Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 Works fine but a complete rip off. January 5, 2009
Joyce R. Mcfadden (Dallas, TX)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I got it for Christmas from an Aunt, but I just gave it to my friend. The whole deal with the rubber coating of the standard cables which blocks the HDMI port was a cheap move by Microsoft. Listen, all you need to do is buy an HDMI cable from here or a place like NewEgg for 5$-$15. Then, on your standard A/V cable connector just use a knife or screw driver to pry off the rubber (or plastic, whatever) via the seam. Then, you will just be left with a thin metal connector; the HDMI cable will now fit. Just don't plug in the yellow plug to your TV/speaker system. Just a little way to get past Microsoft's rip-off scheme.
XBox 360 Connectivity is so convoluted! December 26, 2008
Darin Koenig (San Diego, CA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The fact that you have to deal with all these adapter combos is bad enough, but the switching circuitry in the console doesn't appear to work correctly. We have the Elite model, and it came with the thinner HDMI adapter, so you can plug the optical cable into a sound system. However, the sound still goes only through the HDMI, so you get no sound through the optical connection. We tried changing the digital sound output in the preferences, but nothing ever changed. There was only sound from the TV from the HDMI. Btw, the PS3 works flawlessly with HDMI and digital optiical out right out of the box. The connectors are on the console itself.
 Good December 7, 2008
Odrick R. Rosas
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The HDMI cables are excellent. They gave you the truth high definition of the games.
Do not get ripped off! November 20, 2008
C. Johnson (Lawrenceville, GA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
As many have already described, this item is nothing but another nickel and dime attempt by Microsoft. This product may do what it advertises, but in reality if Microsoft designed the HDMI capable XBOX's better in the first place than this would not even be needed. I would like to think that it was a simple oversight on Microsoft's part, but come on; this is Microsoft we are talking about. I'm willing to bet the poor design of having the HDMI port so close to the standard A/V port on the back of the console was purposely done in an attempt to get more money out of customers when they (the customers) realized that they couldn't use their non-HDMI A/V receiver as a sound source when using an HDMI cable with their 360.
Microsoft could have easily just sold the extender by itself without forcing people to buy another HDMI cable. Besides, everyone who bought an Elite console already has an HDMI cable that was included with the console (not sure about the HDMI enabled Pro systems) and the fact is, if you are even considering this kit in the first place, then chances are you already have an HDMI cable as well. Yet instead of just offering people what they need, Microsoft wants to only allow you have the extender portion if you buy their HDMI cable at a premium.
If you are looking at this kit, then the problem you probably have is that you want to use an HDMI cable in conjunction with your existing A/V cable perhaps to send the sound to your receiver that does not have HDMI capability. To solve this problem you have three options:
1) Get ripped off and pay Microsoft their ridiculous price for this kit when all you probably really need is the extender portion.
2) Using a knife or a flat head screwdriver, pry the gray portion off of your existing A/V cable which will give you enough space to use this in conjunction with your HDMI cable. Search YouTube if you need visuals. Done correctly, your savings will be 100% over option 1.
3) If you are uncomfortable with #2, go to Ebay and find out if anyone is selling the "extender" portion of this kit separately from the unneeded HDMI cable. You shouldn't have to spend more than a few dollars on it equating to a savings of 80% - 90% over option 1.
Even if you don't already have an HDMI cable, this kit is STILL a rip off. This is because HDMI cables can be had for a relatively cheap price. But companies like Microsoft and Monster will attempt to rip you off by lying; saying their HDMI cables are so much better than everyone else's. It's not uncommon for Monster's longer HDMI cable prices to exceed triple digit prices! However the reality is, all HDMI cables are basically the same and you won't notice any difference using an overpriced Monster (or Microsoft) cable than one that just cost a few bucks.
The choice is yours all three options I described will solve your problem, but only two are cost effective.
More MS BS November 19, 2008
Tyler Fenby
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This can be made for free, yet is sold for $40+?
Oh, and Microsoft purposefully made it difficult to use the AV cable included with the 360 with a HDMI cable. Even after taking the annoyingly bulky casing off the AV cable, you have to cut a wire to get video from the HDMI cable.
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