Post by: Parak on October 19, 2004, 05:14:00 PM
Ordered a regular (from the picture) looking HDTV pack from buy.com. It arrived just now, and I haven't seen anything like it before. It looks sort of like the monster pack, only black. The connector that plugs into the xbox has the optical jack, then a long thick cable (about 7 feet long), ending in about 8 inches of individual connectors. There are 5 total, two for sound, and the three HDTV connectors. The plugs are really heavy duty, and gold plated. The package is definitely non third party.
I'll try to get some photos up in a few when the batteries on my camera charge ;p
Edit, Pictures:
cable
RCA Plugs
xbox connector with the optical port (small latch on a spring)
This post has been edited by Parak on Oct 20 2004, 01:30 AM
Post by: hereticx on October 19, 2004, 06:38:00 PM
Post by: Parak on October 19, 2004, 07:13:00 PM
Front
Back
Post by: nibbler on October 20, 2004, 02:25:00 AM
damm i just bought the old version 2 months ago too.
Maybe this one has got better quality than the previous one cos it doesnt have the breakout box anymore?
Post by: Hitcher on October 20, 2004, 03:37:00 AM
It hasn't been swapped over has it?
Post by: AlTheKiller on October 20, 2004, 04:37:00 AM
| QUOTE (Hitcher @ Oct 20 2004, 06:07 AM) |
| Looks cheap and un-official to me. It hasn't been swapped over has it? |
cheap? the gauge of those wires looks to be about twice that of the first gen HD pack. and the interconnects seem to be of much better quality too.
the first gen was cheap, youve obviously never opened one up, looks quite hacked and the quality of the wires werent really upto snuff for a/v as far as im concerned.
and as for it being swapped, those blister packs are hard enough to open, let alone put back together in such a manner that someone wouldnt notice it.
Post by: Hitcher on October 20, 2004, 04:52:00 AM
Don't like the idea of the opitical out being on the Xbox end though - it'd mean me having to buy a longer cable.
Post by: Mr Ed on October 20, 2004, 10:05:00 AM
Still, higher quality cables look nice.
Post by: ChrisF on October 20, 2004, 01:15:00 PM
EDIT - I checked their site. They have a lot of XBox stuff. Who knows but if this is brand new I still wonder why it's not in any store yet.
This post has been edited by ChrisF on Oct 20 2004, 08:19 PM
Post by: hereticx on October 20, 2004, 01:33:00 PM
This post has been edited by hereticx on Oct 20 2004, 08:34 PM
Post by: -FourDoor- on October 20, 2004, 01:37:00 PM
I'll wait till I see it officially advertised as well on xbox.com although the packaging looks pretty authentic to me. How much did the cables cost you Parak?
Post by: Parak on October 20, 2004, 12:45:00 PM
Post by: hokiewalrus on October 20, 2004, 06:08:00 PM
I recently got a high-def TV so I went out to every store I could think of that might sell the high-def pack.
After a crappy experience with the Intec pack, it was back to more stores.
Finally, at the second Gamestop I went to they had the new high-def. The packaging is exactly the same as the earlier model. I was a little weary when I opened it since it looked different than the pictures I'd seen.
I plugged it in anyway and wow. It works great, the picture is rock solid and looks crystal clear in all resolutions. The cables themselves seem to be very high quality, they are quite thick and the interconnects are very nice.
Overall, great product.
Post by: newbiemodder15 on October 20, 2004, 06:46:00 PM
Post by: ChrisF on October 20, 2004, 09:08:00 PM
| QUOTE (hokiewalrus @ Oct 21 2004, 01:08 AM) |
| It is an official pack from MS. I recently got a high-def TV so I went out to every store I could think of that might sell the high-def pack. After a crappy experience with the Intec pack, it was back to more stores. Finally, at the second Gamestop I went to they had the new high-def. The packaging is exactly the same as the earlier model. I was a little weary when I opened it since it looked different than the pictures I'd seen. I plugged it in anyway and wow. It works great, the picture is rock solid and looks crystal clear in all resolutions. The cables themselves seem to be very high quality, they are quite thick and the interconnects are very nice. Overall, great product. |
That alleviates my fear that buy.com got sold a bunch of knockoffs from someone claiming to have excess stock of MS HDTV kits.
It's nice to see MS respond to the cable critique. I'm not by any means a member of the high-end cable brigade but cables at least need to be reasonably good and for $19 you simply can't manufacture a breakout box with solid terminals all around and a set of decent quality cables. Of course the issue now is that people who need custom length runs are SOL without female adapters in the middle. I sure wish someone made a higher end breakout box. That mod where the guy put component outputs right on the back of the Xbox was intriguing but it is beyond my ability to do a smooth job and make it high quality.
Post by: Mr Ed on October 21, 2004, 02:56:00 PM
That's like owning a Vette and driving slow.
Post by: hereticx on October 21, 2004, 09:52:00 PM
The new pack is probably the reason there was a shortage of hidef packs a month ago, they had to get the old stock out to get the new stuff in
Post by: hdiesel1977 on October 26, 2004, 07:49:00 AM
Post by: locklom on October 26, 2004, 07:33:00 PM
Post by: rockstardaddy on October 26, 2004, 07:42:00 PM
Post by: Ebeniz on October 27, 2004, 04:58:00 AM
Post by: ferrari_rulz_02 on October 27, 2004, 05:07:00 AM
but im sure if u look, u will find.
Post by: hockeyguy on October 27, 2004, 06:18:00 AM
| QUOTE (rockstardaddy @ Oct 27 2004, 03:45 AM) |
| Ok here's a delima, the Cable box is plugged into the TV cause we have HD cable and theres no way I'm changing cables all the time. The TV only has one HD input and the cable box only has an output. Any one have any ideas? or products with links? Thanks! |
I am in the same boat. There are a few options that I have seen. Buy a HD switching box for a few hundred dollars... check them out on ebay... and they are usually quite large... Or you can upgrade your reciever... probably 400 minimum to get dual component inputs and a HD output...400 at least... Or get a new TV:)
If you figure something cheaper out, but for the time being I am in the same boat. Since so few of my games are 1080i anyways, and my TV doesnt suport 720i, the xbox gets standard component, along with the DVD player and the HD cable gets the DTV HD input.
EDIT: Of these I will probably upgrade the reciever b/f other two options.
Post by: Mr Ed on October 27, 2004, 08:55:00 AM
| QUOTE (Ebeniz @ Oct 27 2004, 05:01 AM) |
| who in their right mind use component cables to watch their XBOX in HD then listen to it using stereo RCA? No thanks... I'll keep my digital optical cable |
What the hell was that in response to?? The MS HD pack also has optical digital.
Post by: hockeyguy on October 27, 2004, 09:01:00 AM
| QUOTE (Mr Ed @ Oct 27 2004, 04:58 PM) |
| What the hell was that in response to?? The MS HD pack also has optical digital. |
Seriously. There was a even a picture of where the optical cable fits into the base of the cable... Similar to the monster cables
Post by: Mr Ed on October 27, 2004, 09:23:00 AM
There's another thread about this here...
http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=257500
Post by: Mr Ed on October 27, 2004, 09:49:00 AM
Check out this thread for a comparison with Amped 2:
http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=235750
As for text looking more pixelated...if that's how the XBOX is drawing it, that's actually how it should look. Often TVs will "soften" the image. This isn't as accurate a representation of how the image should look, however it reduces jaggies. Switching to HD is probably giving you a more accurate image.
Post by: sk8phreak88 on October 27, 2004, 02:08:00 PM
Post by: Mr Ed on October 27, 2004, 02:11:00 PM
| QUOTE (2K2CamaroSS @ Oct 27 2004, 12:45 PM) |
| Here's some pics of the monster optical adapter:   |
Do the monster cables include that adapter? If so it looks like it will take any standard optical cable.
Post by: 2K2CamaroSS on October 27, 2004, 04:10:00 PM
Post by: dtadpole on October 28, 2004, 12:21:00 AM
Post by: rockstardaddy on October 28, 2004, 02:56:00 PM
Post by: ChrisF on October 28, 2004, 04:37:00 PM
Post by: Mr Ed on October 28, 2004, 10:46:00 PM
| QUOTE (rockstardaddy @ Oct 28 2004, 02:59 PM) |
| If I get the cable with the optical out, will that optical cable carry the hd video and audio? I know my hd tv has an optical in that's not being used!?!? |
That's an optical output on your TV not an input.
Post by: BaumSquad on November 01, 2004, 03:54:00 PM
| QUOTE (dtadpole @ Oct 28 2004, 08:24 AM) |
| Those M$ cables look sweet! I need me a set, buy.com is out of them (backordered) anyone ordered them from anywhere else? |
I got a set from NewEgg.com, so that's an option. Didn't know I was getting the new ones, but they had it for a good price, so I went for it. They seem pretty nice, and I'm glad I didn't get the breakout box. This is a better for my particular situation...
Xbox HDTV Pack at NewEgg
Post by: DeadmanINC on November 02, 2004, 08:18:00 AM
Post by: Scaramanga on November 02, 2004, 09:35:00 AM
It also seems alot easier to take it to a friend rather than taking a box and 5 cables.
Post by: djkym on November 26, 2004, 02:17:00 PM
thanks,
dk
Post by: nfs911 on November 27, 2004, 06:45:00 AM
Post by: JMan8108 on November 27, 2004, 06:36:00 PM
Post by: nfs911 on November 28, 2004, 12:29:00 PM
Post by: gamerguy999 on November 28, 2004, 07:54:00 PM
Post by: ChrisF on November 29, 2004, 03:05:00 PM
| QUOTE (nfs911 @ Nov 28 2004, 09:32 PM) |
| Just called xbox tech support, they said they haven't heard of it ever, they dont know what it is. Maybe is a 3rd party that looks just like M$. |
It's an MS product. Tech support is just out of the loop. Knock offs and fakes don't find their way into legitimate multiple huge nationwide retailing chains all at the same time.
If at this point people don't believe it's legit I'll file them away as conspiracy theorists.
Post by: gamerguy999 on November 29, 2004, 05:36:00 PM
| QUOTE |
| If at this point people don't believe it's legit I'll file them away as conspiracy theorists. |
It does look like a very high quality product, but it just doesn't quite look a a ms product. I asked my local game shops, and they said that they have not recieved the "new" MS HDTV pack, and that they have not heard of it. They also said that the ones that they have recieved lately still are the "old" design.
Post by: ChrisF on November 30, 2004, 02:14:00 AM
| QUOTE (gamerguy999 @ Nov 30 2004, 02:39 AM) |
| It does look like a very high quality product, but it just doesn't quite look a a ms product. I asked my local game shops, and they said that they have not recieved the "new" MS HDTV pack, and that they have not heard of it. They also said that the ones that they have recieved lately still are the "old" design. |
So, I weight:
1) The fact that it doesn't look like an MS product is because they outsource production and likely went to a regular cable supplier this time (possibly Acoustic Research given terminal similarities pointed out by others) as their old design was crap.
2) Recent major shortage nationwide of old design (typically happens when one is switching over something - tons of posts on this, most people bought Monster for lack of MSFT availability) plus no recent purchaser online or otherwise of an MSFT HD pack has received anything other than this unit. Also notice that the changeover happened before the Christmas season when HDTVs are predicted to sell briskly. If MSFT was going to restock their old product, they'd have done it by now.
3) Nationwide penetration to all major brick & mortar and online retailers all at roughly the same time. Simultaneously disrupting all normal independent purchasing channels, providing large supply, and state of the art logistics for distribution - that is impossible for a knock off.
4) At $19 retail the wholesale price is so low that only a large volume producer could make any money on it - and as pointed out the quality is fairly good this time.
5) MSFT would be on a fake in a flash yet not diseminating info on a minor accessory product that makes them almost nothing is fairly standard.
And I figure after all of that, the chances of it being a fake are less than a major lottery win.
Post by: Mr Ed on November 30, 2004, 09:46:00 AM
While other companies try to make their packaging "look" like MS's they don't dare say it is because they will get sued.
It's pretty safe to say this is the real thing if it is at national retailers, and says "MS."
Post by: sdpnoy on November 30, 2004, 12:43:00 PM
Post by: nfs911 on November 30, 2004, 05:50:00 PM
Post by: Mr Ed on November 30, 2004, 08:36:00 PM
| QUOTE (nfs911 @ Nov 30 2004, 06:53 PM) |
| Just bought mine, the quality in my games decreased. |
Compared to what? What were you using before?
Post by: gamerguy999 on December 01, 2004, 07:56:00 AM
| QUOTE |
| The fact that it doesn't look like an MS product is because they outsource production and likely went to a regular cable supplier this time |
I didn't think about that, that would explain the somewhat third-party look of them.
Post by: shawenterprises on December 01, 2004, 10:01:00 AM
Hooked it up, Its real nice. Cables are thick and the video seems better then my old one. Having the fibre optic audio right on the xbox end of the connector is awesome. Now i can run a short 1 foot Audio cable from it to the amp. Before i had to run a huge one from behind my tv back to the amp. Sucks if the xbox is right above the amp like mine is.
Post by: celinedrules on December 01, 2004, 10:34:00 AM
Post by: MikeByu on December 03, 2004, 04:15:00 PM
Post by: Mr Ed on December 03, 2004, 05:05:00 PM
| QUOTE (MikeByu @ Dec 3 2004, 05:18 PM) |
| I got mine about a month ago from Amazon. Work great! However I do have a question. The back of the box says that it only supports 480p on movies. Ummm so what about a modded xbox with the new avalaunch DVD? I had mine set to 1080i in the AV settings and it seems to work GREAT! But my eyes could be deceiving me. However logic tells me that if the I set it to 1080i in avalaunch and try and run the movie I would get a messed up screen, which isn't the case. Any answers? |
Yeah, it's weird MS doesn't list the specs/capabilities of modded XBOXs on their product.
Post by: Nisei on December 04, 2004, 08:21:00 PM
Post by: Nisei on December 05, 2004, 10:12:00 AM
Post by: SonnyMarrow on December 20, 2004, 10:26:00 AM
Post by: Mr Ed on December 20, 2004, 11:31:00 AM
Post by: mrcmax on January 17, 2005, 12:48:00 PM
but i took it home and looked in the box only to find that it looks more like this:
so, im not sure what the differnce is, or if there is any difference, i kinda want the one with the box...what's ur guys opinion?
also, this is a completely different situation, but i was trying to use my standard video cables on a widescreen tv, and while setting the xbox dash to widescreen, it started making a very loud buzzing noise and then it wouldnt do anything, so i rebooted and had trouble starting anything from my evolutionx menu. any suggestions? (BTW, i have an x2 lite plus chip with a x2 4981 bios with evox on the hdd)
Post by: Mr Ed on January 17, 2005, 01:48:00 PM
Post by: mrcmax on January 17, 2005, 02:32:00 PM
...any suggestions for the problem though?
Post by: mrcmax on January 17, 2005, 03:23:00 PM
Post by: Mr Ed on January 17, 2005, 04:13:00 PM
Also, have you tried this with the modchip turned off?
Post by: darth_jarret on January 17, 2005, 04:21:00 PM
Post by: project722 on January 17, 2005, 04:38:00 PM
QUOTE
so, im not sure what the differnce is, or if there is any difference, i kinda want the one with the box...what's ur guys opinion?
also, this is a completely different situation, but i was trying to use my standard video cables on a widescreen tv, and while setting the xbox dash to widescreen, it started making a very loud buzzing noise and then it wouldnt do anything, so i rebooted and had trouble starting anything from my evolutionx menu. any suggestions? (BTW, i have an x2 lite plus chip with a x2 4981 bios with evox on the hdd)
also, this is a completely different situation, but i was trying to use my standard video cables on a widescreen tv, and while setting the xbox dash to widescreen, it started making a very loud buzzing noise and then it wouldnt do anything, so i rebooted and had trouble starting anything from my evolutionx menu. any suggestions? (BTW, i have an x2 lite plus chip with a x2 4981 bios with evox on the hdd)
I would think your better off with the one you have, from the looks of the other
one, you would need to buy the component cables separately. The only thing you need
with the one you have is a toslink cable. And thats optional.
As far as your problem goes, standard video cables, or composite, are limited to NTSC signals at a max res of 650X480 with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The cables dont have the bandwidth to support anything higher. Forcing the xbox to display a 16x9 over composite cables will not work.
Post by: Trevante on January 17, 2005, 08:02:00 PM
QUOTE(mrcmax @ Jan 17 2005, 04:03 PM)
heh...sry about that ...any suggestions for the problem though?
-
Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: Mr Ed on January 17, 2005, 09:12:00 PM
-
I like the one with the box better. My XBOX is far enough from my HDTV I had to buy extra long cables, and the ones built in (with out the box) don't look long enough, but because they are built in your are stuck with them. To lengthen them, you'll have to get female to female adapters and additional cables.
However, some people claim a better picture with the newer cables that don't use the box. I'd say if the cables are long enough, the newer one is fine!
-
Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: Devo2399 on January 18, 2005, 10:16:00 AM
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I am very happy with my New HD Pack.. I bought the Mad Catz Component Switch Box and it works perfect for my projector... I was running S-Video until I got these cable last week... The difference is Amazing!!!!
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Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: mrcmax on January 18, 2005, 03:54:00 PM
-
the xbox itself buzzed, sounded like the hdd or something, but im not quite sure, it couldnt have been the red cables mixed up, because when this happened i was still using the standard cable. also, i was not trying to set it to high definition, just widescreen, and i know it can handle it because i've done it on my friend's box millions of times. could it possibly be something to do with the evox igr and tsr settings?
anvil82: do u have any pics, i was planning on doing that as well.
mr ed: this one should be fine for me, its perfect size sitting in my entertainment center
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Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: Mr Ed on January 18, 2005, 06:04:00 PM
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Try disabling your modchip, setting it to widescreen, and playing an original game. See if it does the buzzing then.
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Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: epsilon9090 on February 15, 2005, 03:49:00 PM
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I went to Best Buy yesteday to get my new hd pack for my xbox, expecting the typical box with the component connectors built into it.
Instead, it seems that MS changed the HD pack. The pack is now one thick cable, with component male on the end. I wanted to use my own cables, so this forced me to use couplers.
Just wanted to let people know. Oh yeah, the cable is excellent quality though, and it resembles the monster hd cable for xbox. Connectors are also very durable.
-
Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: celinedrules on February 15, 2005, 03:58:00 PM
-
-
Title: New Hdtv Pack From Ms
Post by: epsilon9090 on February 15, 2005, 04:46:00 PM
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gaha, of course i did it to extend legnth.
i have an infocus 4805 with about 30 feet of rg6 to my entertainment center. with the box i could have just plugged the cable in but no now i have to use couplers, furtherly degrading my image quality. any idea why they would change it?
...any suggestions for the problem though?Post by: Mr Ed on January 17, 2005, 09:12:00 PM
QUOTE(mrcmax @ Jan 17 2005, 01:19 PM)
so, im not sure what the differnce is, or if there is any difference, i kinda want the one with the box...what's ur guys opinion?
I like the one with the box better. My XBOX is far enough from my HDTV I had to buy extra long cables, and the ones built in (with out the box) don't look long enough, but because they are built in your are stuck with them. To lengthen them, you'll have to get female to female adapters and additional cables.
However, some people claim a better picture with the newer cables that don't use the box. I'd say if the cables are long enough, the newer one is fine!
Post by: Devo2399 on January 18, 2005, 10:16:00 AM
Post by: mrcmax on January 18, 2005, 03:54:00 PM
anvil82: do u have any pics, i was planning on doing that as well.
mr ed: this one should be fine for me, its perfect size sitting in my entertainment center
Post by: Mr Ed on January 18, 2005, 06:04:00 PM
QUOTE(mrcmax @ Jan 18 2005, 04:25 PM)
the xbox itself buzzed, sounded like the hdd or something, but im not quite sure, it couldnt have been the red cables mixed up, because when this happened i was still using the standard cable. also, i was not trying to set it to high definition, just widescreen, and i know it can handle it because i've done it on my friend's box millions of times. could it possibly be something to do with the evox igr and tsr settings?
Try disabling your modchip, setting it to widescreen, and playing an original game. See if it does the buzzing then.
Post by: epsilon9090 on February 15, 2005, 03:49:00 PM
Instead, it seems that MS changed the HD pack. The pack is now one thick cable, with component male on the end. I wanted to use my own cables, so this forced me to use couplers.
Just wanted to let people know. Oh yeah, the cable is excellent quality though, and it resembles the monster hd cable for xbox. Connectors are also very durable.
Post by: celinedrules on February 15, 2005, 03:58:00 PM
QUOTE
I wanted to use my own cables, so this forced me to use couplers.
They have been around for a while. I hope you did that just to increase the length not the quality.
Post by: epsilon9090 on February 15, 2005, 04:46:00 PM
i have an infocus 4805 with about 30 feet of rg6 to my entertainment center. with the box i could have just plugged the cable in but no now i have to use couplers, furtherly degrading my image quality. any idea why they would change it?