Any Quality Wii Component Cable Alternative to OEM?

[The_Atomik_Punk!]

As the title says, I'm looking for a Wii Component cable, but Nintendo no longer sells them in North America (at least here in Canada).

My questions to those in the know on this board are:

1. Can I purchase an OEM Japanese Wii component Cable for use in Canada with an NTSC-U console? http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Nintendo-Off ... Swu4BVkkfc

2. Are there any quality 3rd party alternatives that have no quality loss (i.e equivalent to OEM)?

https://www.amazon.ca/Fosmon-Nintendo-C ... nent+cable

https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-6-Feet- ... nent+cable

I plan on using my Wii through Component, and into this HDMI converter that Fudoh recommended in another thread: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003VJ ... YIK6Y9EEQB

Any insight would greatly be appreciated.

[Guspaz]

Monoprice's Wii/WiiU component cables are $11 CAD on amazon.ca, with free prime shipping:

https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-6-Feet- ... B003L14Y9I

The reviews are quite positive.

EDIT: Whoops, that's the same cable you already linked. For $11, with good reviews, and free shipping, it's hard to go wrong.

EDIT 2: If you're just going to convert to HDMI, have you considered just using a Wii U, which can run Wii games, and has native HDMI out?

[BazookaBen]

I have the Monster component cables for Wii. They have a better build quality than Nintendo's in my opinion:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Nintendo-Wii-8-F ... Sw7ThUj4Nr

I bought them after I had a bad experience with super-cheap generic component cables that had grounding issues that wouldn't let me run the audio to a separate receiver.

But yeah, as Guspaz said, if you're running this to a 1080p TV, the best way to play Wii games is definitely on a Wii U. And GameCube if you don't mind dabbling with homebrew.

[The_Atomik_Punk!]

Thanks for the responses guys. I grabbed those Monoprice cables; should arrive tomorrow.

Monoprice's Wii/WiiU component cables are $11 CAD on amazon.ca, with free prime shipping:

EDIT 2: If you're just going to convert to HDMI, have you considered just using a Wii U, which can run Wii games, and has native HDMI out?

Interesting point Guspaz, I'm honestly not sure why I don't do that. I do own a Wii U, but I just purchased a softmodded Wii with an external HD, and was planning on hooking it up via component to my TV. The reason that I was thinking of converting the Component to HDMI with that device Fudoh recommended, was that I don't think I can route the Wii through Component to my audio receiver, whereas I could if it was over HDMI. I'm unsure if in fact I could jerry-rig the Wii's component audio output to my receiver, but I was thinking that HDMI would be a surer bet; I am however open to suggestions, as the Wii is completely new to me.

[bobrocks95]

Can't plug the video portion straight into the display and route the audio plugs (probably with a female-to-female adapter and a couple cords acting as extension cables) straight into the receiver?

[BazookaBen]

The reason that I was thinking of converting the Component to HDMI with that device Fudoh recommended, was that I don't think I can route the Wii through Component to my audio receiver, whereas I could if it was over HDMI.

Yeah, that probably won't look as good as running component video straight to your TV, and will probably add input lag. So yeah, just grab a couple female-female RCA couplers to route audio straight to your receiver while the video goes straight to the TV.

Or go Wii U. Most homebrew that runs on Wii can run on Wii U as far as I know.

[The_Atomik_Punk!]

Yeah, I guess I'll try the method you guys outlined (F to F rca for audio straight into receiver). The whole reason I grabbed a Wii, was because my Wii U is hooked up to a 75' Sony Bravia, and I figured 480p content would look terrible on such a large screen- even over component. I have another 46' Sony Bravia that I figure will be more forgiving to lower res images; thanks for the help guys.

[Einzelherz]

I've got a few sets (psyclone and energizer for Wii) but as I've said before, if you get a reasonably name brand component cable that isn't the thickness of the average AV cables of yore, you'll be fine.

[andy251203]

The psyclone cable is garbage. Bought one and it has a terrible shadowing and blurry image. I've always bit the bullet and paid extra for the official component cables off of eBay.

[Blair]

I'm using the monoprice Wii/Ps2 cable and its quality seems much better then either of the official Nintendo or Monster cables I had been using. most other Wii component cables have given me noticeable ghosting, so i'm happy to have found something that works well.

the only other problem is the Wii has generally blurry video output even with a good connection.

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

Does the Nintendo cable cost a lot then?

[Blair]

Does the Nintendo cable cost a lot then?

i've usually seen it priced higher then the monster or monoprice cables, around $30 - $40. but as I said I think the monoprice cables are a good buy (you can still get them new for $17) or the monster (usually around $24)

[Guspaz]

Umm, the Monoprice Wii/WiiU component cables are $2.81 new:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5689

If you're paying $17 USD for them, you're being ripped off.

[Licentious Howler]

Rocketfish made some big, thick, and overall nice looking component cables that are definitely my favorite so far:



I'm tempted to say the build quality is a quite a step up from OEM. The only issue is that the component connectors have a very tight grip--you probably don't want to constantly connect and disconnect them from your TV/receiver if you can help it. Picture quality is great to my eyes, though I've never made any scientific comparisons.

They've been discontinued for years, but they are ALL OVER Ebay for ~$10-15 USD including the shipping.

There's another variant that looks a bit less sturdy though, so try to look for the one that has a braided texture across the main cable (which I'm showing here).

I believe they made Playstation 2/3 flavors of this cable as well, one with S-video/composite, and another component, but the component one doesn't seem to be nearly as easy to come by, or as cheap. There's also a similar Xbox 360 version I see for decent money.

[The_Atomik_Punk!]

Forgot to update; bought the Monoprice Wii component cables, and they look great. Hard to beat that price too - an easy recommendation to anyone in the same circumstances as I.

[bobrocks95]

Rocketfish made some big, thick, and overall nice looking component cables that are definitely my favorite so far:



I'm tempted to say the build quality is a quite a step up from OEM. The only issue is that the component connectors have a very tight grip--you probably don't want to constantly connect and disconnect them from your TV/receiver if you can help it. Picture quality is great to my eyes, though I've never made any scientific comparisons.

They've been discontinued for years, but they are ALL OVER Ebay for ~$10-15 USD including the shipping.

There's another variant that looks a bit less sturdy though, so try to look for the one that has a braided texture across the main cable (which I'm showing here).

I believe they made Playstation 2/3 flavors of this cable as well, one with S-video/composite, and another component, but the component one doesn't seem to be nearly as easy to come by, or as cheap. There's also a similar Xbox 360 version I see for decent money.

I'm incredibly wary of Rocketfish after buying some overpriced component cables from them back when I didn't know any better.
They're overly large and stiff, the connectors were deathgrip tight, and when I loosened them some of the tabs broke off very easily. These were just 3 RCA male to male component cables and I'd say there weren't very good at all. I can't speak directly to their component cables but I wouldn't have high hopes.

I wish there was a simple, more scientific way to test cables and definitively find the best choice. I guess you'd have to use an oscilloscope to look at the signal and see how much noisier it becomes based on some artificial interference you create somehow... Sounds difficult to quantify and not a lot of people have oscopes laying around...

[Licentious Howler]

I wish there was a simple, more scientific way to test cables and definitively find the best choice.

Despite our differing assessments, I completely agree.

I hardly have the knowledge to do something like that yet, however.

[bobrocks95]

Despite our differing assessments, I completely agree.

I hardly have the knowledge to do something like that yet, however.

To be clear I don't own the Rocketfish Wii cables so I can't directly comment on them fairly. They might be great, ust giving my experience with the brand.

But yeah a metric would be nice. Can you measure the signal to noise ratio of a cable?

[Licentious Howler]

Can you measure the signal to noise ratio of a cable?

Nope. As of right now, it's above my scope of knowledge and equipment.

Maybe someday...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[bobrocks95]

I meant anyone, just in general haha. My bad in not being clear.