Mad Catz makes peripheral to bring HDMI to older 360s

[Queasy]

Link

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.
(Amex: MCZ; TSX), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory
provider announced today the release of the Xbox 360 HDMI Conversion Kit, a
revolutionary new accessory designed to allow owners of the Xbox 360
console to connect directly to any standard HDMI input on their TV's or
displays and enjoy true High-Definition (HD) digital video and audio for
gaming and movie playback.

The HDMI Conversion Kit connects easily and safely to the 'AV Output'
located on the rear of the console and utilizing advanced microprocessor
technology, converts the analogue signal to a digital HDMI stream,
outputting all popular HD resolutions up to and including 1080p and
compatible with the HDMI 1.3 standard.

Furthermore, the HDMI Conversion Kit has been engineered to carry full
multi-channel Digital Audio (Dolby(R) Digital, DTS(R)) through the HDMI
cable directly to compatible TV's, eliminating the need for multiple video
and audio connections. Should users wish to output digital audio to an
alternative source, a separate Digital Audio Output has been built in to
the device and using the Digital Optical Cable provided, offers users
flexibility to connect however they choose. With all necessary cables
needed supplied in the box, the HDMI Conversion Kit is a true 'one-stop
solution' to an all digital experience.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz
commented, "HDMI is widely recognized as the connection standard for the
High-Definition age in which we live, delivering unsurpassed visual and
audio quality. However, millions of Xbox 360 consoles are not equipped with
an HDMI output and owners are unable to take advantage of the benefits an
all digital connection provides. Mad Catz' Xbox 360 HDMI Conversion Kit
provides gamers with a digital video and audio solution that we believe
will be embraced by owners of HD-TV's and those who demand the best from
their entertainment. With breakthrough, innovative products such as this,
Mad Catz continues to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing all areas of
gaming and we look forward to introducing Xbox 360 owners everywhere to the
all digital revolution."

Compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles not equipped with HDMI
connectors; the HDMI Conversion Kit is expected to be available across
United States in late January 2008 for an SRP of $89.99.

It's already mid-February! I don't see it on the Mad Catz site yet. <shrug>

This will be a welcome accessory though if it works well. The $90 SRP is steeeeeep though. Probably better off getting a VGA cable for a 1/4 of the cost.

 

[Aikouka]

Will it allow for upconversion that is not possible with component? As a note, I know it is possible with VGA, but my computer uses the VGA on my TV .

I won't buy it because I use my PS3 or PC if I want to upconvert, but it's definitely something to look into.

 

[Queasy]

I think it is supposed to convert the VGA signal to HDMI. So, it should do up-conversion. How good the quality is is the question.

 

[randay]

sounds like a simple adapter to me.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: randay
sounds like a simple adapter to me.

Yeah, there's a pic of it over at Engadget HD.

 

[R Nilla]

Cool, but WAY too expensive to be worth it. I doubt I would even notice much of a difference (at least enough to justify $90), but I could be wrong.

 

[Beev]

Since it's Mad Catz I'm sure it'll break after a month's worth of casual use.

 

[Modeps]

I really don't see how this could possibly give you the same results as an actual HDMI cable... plus, $90? I'll stick with my VGA + Optical thanks.

 

[Xed]

Didn't this come out already and was shown to be a huge waste of money?

Linky

 

[tatteredpotato]

You could probably sell your current 360 for 90 bucks off retail and get a new one. Almost definitely a much better option.

 

[RaiderJ]

You'd be better off with a VGA splitter if you want to share an existing VGA port. If you absolutely needed the HDMI, I would think it would make more sense to sell the current console and put the $$$ towards a new machine.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
You could probably sell your current 360 for 90 bucks off retail and get a new one. Almost definitely a much better option.

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
If you absolutely needed the HDMI, I would think it would make more sense to sell the current console and put the $$$ towards a new machine.

Agreed 100%. Compounding the issue remains the fact that if you don't have HDMI, you don't have a Zephyr or Falcon model. So your existing unit is much more susceptible to the RRoD and may have be replaced (possibly with an HDMI model) eventually, anyway, rendering this $90 dongle even more of a ripoff.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Xed
Didn't this come out already and was shown to be a huge waste of money?

Linky

First I had heard of it. I thought it was a little odd that a Feb press release was stating that it would be released in late Jan. And, while a neat idea, it is too late and too expensive.

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
You could probably sell your current 360 for 90 bucks off retail and get a new one. Almost definitely a much better option.

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
If you absolutely needed the HDMI, I would think it would make more sense to sell the current console and put the $$$ towards a new machine.

Agreed 100%. Compounding the issue remains the fact that if you don't have HDMI, you don't have a Zephyr or Falcon model. So your existing unit is much more susceptible to the RRoD and may have be replaced (possibly with an HDMI model) eventually, anyway, rendering this $90 dongle even more of a ripoff.

Not to mention the extra analog -> digital conversion process that has to take place with this adapter.

 

[holden j caufield]

I've played in my living room on a 53in via HD component cables, in my room via VGA and at my friends house on a 42 in via HDMI. The best looking for me was VGA, as for the HD component vs HDMI I couldn't tell.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
You could probably sell your current 360 for 90 bucks off retail and get a new one. Almost definitely a much better option.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[erwos]

The only thing I'd point out is that I think the HDMI output on the new Xbox 360s only does stereo sound. Thus, if this thing is really pumping out DD-5.1 over the HDMI cable, this is technically a better option for the home theater crowd. The only thing you'd be missing is HDCP support for HD-DVD, but that's not exactly looking quite as important these days, if you get my drift.

I am very much interested in this if it doesn't degrade video quality much - it shouldn't.

 

[blackdogdeek]

this is my favorite part of the article:

advanced microprocessor
technology

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
this is my favorite part of the article:

advanced microprocessor
technology

Right up there with "Digital Ready Speakers".

 

[Randum]

i need to get the link but i read on toms hardware - the dif between HDMI and component isnt even there until you increase the distance of the cord itself.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Randum
i need to get the link but i read on toms hardware - the dif between HDMI and component isnt even there until you increase the distance of the cord itself.

Component doesn't upscale DVD's and whatnot. Personally on my TV, I notice a diff b/t VGA and component...I think a lot of people notice the diff b/t HDMI and component, but that's just me.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: Randum
i need to get the link but i read on toms hardware - the dif between HDMI and component isnt even there until you increase the distance of the cord itself.

Component doesn't upscale DVD's and whatnot. Personally on my TV, I notice a diff b/t VGA and component...I think a lot of people notice the diff b/t HDMI and component, but that's just me.

BETWEEN

 

[dawza]

Originally posted by: erwos
The only thing I'd point out is that I think the HDMI output on the new Xbox 360s only does stereo sound. Thus, if this thing is really pumping out DD-5.1 over the HDMI cable, this is technically a better option for the home theater crowd. The only thing you'd be missing is HDCP support for HD-DVD, but that's not exactly looking quite as important these days, if you get my drift.

I am very much interested in this if it doesn't degrade video quality much - it shouldn't.

There is almost no way that this overpriced POS adapter/converter can manage to do the A-->D conversion without mucking up the signal and degrading IQ.

A better choice for DD 5.1 while using HDMI would be to eBay (~$10) an original 360 s-video, component, or VGA cable. Simply pry/crack open the case surrounding the connector so you can fit an HDMI cable in tandem, and use the s-video/component/VGA cable only for digital audio. This way, for less than $20, you can run 1080p over HDMI and have 5.1 audio over TOSlink.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: dawza
There is almost no way that this overpriced POS adapter/converter can manage to do the A-->D conversion without mucking up the signal and degrading IQ.

I'd wait for the reviews before I make this judgement. There may be a reason it's $90. The circuitry to do the conversion is not _that_ expensive - it's upscaling that costs the real cash.

A better choice for DD 5.1 while using HDMI would be to eBay (~$10) an original 360 s-video, component, or VGA cable. Simply pry/crack open the case surrounding the connector so you can fit an HDMI cable in tandem, and use the s-video/component/VGA cable only for digital audio. This way, for less than $20, you can run 1080p over HDMI and have 5.1 audio over TOSlink.

Well, yes, but that's two cables, including an easily-kinked SPDIF optical cable. If I've got a fancy HDMI receiver, I'd much rather be just running one cable for both audio and video.

*edit* Looking at the Amazon reviews, it appears this thing converts from component to HDMI, not VGA to HDMI. This is probably not a good choice if you're planning on using the HD-DVD (1080i max) or DVD upscaling (480p max) features of the 360. If you're just using it for gaming and/or media streaming, it's probably adequate. No word on how well DD-5.1 works (or doesn't)... On the plus side, both reviews mentioned that image quality was fantastic.