2008Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Budget video distribution amplifiers for video production use
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A video distribution amplifier is essentially a quad operational amplifier chip costing around two dollars housed in a connector box, making the connectors and enclosure the primary expense
- Budget video distribution amplifiers based on car audio components are available for significantly less than professional video production models
- Only one device on a video signal line should be terminated, and even termination is not necessary on short cable runs
- Professional video distribution amplifiers from dedicated video manufacturers can cost between 100 to 140 euros or more
- Some budget video distribution amplifiers designed for battery operation may experience power supply interference with the video signal when powered by systems other than their specified batteries
Depends on
- Discussion references a specific product from 2008 with limited details about performance
- One user reported power supply noise issues when attempting to use a 9-volt battery-powered distributor with alternative power sources through a regulator
- No systematic testing results were provided comparing budget and professional distribution amplifiers side by side
- The thread does not establish whether the cheap option produced worse image quality than professional alternatives