XCM unveils Multi-Component Cable v2: console connections unite

We're all about keeping things nice and well kempt, and if you're the type who's sporting a house full of consoles, you know precisely how difficult a clean wiring solution is to maintain. Helping to clear out that rat's nest of cabling is XCM -- those same folks who brought us the XFPS -- which is delivering the Multi-Component Cable v2 to simply that cord conundrum. Sporting a trio of connectors, this single device can simultaneously connect to your Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, and reportedly your dusty PS2 as well, and plugs into your TV set via component outs. As you might expect, a simple flip of the toggle switch changes the console you see on screen without you having to risk your life climbing atop the television. Currently, the device is still stuck in "preview" mode, but XCM promises to have a full list of specs and availability details ready soon, and if you can catch a video sneak peek after the jump.

[Goobers @ Jan 6th 2007 10:03PM]

there is a problem if you like to put your consoles neatly tucked away in some cabinet... currently i have a PS2, PSOne and XBox sitting in a cabinet plugged into a "switcher" of sorts... but the switcher has front accessible buttons (like it's another console)... this on the other hand would be buried in the back of my cabinet and quite inaccessible.

if you don't put them in a cabinet, then it's all rather moot.

[Mike @ Jan 6th 2007 10:19PM]

odd... I sent this recently...

[Brad @ Jan 6th 2007 10:23PM]

It's nice and all but:

1) It's probably for a very very niche market. How many have 2 of these consoles? All 3?
2) Of the people who own 2 or 3, many of them are probably wealthy enough and gadget-loving enough to invest in a receiver, making this product moot.
3) As Goobers said, having a switch in the back of a cabinet would be terribly difficult to reach. -1 point for ease-of-use.

[granny down east @ Jan 6th 2007 10:44PM]

Maybe, niche market- I can see it being used tho, in homes where the kids have 2 consoles and the grown ups have the third... Putting the switch where the kiddos can see it makes life easier on all. We take turns on the big screen with the kids and the grands, so this makes great sense to us.

[Joel Rose @ Jan 6th 2007 10:48PM]

Well, I have a Wii, PS2, and 360 (gonna pass on the PS3 until it's half the current retail... even if that takes 3 or 4 years) and I do not have a reciever... this sounds great to me... as long as it's not overpriced.

[David W @ Jan 7th 2007 12:07AM]

I agree with Joel, I have a Wii, PS2, and 360 as well. I however haven't invested in a reciever, and am hesitant to drop the $300+ that would be needed for the receiver alone. I can buy a lot of games for that amount :) so if this cable is -30 I just might check it out!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 7th 2007 12:26AM]

QUOTE:
"David W @ Jan 7th 2007 12:07AM

I agree with Joel, I have a Wii, PS2, and 360 as well. I however haven't invested in a reciever, and am hesitant to drop the $300+ that would be needed for the receiver alone. I can buy a lot of games for that amount :) so if this cable is -30 I just might check it out!"


For the price, this sounds very nice. Take my word for it, logitech z5500 has nothing on the Onkyo HT-S590 Home Theater System and it retails for $299


http://www.onkyousa.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Systems
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-0HUTBVP2uFG/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=37600&I=580HTS590S

And if you want to go all out and have some thing that puts BOSE to shame for a mere $750-799, The ONKYO HT-S990THX is your best friend. It even includes a slightly striped and "modified" variant of the $700 Onkyo TX-SR703(Be sure to buy from an Authorized dealer or you get no warranty- Vanns, Crutchfield, Circuit City, B&H Photo, J&R Music)
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4107617&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.ONK+HTS990THXB

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 7th 2007 12:14AM]

If it will work on the PS2 then it will also work on the PS1. Same is true for Gamecube, if the (Wii) cable will work on the 'cube then it will also work on the N64, SNES, and NES. I also wonder if any signal loss (colour?) might be found in the switch portion of the cable? Regardless of that, this is still a very nice product.

[sinque @ Jan 7th 2007 12:45AM]

I have a phillips/magnavox automatic switch for a satelite, hooked up to another switch of the same type. It does S-video and I just solved all of your problems for under 70 bucks, and you don't even have to leave your couch to go from PS3, Wii, or 360. Just hook them up in order of importance. It's not 1080i but if you don't have the $$$ to make ALL your stuff high-def, why do you have an HD set?!!

[Paul @ Jan 7th 2007 12:32AM]

I have a Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360, but I don't have each one stacked on top of one another.. Is there any way these cords will be coming out with more slack inbetween the adapters to allow it to hook up to all 3 consoles if they are fairly spaced out on the entertainment rack? Didnt think so. If it wasnt for this oversight I would purchase this for sure

[Paul @ Jan 7th 2007 12:58AM]

this is awesome if you have all 3 of consoles and keep them right next to each other without any plans to ever move them more than an inch apart

[Twist @ Jan 7th 2007 1:15AM]

Like someone else pointed out it would be a pain to reach around behind the TV to flip the switch (remind anyone else of the old Atari 2600 connectors?). If it was auto-sensing it would be pretty cool though.

I used have a cheap selector switch that I was able to press all the buttons in on at once. Worked great with my PSone, SNES, N64, and VCR because I would only ever be using one anyway. The PS2 ruined it though because it is still sending out some kind of signal in stand-by mode. Anyway if they were to make this auto-sensing, add the original Xbox to it, and make it work like the Xbox 360's hybrid component/composite cables then I would be very interested in it.

[genkikid @ Jan 7th 2007 3:28AM]

I saw this yesterday on Play-Asia.com Only $19.90. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-n-77-5-49-en-15-Multi%2BCable-70-1smg.html

[sygyzy @ Jan 7th 2007 7:09PM]

Let me get this straight. You have three of the latest consoles, all with component video. I assume you have a receiver to decode the optical/digital audio of the 360 and the PS3 (Wii uses analog audio). You paired say Video 1 (this cable) to Optical 1. Now when you want to play a game, you switch this cable to say PS3 and that's connected to Optical 1 so you are set. Now when you want to play the 360, what do you do? It's connected to Optical 2. Do you go in the back of your setup and swap cables?

This is the stupidest idea I've ever heard of. What's the point of switching video if you can't switch audio?