In Europe the situation regarding component cables is a bit more dire since the official PS2 / OGBX component cables were never released here and even authorized 3rd parties were not allowed to sell them in this region. OGXB had EDTV/HDTV removed at the video BIOS level and PS2 PAL games like GT4 also had high res support removed. So prices are a bit worse. I had to pay boutique prices to get a proper component cable for my PS2, might as well have bought one from RGC. The 5EUR component cables look like crap with lots of weird ghosting/ringing errors.nmalinoski wrote:I'm not sure about RGC, but, as far as Retro-Access goes, I imagine they simply haven't had enough demand for component cables to bother adding them to their website; component cables for YPbPr-capable consoles, namely the PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, were widely available, so there's not much reason to pay a boutique manufacturer for a custom one when you can still get one for a few dollars on Amazon or eBay (even if it's garbage quality). Of course, if you still want one, you could send Retro-Access an email; I'm sure they'd be willing to make you a custom, high-quality PS2/PS3 or Wii component cable using the same cabling they use for SCART/BNC cables with the RCA connectors they already use for LR audio.ASDR wrote:Did anybody ever ask RA / RGC why neither of them sells a simply PS2/OGBX component cable? IIRC they both sell SCART and BNC cables for the PS2 and RGC even sells an OGBX SCART cable, but neither sells the most likely most popular simple component cable. Kinda weird, especially since the difficult part, the console side connector, is already done. Maybe because of the optical breakout for OGXB?maxtherabbit wrote: HDRV has hinted they might do it, but no one does at this time I'm aware of
Now, if Retro-Access could source the AV connectors, they could very well make Xbox component cables. Additionally, if they use their screw-top connector body design (Like the ones pictured here and here), they could offer one with a plain, flat-top lid to serve as a typical third-party component cable, and then offer another with a bubbled or cutout lid for a version with a TOSLINK board/jack.
I don't think the existence of official TOSLINK breakouts for the Xbox really negate the need for a high-quality, aftermarket component cable; rather, I think their current rarity and high price, including the Monster Cable cable and this official one that I just learned about, should warrant availability of high-quality and TOSLINK-enabled aftermarket versions. I've also read that the HD AV Pack can negatively impact video quality (I'll edit if/when I find that source), so there's another reason why people might want a newly-manufactured, high-quality cable from a trusted source.
btw, many people don't know this, but for like 2-3 bucks there are small interposers for the AV connector of the OGXB that add optical out. Using one of these, very handy.