bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft High Definition AV Pack (Xbox)

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Better video than S-video and VGAOptical sound

Weaknesses: PriceDiscontinuedNeed to buy seperate optical cable

Summary: I was lucky to find a brand new high definition AV pack for the regular Xbox. After putting it in, I could see the difference in video and audio. I think the quality only goes up to 480p. The sound definitely improved and I could hear 5.1 . I highly recommend this product, but it may be hard to find one since it has been discontinued.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: High def picture, 5.1 dolby digital, cheap and high quality

Weaknesses: 480i only for movie playback

Summary: This is a must have for all HD owners. It will display games in 480p/720p/1080i as long as the game supports it. A few games that can display above 720p are Soul Calibur 2, Amped 2 and The Warriors. The cables are very cheap and very high quality for the price. You must pick these up if you want to play Xbox games in progressive scan and in high definition.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Price, Easy to install, Games look great in 720 & 1080

Weaknesses: None

Summary: I am an avid gamer and when I received a HDTV for Christmas, I had to get this adapter for my XBOX. Out of the box it connects to your XBOX and TV easily without any problems. You will have to configure your XBOX settings. I only own a few games, which are displayed, on 720 and higher but they look great! These cables were only $20 and made by Microsoft. It is better than other expensive alternatives for HD.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 7 Months

Strengths: Superior picture quality, comparable to the Monster cable set but at the fraction of the price.

Weaknesses: Doesn't come with optical cable for digital sound.

Summary: If you have a HDTV then you owe it to yourself to get a set of these cables. The difference between component and s-video is like night and day. It's like seeing your games for first time ever. The quality of the picture is so much sharper and everything seems to just pop out of the screen. I didn't really notice any difference between the output of these cables compared to the ones Monster produces. I think the vast majority of gamers out there are better off buying the Microsoft cables because they're just as good and are about a third of what the Monster cables cost. With the money you save, you can buy a game that can take advantage of your 720p output (like MVP Baseball 2005). The only gripe is that these cables don't come with an optical cable for digital sound. You'll have to shell out another $20 or so if you want to have your games pumped through your Dolby Digital 5.1 setup. These cables are a great value.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Outstanding picture. Digital optical audio output gives you some of the best sound you'll ever get out of a game console. Enables you to play HD-compatible games in all their glory. Inexpensive.

Weaknesses: DVD playback in 480i only makes me a sad puppy. Cables are rather thick and difficult to manage around some entertainment centers.

Summary: This cable is a must for anyone who has an HD-ready TV and an Xbox. The Monster Cable Gamelink Component cables are only slightly better, cost twice as much as these MS HD cables and on most HDTVs you probably won't even notice a difference. Optical digital audio is outstanding if you have an A/V receiver or TV that supports such input. My only real gripes are that DVDs can only be played back in 480i (Standard Definition) and the cables are a bit thick and seem rather stiff when you try to thread them around your TV stand.