost-effective solution that may not have all the bells and whistles.

But it’s important to understand what factors will impact usage and fidelity.

How to Connect a Splitter

Once you purchase an HDMI cable splitter, how do you install it?

Luckily, a splitter is one of the most straightforward devices to install.

Say you have a laptop that you want to split between a projector and television for a work-related seminar.

1. First, run an HDMI cord between your laptop’s HDMI output and the splitter’s input. If your computer doesn’t have an HDMI out, you may be able to use an adapter to convert the connection to HDMI.
2. Then, connect an HDMI cable between the first HDMI out on the splitter and the projector.
3. Finally, run an HDMI cable between the splitter’s second output and the television.
4. If your splitter is powered, you’ll need to connect it to a power source and turn it on.
5. Enable the video output on your laptop, and select the correct inputs on your TV and projector. If supported by your hardware, your display devices may automatically switch to the HDMI port when they receive a signal.

You can see this in the following simple connection diagram:

Once you have wired things up, the splitter should replicate what is on your laptop to the projector and the television.

As you will realize by now, this can be very useful in many applications – especially for wiring your home theater.

For example, you could send the output of your streaming devices, cable box or Blu-ray player to the HDMI inputs of multiple TVs.

Or, if your AV receiver only has one HDMI output (some have two or three), you could wire the single output into a splitter and send the HDMI signals to different display devices.

Which HDMI Splitter Should You Buy?

Now that you’ve decided to buy a splitter, what’s the best all-around splitter for your needs?

There are many choices, but for a basic model, you can’t go wrong with the Blackbird 4K 1×2 HDMI Amplifier Splitter:

The benefits of this HDMI splitter include the following:

• It’s an affordable choice.
• It splits a single HDMI signal into two (a different model can split signals into up to four).
• It provides HDCP 1.4 protocol compliance.
• It supports multiple resolutions, including 4K@30Hz, 1080p@120Hz, and 3D-1080p@60Hz.
• It supports several audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, 7.1-channel LPCM, DTS, Dolby AC3, and DSD.

The Blackbird 4K 1×2 HDMI Amplifier Splitter will have everything you need in a simple setup.

Moreover, it’s an active HDMI device with enough power to ensure a clear image and audio with relatively low latency.

Whichever one you decide to buy, the important issue is that you have enough outputs, and the device supports the video and audio formats you want to send.

Frequently Asked Questions