Sewell Hammerhead VGA to HDMI Converter Review
I searched for a long time a solution to connect my laptops to my different TVs. I avoided buying conversion boxes because I just did not want to buy another device in my entertainment center, then remove the cables when I wanted to transfer them to another TV. I was just not interested, and the prices were always a little too high. So Sewell's Hammerhead VGA to HDMI converter intrigued me. Could great things come in small packages? Let's find out.
Let's talk first about the specifications of this small plant. It comes with a VGA cable, a 5 '3.5mm audio cable, a 2.5' mini USB cable (used to power the PC) and a user manual. When I say "user manual", I use this term loosely because the user's manual is pretty much a joke. Not only did it not help me understand how to connect the device, but I could barely read the text inside because the text was so small. User manuals are no longer universally included, but if you need to include one, you need to make sure it's useful.
On the Hammerhead, you'll find a mini USB connection on the side (used for PC power), a VGA input on one end and an HDMI output and a stereo audio input on the other end. I must mention that Sewell says that the USB power connection may be necessary if the VGA port on the computer can not push the video and / or audio signals hard enough. The only way to know if the USB connection is required is if you are trying to use the Hammerhead and the audio or video signal will not work. I did not need the USB connection during my tests. There is a light on the Hammerhead that shows you when the Hammerhead is working, and the Hammerhead can support computer screens up to a resolution of 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz.
I also wanted to display here the list of computer screen resolutions that the Hammerhead supports. This list comes directly from Sewell's website:
640 * 480 @ 60Hz, 640 * 480 @ 72Hz, 640 * 480 @ 75Hz, 640 * 480 @ 85Hz
720 * 400 @ 70Hz
800 * 600 @ 60Hz, 800 * 600 @ 72Hz, 800 * 600 @ 75Hz, 800 * 600 @ 85Hz
1024 * 768 @ 60Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 70Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 75Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 85Hz
1152 * 864 @ 75Hz
1280 * 720 @ 60Hz
1280 * 768 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 768 @ 75Hz, 1280 * 768 @ 85Hz
1280 * 800 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 800 @ 75Hz, 1280 * 800 @ 85Hz
1280 * 900 @ 60Hz
1280 * 1024 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 1024 @ 75Hz
1360 * 768 @ 60Hz
1400 * 1050 @ 60Hz
1440 * 900 @ 60Hz
1600 * 1200 @ 60Hz
1680 * 1050 @ 60Hz
1920 * 1080 @ 60Hz
1920 * 1200_RB @ 60Hz
1920 * 1200 @ 60Hz
Performance, Best VGA to HDMI Converters
So, how was the Hammerhead? Fantastic. I tried the Hammerhead on 3 of my HDTVs, each from a different brand, and it worked superbly on all 3. The picture is just awesome, and I could not be happier. The first HDMI cable I used did not transfer the audio signal - even with the help of the USB power cable, so I exchanged the HDMI cable for another HDMI cable and it worked very well. The first cable was a 50-foot cable and it was old. I'm not sure if the length or age of the cable caused the audio signal problem, but the second 6-foot cable worked very well without needing to use the USB power cable.
The only other problem I had was that the gold screw terminals on the side of the Hammerhead that you are using to attach the Hammerhead to the VGA cable are not easy to use at all. My fingers could not bend the messages to get them to connect to the VGA cable because they are misplaced. Or maybe my fingers are too big. I finally gave up. But it was not a break in the market for me.
Bottom line
The Hammerhead is a great device that delivers a great video signal. Its construction is solid and its small size makes it perfectly portable and easy to store. You will need more space to store the HDMI cable than the Hammerhead. And the $ 65.95 catalog price is good for my budget. I believe you can even find it for less than that online. I highly recommend this product.
Let's talk first about the specifications of this small plant. It comes with a VGA cable, a 5 '3.5mm audio cable, a 2.5' mini USB cable (used to power the PC) and a user manual. When I say "user manual", I use this term loosely because the user's manual is pretty much a joke. Not only did it not help me understand how to connect the device, but I could barely read the text inside because the text was so small. User manuals are no longer universally included, but if you need to include one, you need to make sure it's useful.
On the Hammerhead, you'll find a mini USB connection on the side (used for PC power), a VGA input on one end and an HDMI output and a stereo audio input on the other end. I must mention that Sewell says that the USB power connection may be necessary if the VGA port on the computer can not push the video and / or audio signals hard enough. The only way to know if the USB connection is required is if you are trying to use the Hammerhead and the audio or video signal will not work. I did not need the USB connection during my tests. There is a light on the Hammerhead that shows you when the Hammerhead is working, and the Hammerhead can support computer screens up to a resolution of 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz.
I also wanted to display here the list of computer screen resolutions that the Hammerhead supports. This list comes directly from Sewell's website:
640 * 480 @ 60Hz, 640 * 480 @ 72Hz, 640 * 480 @ 75Hz, 640 * 480 @ 85Hz
720 * 400 @ 70Hz
800 * 600 @ 60Hz, 800 * 600 @ 72Hz, 800 * 600 @ 75Hz, 800 * 600 @ 85Hz
1024 * 768 @ 60Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 70Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 75Hz, 1024 * 768 @ 85Hz
1152 * 864 @ 75Hz
1280 * 720 @ 60Hz
1280 * 768 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 768 @ 75Hz, 1280 * 768 @ 85Hz
1280 * 800 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 800 @ 75Hz, 1280 * 800 @ 85Hz
1280 * 900 @ 60Hz
1280 * 1024 @ 60Hz, 1280 * 1024 @ 75Hz
1360 * 768 @ 60Hz
1400 * 1050 @ 60Hz
1440 * 900 @ 60Hz
1600 * 1200 @ 60Hz
1680 * 1050 @ 60Hz
1920 * 1080 @ 60Hz
1920 * 1200_RB @ 60Hz
1920 * 1200 @ 60Hz
Performance, Best VGA to HDMI Converters
So, how was the Hammerhead? Fantastic. I tried the Hammerhead on 3 of my HDTVs, each from a different brand, and it worked superbly on all 3. The picture is just awesome, and I could not be happier. The first HDMI cable I used did not transfer the audio signal - even with the help of the USB power cable, so I exchanged the HDMI cable for another HDMI cable and it worked very well. The first cable was a 50-foot cable and it was old. I'm not sure if the length or age of the cable caused the audio signal problem, but the second 6-foot cable worked very well without needing to use the USB power cable.
The only other problem I had was that the gold screw terminals on the side of the Hammerhead that you are using to attach the Hammerhead to the VGA cable are not easy to use at all. My fingers could not bend the messages to get them to connect to the VGA cable because they are misplaced. Or maybe my fingers are too big. I finally gave up. But it was not a break in the market for me.
Bottom line
The Hammerhead is a great device that delivers a great video signal. Its construction is solid and its small size makes it perfectly portable and easy to store. You will need more space to store the HDMI cable than the Hammerhead. And the $ 65.95 catalog price is good for my budget. I believe you can even find it for less than that online. I highly recommend this product.
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