Mad Catz Breathes HDMI Into Older 360s
Is your older or otherwise HDMI deficient Xbox 360 ruining your life? Are you mentally disabled by your inability to connect your favorite gaming console to your home-theatre-equivalent via a single cable transmitting both audio and video signals in one beautiful binary signal?
Get those analog component cables out of your life with the Mad Catz 360 HDMI Conversion Kit, which is essentially a fancy third-party AV output cable that plugs into the AV output port on the rear of the 360, does some mojo that converts the analog signal to an HDMI stream and outputs in all available resolutions up to 1080p via HDMI 1.3.
The kit carries full multi-channel digital audio through HDMI but also sports an optical audio out connection, and it retails for $89.99, which is a big chunk of change - less than a new 360, but still pricey enough that only genuine audio/videophiles will be wanting to slap down the dough for what is in all likelihood a marginal improvement.
Mad Catz® Brings HDMI to All Xbox 360TM Owners
San Diego, Feb 13th, 2008
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), 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® Digital, DTS®) 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, innovate 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.
tiny dancer
Posted to Miscellany on 14 February 2008
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: hdmi, mad catz, microsoft, xbox 360
Yeah, $90 is a bit much for that. HDMI is slightly nicer than component, but I'm not paying that much for the slight upgrade. Component is good enough (besides, my TV doesn't do 1080p anyway).
If a reputable hardware company could come out with something like this for cheaper that just adds the Dolby Digital signal to the HDMI cable, I'd be sold. I'm probably one of very few people who need that, though.
The problem is that for $90 plus the cost of an HDMI cable (cheap if you know where to get it, but most people don't), the difference between getting this and just trading in your old system towards a new one is pretty slim.