Eminent iTrio EM7100

Some useful legacy connections but limited performance

Standing 195mm tall and tipping the scales at 270g per unit each, the iTrio has just about the largest units on test here, offering a wide range of connection options. Choose from two HDMI v1.1 inputs, Scart PC VGA/component (a VGA-to-component adapter lead is enclosed in the box) and a stereo mini jack audio input. The receiver unit has HDMI, Scart and component outputs.

Rather bizarrely (for a wireless sender), there is also a wired LAN option on both units, although the manual warns you away from it declaring the connection for ‘professional use only.’

Eminent tells us that this facility is actually being used in shopping centres to get video to up to fi ve distribution points for advertising purposes. There’s also a USB input on the receiver; this is not for additional media playback options (although that would be nice), but firmware upgrades.

Included is a small credit card remote control and a standard three-bulb IR extension zapper. You can also manually cycle through the inputs using a tiny button on each front fascia. For our fi rst test, the HDMI output from our Sky+HD was plumbed into the transmitter. For the units to link you need to ensure the receiver is synced to the correct input source. During our tests, the transmitter did not auto detect connected sources, which meant we had to scroll through the options to pair the units up.

Audiovisual performance is average. There were no signifi cantly intrusive compression artefacts incurred during the process. However, scrolling onscreen movement can stutter and skip. We also detected a low level of background audio hiss, but this would be masked by most programme material. Audio from our Blu-ray player was delivered to our receiver unit as stereo PCM. The Dolby Digital 5.1 bitstream never made it through the ether. Instructing our BD player to internally convert to multichannel PCM didn’t help either. The output from the receiver remained stereo PCM.

Ratings
PLUS
■ Wide range of signal input options
■ Only system to off er a legacy Scart output from the receiver
MINUS
■ Receiver delivers stereo PCM output only
■ Smooth motion compromised by occasional judder and frame skips
■ No HDMI loopthrough on transmitter
Build ★★★★★★★
Setup ★★★★★★★
Performance ★★★★★★
Features ★★★★★★★★
Value ★★★★★★

68%