Review: XCM Universal YPbPr 1080p VGA Box

[bandit]

XCM Universal YPbPr 1080p VGA Box
Manufacturer: XCM
Site: Buy from Play Asia / Buy from Amazon
Price: $59.00

Overview : A true universal VGA box compatible with the new generation consoles on todays market (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii) and also with Xbox.

Compatible with both PAL and NTSC system, it is available with European or US power supply. A plug and play installation will give you Ypbpr input with all consoles, now with a 1080p resolution!

Features :

• High quality 3rd party product.
• Fully Compatible with all component devices - e.g. x-box, x-box 360, PSX3, Wii, DVD players, etc...
• Compatible with PAL or NTSC system.
• Double scan conversion (31.5KHz for NTSC, 31.25KHz for PAL,67.5KHz for 1080p).
• Output resolution ; up to 1080p
• Plug and play installation.
• Connect compatible YPbPr device to your VGA monitor.
• Integrated YPbPr to RGBHV converter.
• Supports 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p.
• Applications: TFT LCD monitor, CRT monitor, Set-top box, Display projector.
• Works on LCD TFT monitors.
• Video output: VGA.
• Automatic video source mode detection (film/graphic).
• Motion-adaptive interfiled de-interlacing.
• Get the power from USB port of consoles or PC, no extra power supply needed.
• Comes with 3 component cables - PSX3, Wii & XB360.

Quality/Usability : The XCM 1080p allows you to hook up your PS3/Wii/Xbox360 computer monitor via VGA. With all the new consoles and the ability to output into high-definition, and the high costs of HDTV's, not everyone has them. But we actually do...our computer monitors.

Included in the package, you'll find the following items:

• XCM 1080p VGA box unit
• USB to USB-miniB cable
• Component cables:
  
  • Wii (non-shielded)
  • Xbox360 (shielded, includes optical digital audio connector)
  • PS3 (shielded)
• Instruction booklet

Unfortunately, no VGA cable was included. This was probably due to cost factor. Had XCM included the cable, price of the product would of been higher. So to keep the price down, they didnt include the VGA cable.

Like all cables that XCM releases, they are sturdy and high quality cables. You will not be disappointed.

The VGA box itself is also sturdy and well built. The outer casing is made of opaque clear plastic. The connectors are standard quality and nothing special. Something caught my eye though. Under the VGA CARD slot, although the connection is a male connector, there was a female type connector. This connector uses the two screws similar to that when you're connecting your monitor to your video card on your PC. You can see it in the image below but on the mock up images, you dont see it. To fix this problem, simply remove the shield around it so that you can connect the cable.

Before purchasing this product, you must know that the VGA box does not change the output resolution. So you should check your monitor to see if it supports the resolution you are going to be used.

Connecting everything to the VGA box is fairly simple and is explained easily in the instruction manual. On top of the box is a switch that allows you to switch between VGA and COMPONENT. The front has a MONITOR and VGA CARD port. On the back, it has YPbPr inputs. To the left are SOUND IN, SPEAKER OUT and 480p~1080p/1080i switch. And on the right side is the USB POWER port to power the VGA box.

All images looked crisp and I didnt have a problem with any of the consoles. Just remember that the Wii can not upscale images as it is not capable of doing so.

Conclusion : Overall, the XCM Universal YPbPr 1080p VGA Box is a useful product for those who do not have HDTV. It would of been great if they included the VGA cable as the box allows you to switch video signals. So you can use video signal from your console or connect to your PC's video card to output to your monitor. Its understandable that they left it out to keep costs low. If you have an extra VGA cable around the house, you wont have to worry.

Images via comments

[mo010]

First post...

I'm planing to get a Wii and a 360 soon and I want to hook them up to a monitor. I'm kinda' settled on this monitor (Dell SP2008WFP).

It has some really neat features. A webcam that will work with my Macbook and 4 USB ports. So, I looked through the options I have to hook the systems up with the monitor. I narrowed down my options to:

1- Get the XCM 1080p VGA Box wich you reviewed in this post.

2- Get the VDigi VD-W2 Wii VGA cable (Which you reviewed over here) and the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable (Reviewed by another site over here).

Questions:

1- Would any of these options work with the monitor I chose? (Because I really don't know. Please check out the link for the monitor and tell me what you think)

2- Which option would work best?

BTW great site.

[bandit]

First post...

I'm planing to get a Wii and a 360 soon and I want to hook them up to a monitor. I'm kinda' settled on this monitor (Dell SP2008WFP).

It has some really neat features. A webcam that will work with my Macbook and 4 USB ports. So, I looked through the options I have to hook the systems up with the monitor. I narrowed down my options to:

1- Get the XCM 1080p VGA Box wich you reviewed in this post.

2- Get the VDigi VD-W2 Wii VGA cable (Which you reviewed over here) and the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable (Reviewed by another site over here).

Questions:

1- Would any of these options work with the monitor I chose? (Because I really don't know. Please check out the link for the monitor and tell me what you think)

2- Which option would work best?

BTW great site.

Yes, all will work as they are hooked up via VGA. Which option works? Depends on your budget and how much you're willing to spend. Thats not my decision..its yours.

The V-Digi is for Wii only and the Xbox360 VGA you linked is for 360 only. The XCM 1080p VGA Box works for all systems. You just have to plug and unplug the systems you want to use.

[mo010]

Thanks for the quick reply bandit. So, any of the options would work. I'm probably going to get the XCM 1080p VGA Box. Cause it makes the whole process easier and it's cheaper.

Edit: I bought the thing about a month ago. I think I might do an update on how it's doing in my blog in the near future.

[Drax]

Would the reviewed vga box work with a PS2?

[bandit]

If you have component cables for the PS2, it should work.

[Drax]

Thanks for your answer.

The PS2 user manual specifies that it cannot be connected to screens that accept high definition only, but as this VGA box handles alot of resolutions I'm hoping that won't be a problem.

The reason I have doubths is that the VGAbox description seems to specify every console except PS2..

[Napalm-Death]

Drax, it does NOT work with the PS2, you will get resolution errors or your monitor will not display anything at all. I know because I had ordered this before I got my PS3 and found out the hard way.

[bandit]

Drax, it does NOT work with the PS2, you will get resolution errors or your monitor will not display anything at all. I know because I had ordered this before I got my PS3 and found out the hard way.

You used component and it still didnt work?

[Drax]

I contacted a store that carries this VGA box, and they claim it doesen't work with PS2, just like Mr N-D sais. Something about the box only accepting higher resolution input signals.
Bugger!

Has anyone found a VGA box that delivers high quality images from PS2?

Has anyone had any experience with using a PS2 trough a Hauppauge WinTV HVR3000?