How to Hook Up Several Consoles without Swapping Cables

With eight generations of video game consoles available, keeping them all connected and ready to play is not an easy feat. Fortunately, there are products out there that make it feasible.

The back of three Philips A/V switches with component,
composite, and S-Video input options. 

The A/V Switch Box

Critical to any multi-console setup is the switch box. These simple devices turn a single input on your TV into four or more inputs. A switch box typically has four inputs and a single output..

Hook a console to each input, and run the switch's output into an input on the TV. You will want to purchase your switch boxes based on the required video output, be it composite, S-Video, component, SCART, or HDMI.

The AVR

Although not necessary, an audio video receiver (AVR) functions as an input source selector and surround sound receiver. A typical AVR has a variety of input options. Best of all, the output from a switch box can be plugged into an input on an AVR. Doing this exponentially increases the number of available inputs.

Don't forget to disable the AVR's video processing features, as these can introduce video delay. 

Power Management

Hooking up several consoles requires not only the AV inputs but also the power outlets. Plugging in consoles incorrectly is a fire hazard. Belkin has a power strip for managing standby power consumption by automatically cutting device power when unused. Belkin also offers a power strip with a manual switch remote.   

Cable Management

With AV cables abound and power cords in a tangle, cable management is a tricky task. An effective, cheap solution is to use nylon cable ties. Neatly wrap cables and carefully trim the excess of the cable tie after lightly tightening.

Additional Accessories

TOSLINK Switch

Getting the best sound quality out of PS2 and Xbox requires an optical audio cable. This is troubling, because most switch boxes lack optical in/out. A standalone TOSLINK switch is usually necessary for switching the audio between these consoles.  

Female-to-female RCA Couplers

RCA couplers allow you to link two AV cables to combine their length. These are important for getting the right length cable line when connecting consoles to your switch boxes. Keep in mind that you should use thick, well-shielded RCA cables. Long runs of low-quality analog cables will deteriorate the output quality.

Controller Extensions

Arranging several consoles will require some space, and old consoles with corded controllers will be unlikely to reach your seating area. Buy some controller extension cables.

The End Result

Even with the help of these products, it still takes some ingenuity to simultaneously connect several consoles. The end result, however, is well worth the effort: