I was wondering if any of you have tried both the HD & Advanced video/sound hook-ups for the Xbox. I originally bought the Advanced pack since I thought the HD pack was strictly for ND TVs.

I was looking at an HD pack & saw that it really just is a Component Video hook-up w/ an optical jack as opposed to the Advanced which is an S-Video w/ optical.

I currently run my dvd player thru component which my xbox runs under S-video. Do you think it is worth the trouble to hook/unhook my dvdplayer/xbox everytime I use them & use only component? It would be kind of a pain but if it is worth it, I will deal with it. Is there such a thing as a switcher(?) for component hook-ups like there is for optical? Does the HD pack come with an S-video as well? Is the quality very distinguishable between the component & s-video on the xbox?

I know I have compared component & s-video on my dvd player before & did not see that astounding a difference.

Opinions/answers? Thanks!

How big is your TV?

You can get a decent s-vid splitbox for $29 at Sears or RadioShack.

36 inch Sony Wega (before the squeeze buttons).

But is there a component video splitbox?

There are various threads over in the Home Theater forum that discuss using a composite switch box to switch component video, but I haven't looked them up in quite a while.

I honestly don't think you'd get that much going to component video, if you don't gain the ability to display the progressive video modes, but that's just me.

-Naan

Here's an extremely well made, attractively priced JVC component video switcher that does exactly what you want. I think the retail on it is $150, but Etronics sells it for $75. This is considerably less than any other retailer and the JVC product is easily $100 less than any other comparable component video switcher on the market. I currently have my Xbox, PS2 and DVD player running through it and it works like a charm!

Yes. And yes. There is a noticeable difference between the Xbox's component and s-video output. Ditto for the PS2.

No. It has connectors for component video and digital & analog audio cables.

Does the advanced AV pack for the Xbox come with the S-video cables? And it includes an optical jack as well right?

It comes with an s-video and analog audio cable, but does not include a toslink cable (just the outlet to plug it into).

Whoa. I bought the Monster Xbox toslink cables for $25, and today Xbox Monster S-video cables for $40. Are you telling me i could've just gotten the advanced AV pack to hook my toslink cables into? That i could've saved myself $20?

YES!

I couldn't tell from the pictures on etronics or JVC's web site if the unit has optical... does it?

sonovab.....

Another person done in by Monster

I think the component (HD Pack) is worth it if you have a monitor/TV capable of progressive scan output. This is the only way you can take advantage of the Xbox's ability to output games developed with progressive scan in mind.

I'm not sure about your 36" Wega, but unless it's HDTV compatible, I say you're just as good with S-video for your Xbox.

Thanks for all the replys!

Looks like I will hold off & wait for the HD hook-up once I have a HD 16x9 TV. (hopefully in the next year)

No. Analog left & right only. Video-wise, you get component, s-video and composite.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=40422


This is a good review on the switcher. I am using a composite switcher for component video from Radio Shack and it works great.