MadCatz Xbox 360 HDMI Conversion Kit, $90 in Jan.
by Christopher Grant 
{ Dec 20th 2007 at 5:00AM }
If staring longingly at your pal's HDMI connection has you feeling like less of a man, then consider MadCatz's HDMI Conversion Kit, available in January for the low, low price of $89.99. The device supports resolutions up to 1080p, includes an optical audio port, and comes with both HDMI and optical audio cables. Isn't that worth it for a strong, thick digital video signal?
[Via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Abscissa @ Dec 20th 2007 5:15AM
I wonder if it'll introduce some display lag.
eugene @ Dec 20th 2007 5:40AM
it's Madcatz, so if it's anything like their controllers... then the answer is yes.
ikiryou @ Dec 20th 2007 5:51AM
"if it's anything like their controllers"
I haven't experienced any lag yet. Their buttons do tend to jam after 140 or so hours of play.
Laggy @ Dec 20th 2007 5:39AM
Nice small design which is surprising.
F-Forward @ Dec 20th 2007 6:00AM
So another Component/VGA to HDMI-converter. Why? Whats the point?
Useless crap!
bVork @ Dec 20th 2007 6:07AM
Is there any reason to use HDMI over VGA?
Truepatriot @ Dec 20th 2007 6:25AM
on the 360 no.
Sam Earl @ Dec 20th 2007 6:31AM
Although I am not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to this, HDMI carries a Digital signal, whereas VGA converts the signal from the Xbox to an analog signal, then re converts it when it gets to your TV...I think.
HDMI, therefore, shouldn't cause any loss in signal while it's traveling from place to place. There's at least one reason to use it.
As for the topic at hand, I am happy with my plain old component cable thanks. Plus, I am in danger of failing into the group whose 360s are eventually going to break, at which point I will get a swanky HDMI ready one anyaways.
Sorry MadCatz, as cool as having a "z" at the end of your name makes you, I don't need this particular piece of junk.
ssuk @ Dec 20th 2007 7:38AM
Sam Earl; You're right, however that digital signal which this HDMI converter is sending along has actually already been converted to an analogue signal. So it's just re-converting an analogue signal into a digital signal again. Hence, there is actually more chance of there being quality loss using this peripheral than just using VGA. Of course, if you have no VGA/Mono,Stereo,video ports in your TV (could happen) this would be good.
SmileyDude @ Dec 20th 2007 9:28AM
Well, I'm currently in the situation where my 1080p HDTV won't accept a 1080p signal over anything other than HDMI -- and my 360 happens to be one of the few HDMI-less models that hasn't broke (lucky me).
I currently have the 360 connected via the VGA cable, but that means that I'm really running at 1024x768 -- again, my TV will not accept a 1080p signal over anything besides HDMI and 1024x768 was the highest resolution that it will accept over VGA.
I would use the component cables, except that I've only got two inputs for component on the TV, and both the Wii and PS2 are taking them up.
It's a shame that this is $90 -- if it was less, I would stop secretly wishing for my 360 to fail and buy this instead.
Draco @ Dec 20th 2007 1:25PM
Smiley dude, why are you sacrificing your 360 picture quality for the sake of your PS2 or Wii, they both run almost as well on regular composite, but the 360 runs much better at 1080p over 4:3 anything.
steve @ Dec 20th 2007 2:44PM
ok, let me clear up the hdmi/component/vga debate. the best possiable video connection is going to be hdmi, if the signal is kept 100% digital.
This device offers no benefit in picture quality, since the source was an analog signal. Analog signals must be interpreted by a a-to-d converter to display on modern displays (anything not a tube tv). This is because the multiplexer to set the matrix of pixels on your flat panel needs a digital signal. So, what mad cats is selling you is a $90 a-to-d. Keep in mind that this is already built into your tv since your panel needs a digital signal to display an image.
In other words, this is a complete waste of money. It will most likely be bought by the same people that buy HDMI cables from best buy for $120, when you can get the exact same thing from amazon for $15. General consumers are just gullible, and madcatz is really good at taking advantage of that. So is monster cable.
Jim @ Dec 20th 2007 6:28AM
If this means you can upconvert DVDs with the HD-DVD player, this may be worth it to some people who have a) a 360 with no HDMI and b) an HDTV with no VGA inputs, like me.
nxtiak @ Dec 20th 2007 7:52AM
Why did you say HD-DVD in here?
The 360 can upconvert dvds using vga or hdmi.
No need for the HD-DVD drive.
TomCo @ Dec 20th 2007 8:30AM
Note: The xbox360 is a terrible DVD player and should never ever be used as such.
Seriously, a 20quid DVD player at your local supermarket would be a better option.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 20th 2007 8:50AM
I dunno what you're talking about TomCo, I use my 360 for DVD's because of the nice upscaling it does over the VGA to my TV. It makes regular DVD's look twice as good as my "20 quid" DVD playing we used to have hooked up at the same time.
Chance Morgan @ Dec 20th 2007 9:32AM
My 360 plays dvds as well or better than any other dvd player I have owned. I don't really think I need to rush out and get this for my STILL RUNNING launch day 360 because I can't imagine that it will make that much difference. Not to mention, one of my favorite parts of HDMI is that I can run a single wire to my receiver and just switch the input. This leaves a tidy single wire to the back of my tv (I also have an elite connected to my big tv).
mattclarkie @ Dec 20th 2007 12:12PM
I have to say that the 360 is terrible for DVD. But as I only have component, and a launch console that wont die I don't know if it upconverts better via VGA because I am stuck with 576p.
I would like to know, does the 360 think this is the VGA cable, or the Component cable. If it thinks it is VGA you are fine, because you can get 1080p from it, but if it thinks it is a component you are locked to just 1080i for HD-DVD or EDTV for DVD without the HD-DVD add-on. Which is poor, as my TV does 1080p over component and the only problem is the 360 wont give it to me.
ill trooper @ Dec 20th 2007 6:31AM
Ah! Another little dongle for the 360! I want to see a photo of the dude who has this, the wifi adaptor, the HD-DVD player, the plug-n-charge cable, and of course, the Mighty Power Brick™.
Cool item, and with fewer and fewer componant inputs on the newer TVs, there's a group of consumers that probably want this. I only question the price a little - at $90, you really gotta want it or need it.
I don't need HDMI yet, but I will when I replace my componant-only HDTV. Considering that the Arcade model has HDMI, and might (yes, I said "might") offer the peace of mind that you're getting with a more recently manufactured 360, I would probably just throw down the extra $ to go that route when I get a new TV or if my 360 dies again.
Digi Smalls @ Dec 20th 2007 9:51AM
huh? new TVs aren't dropping component, its not going away. any new TV will have component inputs. two or three even.
ill trooper @ Dec 20th 2007 3:59PM
Digi: I know you in person bro, don't make me walk over to your apartment and throw a milkshake on you! Where are my tools you borrowed? And my '2001' blu ray!?
I'm talking about how a tv from 3 years ago might have had more component inputs than they do now, as HDMI becomes the new standard. I know it's a lot to grasp, but don't worry: I'll keep reminding you over the next year or two as it happens.
mendo @ Dec 20th 2007 6:34AM
I think you all don't know that, for some strange reason, you can't use both HDMI and optical out in an X360. Try it for yourself: if you connect the console via HDMI, the optical doesn't work. The only way to use both is to buy the original MS cable which has an optical output.
And that's what this madcatz cable does: it's similar to the MS one, only more expensive.
BTW, I think that MS is actually ripping us off with this stupid limit.
F-Forward @ Dec 20th 2007 7:24AM
First of all, this is NOT the same thing. This unit just converst component or VGA to HDMI, it's NOT the same thing as a xbox with true HDMI-output.
Secondly, HDMI carries audio too, so not everyine needs optical audio too.
Third, the problem is that the optical out is on "standard" cable normally, and that cable won't fit at the same time as a hdmi-connector. It's nothing that MS has done to get more money. You can actually just remove the casing from the original connector to get it to fit at the same time: http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50
Ryan J. @ Dec 20th 2007 6:44AM
This is perfect for my newer 60" 1080P Sony HDTV. My HDTV does not take 1080P over component, nor does it fill the screen with any VGA signal. The best I have been able to do is 1080i over component. With this, I can do 1080P over HDMI. Probably not a huge improvement, but absolutely an improvement.
Laggy @ Dec 20th 2007 9:11AM
Your better off running 720p rather than 1080i. It's all very complicated but I read somewhere about 'i' being half the amount of lines on the screen. So 1080i is something like 540, whereas 720p means 720 lines. I know very little about the complexities for these things but I think it goes something like that.
AirIntake @ Dec 20th 2007 9:50AM
Laggy,
Please look up interlacing. I assure you that 1080i has a resolution of 1920x1080 on screen at any given time. The i refers to how the lines are updated.
Spartacus @ Dec 20th 2007 11:37AM
True, but usually 720p IS the better option for gaming. Games that need to run at a solid 60fps (twitch fests, fighters etc) in order to get pixel perfect timing really benefit from a progressive signal (720p). While the seolution is higher in 1080i, only half the screen is refreshed every cycle, which *can* appear as lag or distortion in fast paced games, much like the ghosting effect on LCD screens. 1080i isn't the same as 540p, but 720p is the better option for gaming overall.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 20th 2007 11:57AM
AirIntake, please educate yourself on interlacing.
An interlaced signal only shows half the number of line in any given frame as the advertised resolution. Your 480i TV is actually only capable of displaying 240 lines at a time. They get away with 1080 because they take a 1080 source, and display the odd numbered lines in one frame, and then the even numbered lines the next. You TV never shows more than 540 lines in a frame, but because your eye and brain aren't fast enough, it thinks its seeing the whole 1080 image.
Believe me, it matters. I had my PC running a 1080i to my old crt HDTV over component. You could not read the text on the screen due to the flicker caused by the interlacing process.
The flicker is less noticeable with pictures, but its still present.
An analogous situation would be if you have an 800x600 LCD, but it was able to accept 1280x960 input. Sure, the source is 1280x960, but what you're going to see op screen isn't nearly that high a quality.
Blaze @ Dec 20th 2007 7:04AM
I bought my Xbox360 in december 05, and I still haven't had any problems with it.
ill trooper @ Dec 20th 2007 8:23AM
Until you try to plug an HDMI cable into it: then you'll have a problem.
Digi Smalls @ Dec 20th 2007 10:01AM
don't believe the hype.
again, unless you need to plug into a digital-only Apple Cinema Display or other niche case, the 360 does full 1080p for games through component fine out the gate.
.
generic @ Dec 20th 2007 7:01AM
I understand how this could be of use to those who have displays that don't support component input, but if you have the choice, doesn't converting a component signal to HDMI do nothing for the resolution? I really don't know here, and I'm just applying computer logic. Let's say you have a 72dpi image, and you resample it as 300dpi. You haven't actually gained any resolution because you can't upsample what isn't there. Does that kind of logic also apply to this?
F-Forward @ Dec 20th 2007 7:26AM
You will be metter off with better function and better picture and maybe even cheaper if you trade in your xbox without HDD and buy a new arcade unit with HDMI...
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 20th 2007 8:34AM
Except all the arcade games will become broken unless logged into Live.
So if I ever take my 360 somewhere where there isn't an internet connection (like, my parents house over Christmas) then I can't play any of the live games.
Korova @ Dec 20th 2007 7:27AM
lol to the metaphore for penile enlargement. Or am I the only one who got that?
F-Forward @ Dec 20th 2007 7:27AM
That was supposed to be for Ryan J.
Ian Charles @ Dec 20th 2007 7:53AM
Had mine since March 2006. Core system, no HDMI (of course).... no problems!
Probably wont be getting this, since if it just takes the component/vga signal and converts it + audio to HDMI it wont really be better than my current VGA connection....
colin @ Dec 20th 2007 8:10AM
my 2 cents,
HDMI vs. YPbPr is not CRAZY noticeable.
With that said, I do hope that my replacement 360 (RROD) does have HDMI. Not because the difference is noticeable, but because my home theater is better suited for HDMI. BUT, if your vagina is sore from the difference between HDMI and YPbPr, I do see your case, and I understand that sandy vaginas are a bitch.
colin @ Dec 20th 2007 8:13AM
oooooooooh, i
colin @ Dec 20th 2007 8:16AM
^ i was commenting how i like my new avatar, somehow i got cut off.
Kevin @ Dec 20th 2007 8:27AM
Yes, the major reason for this is if your TV doesn't have a VGA input, like mine. I would love to see my HD DVDs in 1080p.
KBeat @ Dec 20th 2007 8:27AM
I just want to clarify something Chris said, and something I've seen mentioned elsewhere. I don't know where the idea that "if your older 360 breaks you'll get back one with HDMI" started, but it's a fallacy. I've even seen people discussing on the forums how they can cause their 360s to fail so they can get a newer unit with HDMI.
We had two 360s go down in our house, less than two weeks apart (failures 5 & 6 btw), just last month. We got back replacement units that were date stamped from early 2006 and they do not have HDMI. They are simply recycling older units. You will not be getting a new HDMI enabled replacement unit from Microsoft if (when) your older 360 dies any time soon.
ill trooper @ Dec 20th 2007 8:54AM
I totally agree. This 'get an HDMI on back' thing is not really happening yet, if ever. They have a huge amount of broken 360s that they are likely going through and repairing, and that's what you end up with. I've never heard of anyone getting back an HDMI 360 unless that's what they already owned.
Also in the "something I haven't seen before" catagory: my friend's 360 just went down, and when he got it back, it was the same unit (same serial number), repaired. Everyone else I know who bothered to check the serial number before they sent it back for repair got a different refurbished one back.
ill trooper @ Dec 20th 2007 8:59AM
Sorry, slight copy-paste error... that's really supposed to say "This 'get an HDMI on your replacement unit when you get it back' thing is not really happening yet, if ever."
KBeat @ Dec 20th 2007 10:27AM
That's the first I've heard of that as well ill Trooper. All six of our "repaired" units had in fact been refurbished replacements. Perhaps things have slowed enough that they can actually do some repair work.
Evan @ Dec 20th 2007 8:30AM
This just converts an analog signal to digital, something your television does anyway. And chances are, the A/D conversion in your $1500 HDTV is better than this device.
Brian Fantana @ Dec 20th 2007 8:46AM
A bit overpriced. But since MS is too stupid/cheap to put an optical out on the 360 premiums/arcades, it'll be for those people I guess. Or do they sell the extra optical dongle thing seperately?
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 20th 2007 8:44AM
OK, here's a question: in 360's with HDMI, are the normal AV port and the HDMI port wired to the same Mobo component for its video source?
If so, wouldn't that indicate that the AV port should be capable of outputting the digital HDMI signal?
And if THAT were the case, wouldn't that mean that this device doesn't convert anything at all?
The other telling indicator would be if this device supports HDCP for the 360 HD-DVD drive. If so, then it really is a pure digital signal from start to finish.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Dec 20th 2007 8:46AM
This is further backed up by the fact that this device doesn't appear to have an external power source. If you're going to be doing any kind of conversion from analog to digital, you need to have an external power source, because whatever the small voltage that the port provides isn't going to be enough to handle the signal processing.
Spartacus @ Dec 20th 2007 11:48AM
Well, MS DID say a long time ago that the original 360 mobo was capable of HDMI, so it would seem that this adapter is indeed just tapping into a native digital signal. When the HDMI mobo's were released, everyone just assumed the old version wasn't capable of HDMI and called MS liars, but it looks as if MS just figured it was better to add a port on their mobos than to sell (or package) a separate adapter/dongle.