Be warned -- unless you seriously need eight HDMI sources hooked up to a single matrix switch in order to activate four at a time on an array of panels, you should probably skip right over this one. If we just rung your bell, however, read on. Gefen's latest HDMI distribution box is definitely catering to the high-end / commercial market by being entirely rack-mountable and supporting up to eight HDMI inputs and four outputs. High-def signals can be transmitted over CAT5 cabling, and there's even an RS-232 port for additional control capabilities. As for distances, you can expect 1080i material to travel up to 300 feet without degradation, while 1080p content will flow 150 feet. The only problem? The $4,499 price tag. Full release is after the break.

It's rather difficult to say whether or not DSP within a matrix switcher is -- how do you say... necessary? -- but regardless of want versus need, Extron Electronics is providing the ends. The MPX Plus 866 is hailed as a "a revolutionary new multi-format matrix switcher with integrated audio digital signal processing," the industry's first to wed VGA, video and audio signal routing with ProDSP. Said audio processing platform is based on a 32 / 64-bit floating point DSP engine, which offers up "an extensive selection of audio DSP tools designed to facilitate audio system design, configuration, and commissioning." Pricing has yet to be made public, but given how specialized this is, don't count on it being cheap.

In case you were worried that some AV hookup problem was going to go unresolved, Gefen has added yet another offering to its lineup with the Audio Video Scaler Pro with Amplifier (not to be confused with the company's TV Scaler Pro). This rack-mountable, black and blue little wonderbox will fill in switching, upscaling, transcoding and you guessed it, audio amplification. All you need to do is supply the video source in HDMI (two inputs), DVI, VGA, component, composite or s-video formats and corresponding audio (S/PDIF and optical for the HDMI, analog stereo for the others) and you'll be able to send a single HDMI signal with embedded audio down the line; or you can break out the two channels of 20-Watts audio right at the box's rear panel and hook up some speakers. If you've been looking for a way to get videogaming into the conference room, check the press release after the break.

We've asked you before whether it was "worth it" to switch from cable to satellite in search of a wider selection of high-def material, but now we're looking to see if any of you walked the talk. Have any of you readers actually ditched your programming provider in order to find another with more HD content? And if so, where did you leave and where did you go? Any regrets? Is life really that much better with more HD than one could ever watch in a single day? Brag / sulk away in comments below.

Let's say the state of your HDMI setup is a divided along video and audio sides, with your audio equipment lacking enough HDMI connections (if you have any at all). In its never-ending drive to cover every conceivable signal switching/splitting/converting/extending need, Gefen has a Digital Audio Decoder little black box just for you -- it lets you send in one HDMI audio+video signal, and spits out audio on HDMI and analog connections out back, along with a HDMI video passthrough. If the thought of trusting your audio decoding to Gefen is too much to bear, might we suggest you just try enjoying a movie or two before putting up all your audiophile-approved but HDMI-less gear up on eBay?

These are primarily for the pros, so we'll keep it short and sheet. RTI is getting set to unveil a trio of new products at CEDIA, the first of which routes eight analog audio and eight composite video sources to eight individual zones. Needless to say, that's the A8 Audio Distribution Matrix Switcher we're referring to. The V6 Video Distribution Matrix Switcher can switch six component and composite video sources between six varying zones, while the CP-1680 Multi-Channel Audio Amplifier provides audio through 16 channels at 80-watts each. Pricing has yet to be divulged, but feel free to venture on past the break for the whole release.

Here lately, it's been the more prosumer / professional-focused brands kicking out the extenders and switches, but IOGEAR is returning to the fold by introducing two CAT5e / 6 MiniExtender Kits and a pair of HDMI switches to boot. As for the extenders, you'll find one for HDMI ($279.95) and one for DVI-D ($69.95); the former provides "an additional 100 feet between a 1080p display unit and media source or an extra 200 feet for 1080i display units," while the latter "extends a DVI PC source 100 feet away from a single link DVI-D display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz." Closing things out are the 3-Port HDMI Automatic Switch ($89.95) and the 4-Port HDMI Switch with Remote ($89.95), both of which are fairly self-explanatory. The whole lot is available as we speak.

Phew. Talk about a whirlwind of high-def announcements this week. No sooner did DirecTV trumpet its march to 130 HD channels did DISH Network hit back with a nice round 150 figure. Cablevision tried its best to garner some attention with a boastful press release to celebrate the big six-o, but it's clear who the two HD leaders in America are now (with Verizon breathing down their necks in a few 'hoods). That being said, are you finally getting the itch to throw caution to the wind and toss a dish upside your house? Are you really ready to say goodbye to those cable company bundle discounts? And if 130 / 150 isn't enough, what milestone will the satcasters have to reach before you cave?

[Image courtesy of WikiMedia]

Got a need for a few new pieces of HDMI equipment, do you? Fret not, as MilesTek most definitely has you covered. The outfit has just revealed a new line of long-distance and standard-length commercial-grade HDMI 1.3b cabling, and in case you're after a bit more than just wires, it's also introducing distribution amplifiers, switchers and "a variety of device / cable kits that combine an amplifier or switcher with several HDMI cables." The whole lot is available as we speak, though you'll have to do a bit of investigation to find out pricing information.

As if it wasn't apparent enough from our breakdown of HD carriers earlier this year, the two satcasters here in the US have a dominant lead in HD offerings. Still, the abundance of high-def material comes at a cost, and it's a price many are hesitant to pay for fear of stepping too far out of their comfort zone. According to Sam:

"Now that DirecTV is almost at 100 national HD channels, I'm this close to cutting my cable off and making the switch. However, I'm terrified of hidden installation costs (fishing cables, etc.), punching all sorts of new holes in my home, locking myself into a contract and having to pay a non-discounted rate to keep my cable internet around without bundled HD service. There seems to be so many drawbacks to getting a dish -- is it really worth it?"

We have no doubts that many of you have indeed pulled the trigger in a similar situation, and we're equally sure that a large chunk of you have decided to play it safe and stick with fewer HD channels (and fewer battle scars on your siding). We can definitely see this one getting heated, but make sure you speak your mind on the matter in comments below.

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Looking for an HDMI 1.3 distribution amp that won't completely shatter the budget? Enter Octava's 3x4 HDMI Switch + Splitter Distribution Amplifier, which includes support for full 1080p resolutions and enables HDMI switching for three inputs while outputting to (up to) four displays. You'll also find a Toslink optical audio output, an RS-232 control port, a remote bundled in and an external IR jack for extending the reach. Best of all, the unit checks in at just $349, and it's available to ship right now to most any corner of the globe.

If you'll recall, Atlona Technologies was pretty proud of its flat HDMI 1.3b-certified cables, and now it's pausing to announce that it's replacing its entire inventory of 4X4 matrix switchers with versions that are 1.3 savvy. As expected, the units will feature a RS-232 control port, a remote and include all the luxuries -- 10.2Gbps of bandwidth, support for 1440p / Deep Color, etc. -- of HDMI 1.3. It should be noted that the new flavor is still priced at $1,099, but we've got a hunch you could score a fantastic deal on those leftover units that just become old hat.

Granted, Netflix did warn us that renting HD DVDs from it would become a lesson in futility in due time, but we're receiving multiple reports that the company has already began switching queued HD DVD titles to vanilla DVDs. If this is going on en masse, that's a pretty quick changeover, to say the least. So, dear readers, have any of your HD DVDs mysteriously morphed into regular DVDs overnight? Sound off below!

[Thanks, Chris and Aaron]

We know, a fair chunk of you are wondering why Stargate Atlantis: Season 1 turning up on Amazon in Blu-ray form is a big deal. Here's the skinny: the aforementioned program is a Sci-Fi original, and Sci-Fi just so happens to be owned by NBC Universal. Got all that? Now, let's flash back to just days ago -- Universal's HD DVD exclusivity contract expired and we heard through the grapevine that it was planning on following Warner (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies) to the Blu side of life. If you still haven't pieced this all together, this listing is just another crumb of mounting evidence that Universal could indeed be ditching HD DVD in the not-too-distant future, but until we hear anything official, we suppose we'll just have to pretend there's no rustling going on in the background.

[Thanks, Aaron H.]

Update: Turns out the series is owned by MGM / Sony, which clicks with Blu-ray. Our bad!