Submission by Paul Freeman – After buying a new Sony PS3 and seeing it in action on my Panasonic Home Theater Projector via the HDMI Inteface I was a little dissapointed when I turned on my original XBOX, which was connected to the Projector via its Component Cables.
Once the unit arrived I connected the input/otputs and the included power supply, and turned on the Projector and XBOX. I was totally amazed at the transformation in the picture quality and mostly the brightness of the Image.
The picture is so much more vivid and bright. I have been useing the converter for about a month now and can say I’m really pleased with the little unit. If you’re trying to consolidate your cables and video switching to HDMI I can recommend it too.
Available from www.ebay.com – (International Shipping available)
Product Introduction:
The component video (YPbPr) converter allows older analog devices to be integrated seamlessly into the modern home theater. This adapter connects component video home theater devices to HDMI compliant digital monitors. It also takes digital audio and encodes it onto the HDMI signal for the full HDMI video and audio effect. With the Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter legacy home theater devices can be easily connected any HDMI display for the full digital video and audio experience.
Product Features:
- Allows you to connect YPbPr HDTV sources to an HDMI? display
- Encodes digital audio onto the video signal for HDMI? video and audio
- Supports HDTV/YPbPr
- Supports: 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p,1080i and 1080p resolution
- HDCP compliant
Product Specifications:
- HDMI Video Amplifier Bandwidth: 1.65 Gbps
- VGA Amplifier Bandwidth: 350 Mhz
- Input Video Signal: 1.2 volts p-p
- Input DDC Signal: 5 volts p-p (TTL)
- HDMI Connector: type A (19 pin) female
- Video Connector: 3 RCA Component
- Audio Connector: SPDIF
- Power Consumption: 10 watts (max)
- Power Supply: 5V DC
- Dimensions: 4¡±W x 1¡±H x 4¡±D
Available from www.ebay.com – (International Shipping available)
Logically this box should not add or subtract anything from the video quality of the input signal – the HDMI output should be identical to the input! Any variation between output and input is not desirable, as its sole function should simply be to enable an HDMI input port to accept a YUV signal.
In practice things are different for one of two reasons. First, the interface happens to modify the signal in a way that “improves” the subjective look because it is actually distorting the signal. Or, secondly the YUV input on your display may simply not be very accurate when compared to the HDMI input. (Or even be set to a different set of picture adjustments).
I kind of expect that you could have seen a similar improvement to the XBOX output through the YUV input by simply adjusting the display picture parameters.
But, if it works for you then great!
So, could you hook up a SkyHD YPbPr HDTV source signal to this and get a HDCP free HDMI signal?
I have to say I’m with the cynics on this one. If it doesn’t scale the image what is it doing to it that is so magical?
If it’s going to a good screen / 5.1 or 7.1 set up then good AV processors offer upconversion or upscaling. If it’s going to a bog standard telly then how good can the benefits be.
The better trick is going back the other way. Now Sky have removed the analogue HD option from their boxes there is still the challenge of getting the HDMI signal 50-100m around a house
You probably have your component input settings wrong on the projector so that the picture looks washed out and dull with the component video. With a properly configured system, you should see no difference between component video and HDMI. Also, the XBox360 IS 1080p and if your projector accepts 1080p you would do well to set it at 1080p. Which games are 720p or 1080p, or even some random resolution like 680p for Halo 3 depends on the game. Since the XBox and PS3 hardware are pretty close in performance both should provide good images. Also, a vivid image does not mean you have a good image. It may mean you’ve left the TV in torch mode where the colors are way off, too bright, and overly edge enhanced.
My question is…I have an older xbox 360 and I want to use this so I can connect it to my hdtv via hdmi. I am hoping this will unlock the option for 1080p. Would this work?
I’m looking for the same answer as Steve there-
Having a launch xbox without an HDMI port means that the component lead I’m using doesn’t seem to give as sharp a picture as I’d like.
Would using this converter make any difference???
It would be better than composite Rich but not as sharp as hdmi to hdmi as it has to convert the signal to digital.
I have this converor with an old xbox 360 and the result is amazing on my 50 inch pioneer it transforms the image to a tee