How to Add A/V Inputs to Your Home Theater

So I've got a little problem in my living room: input overload. My A/V cabinet is stuffed with an Xbox 360, an HDMI-upscaling DVD player, and an HD DVR. Between all those boxes, I'm using the one and only HDMI input on my Westinghouse 42-inch HDTV, both of the Westinghouse's component video inputs, and all three of the digital audio inputs on my Onkyo home theater receiver (two optical inputs and a coaxial input). All well and go, but what if I decide to add, say, an Apple TV or another new set-top box that comes with even more HDMI, component and digital audio outputs? In a word...doh.

One way to solve such an input shortage is with an A/V switcher: a device that takes a series of audio and video inputs and channels them into a single (or in some cases, multiple) set of A/V outputs, along with a switch that lets you choose the input you'd like to use. Sounds simple, but factor in all the various digital and analog I/O types out there and suddenly the puzzle gets more complicated. For example, there are literally hundreds of cheap A/V switchers on sale, but most of them only switch low-grade composite video and analog audio inputs. That's fine if you're watching DVDs and gaming on an old-school 19-inch tube TV, but not much good if you're juggling multiple HD and digital audio components (including your upscaling DVD player, that PlayStation 3 and the high-def DVR from your cable provider).

So, what to do? Pick a switcher that will work with your HD sources. If you're running out of HDMI inputs, for example, try searching for an HDMI switcher; I found at least a dozen in my Yahoo! searches, and there's a spirited discussion on the AVS Forum about good HDMI models for less than $100. Running out of component video and digital audio inputs? I found a couple of interesting options: RCA has a box that accepts up to four component video inputs plus a quartet of coaxial digital inputs (list $70, but online for as little as $30). Meanwhile, Joytech's AV Control Center (about $90) takes up to seven A/V sources, with inputs for component video and optical digital audio. Both the RCA and Joytech switchers come with IR remotes, which means that those of us with universal remotes should be able to use each box seamlessly with our other components.

Anyone out there who's tried the RCA or Joytech switchers first-hand? Any other recommendations? Let me know.