Universal multi console AV cables, any experince?

[Jubal]

so I am considering getting a few of those "universal" Av cables that hook up multiple consoles at once

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?coo ... _id=801341
this one does xbox, GC, and PS2


and

http://www.midwest-games.com/5in1avsvidca.html
this one DC as well as xbox, GC, and PS2


problem i am running into is a have a whole mess of consoles I am playing actively and my TV is a bit older, it only has 1 Composite AV port and 1 coaxial port

I have the composite av going to a 4 selector but I am using 10 console atm

listed as Console (type of video out console has)

Atari 2600 (RF with the coaxial converter)
NES (Composite video mono)
JVC X'eye (composite stereo) (genesis & segaCD combo)
3DO Fz-10 (S-video)
SNES (nintendo proprietary connector)
N64 (nintendo proprietary connector)
Gamecube (nintendo proprietary connector) (dont actually own yet, but gonna get one soon)
PS2 (Sony proprietary connector)
Dreamcast (DC proprietary connector)
Xbox (microsoft proprietary connector)

what i would like to do is use some multi console av cables to lessen the number of AV in ports I need

I am wondering if there are any xbox/DC/PS2 and 3 nintendo proprietary plugs on one cable

would be nice if I could also find a 3 s-video plugs to one to combine the NES, X'eye, and 3DO

I dont have any experince with these, do they give atleast average video quality?
anybody seen any other kinds out there?

-Jubal-

[Mozgus]

I am wondering if there are any xbox/DC/PS2 and 3 nintendo proprietary plugs on one cable

You're probably not going to find that. There just isn't a market for a cable that handles all 6 of those systems at the same time.

My friend uses the cable in your first picture up there for his ps2 and gc. It seems to work fine. There is most likely a little quality loss, but I can't tell on his TV, with s-video, and we have the same exact model tv. The cable is shielded fairly well, or it appears to be. It will definitely help you combine a few of those cables.

[rattboi]

I have the top cable, and it works fine, but not for what you want. It won't let you keep everything plugged in at once. Aka, the xbox won't have sound if the PS2 is plugged in, even if the PS2 is off. I haven't used the GC part yet, but I'm sure it's more of the same. Sorry, though.

[metaleggman]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask.

[Mozgus]

I have the top cable, and it works fine, but not for what you want. It won't let you keep everything plugged in at once. Aka, the xbox won't have sound if the PS2 is plugged in, even if the PS2 is off. I haven't used the GC part yet, but I'm sure it's more of the same. Sorry, though.

Really? I was just at my friend's place last week and went back and forth between his GC and PS2 without having to mess with wires. It just instantly recognised which console was powered on. I wonder why Xbox is different...

[racketboy]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask.

That's what I would recommend as well...

[metaleggman]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask.

That's what I would recommend as well...

exactly, because you don't have to get one with 7.1 surround or something, you can just get one with like 5.1 or sumpin that is a bit older, but still very nice. Those console switchers are also something to stay away from, which is why an A/V receiver is the way to go. I got a component video switcher and it really drained the quality. It makes sense tho, since it was only 15 bucks after all. Just stay away from home theator in a box sets. Those do not allow you to switch between a bunch of things.
This, for example, is from a great company and should do you fine.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Onkyo_TX_SR304_ ... =pdtl-list
or if you need an even cheaper one
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sherwood_RD_610 ... ml?tag=sub
just find it used and you can use your current cables and everything should work out fine for around 100 bucks. And considering the cables that you want to buy are like 20 or 30 bucks, these will do you fine in the long run for just a bit more.

oh and did I mention you don't have to use the surround? I think some people don't get that. There is audio out after all, but make sure before you buy it as some may not.

also, the onkyo seems to have more inputs, so that may be the best way to go.

[Jubal]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask. 8)

That's what I would recommend as well...

exactly, because you don't have to get one with 7.1 surround or something, you can just get one with like 5.1 or sumpin that is a bit older, but still very nice. Those console switchers are also something to stay away from, which is why an A/V receiver is the way to go. I got a component video switcher and it really drained the quality. It makes sense tho, since it was only 15 bucks after all. Just stay away from home theator in a box sets. Those do not allow you to switch between a bunch of things.
This, for example, is from a great company and should do you fine.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Onkyo_TX_SR304_ ... =pdtl-list
or if you need an even cheaper one
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sherwood_RD_610 ... ml?tag=sub
just find it used and you can use your current cables and everything should work out fine for around 100 bucks. And considering the cables that you want to buy are like 20 or 30 bucks, these will do you fine in the long run for just a bit more. :o

oh and did I mention you don't have to use the surround? I think some people don't get that. There is audio out after all, but make sure before you buy it as some may not.

also, the onkyo seems to have more inputs, so that may be the best way to go.

I did see the discussion over on the other thread about the AV receivers, the ones you listed here are priced a bit more in line with my budget.

looks like they both have 3 video inputs? maybe I am reading that wrong, I dont know a ton about these A/V receivers.
for 150ish dollars I would hope for something that will have inputs for each console, if not, then it seems a cheapest solution might be better, atleast until its time to upgrade the TV.

I guess ideally I would want a nice fat CRT HDTV, a 7.1 AV receiver w/ 12 ish inputs, and able to convert composite/S-video to component.

I am not in a financial situation to even consider this set up tho heh

right now I just want to get some solution to the wear and tear on the consoles and annoyance of constantly having to switch cables around.
anybody find one of those switchboxes with 10-12 inputs? or even just 8?

I have the top cable, and it works fine, but not for what you want. It won't let you keep everything plugged in at once. Aka, the xbox won't have sound if the PS2 is plugged in, even if the PS2 is off. I haven't used the GC part yet, but I'm sure it's more of the same. Sorry, though.

can anybody else confirm the no audio issue that rattboi mentioned?

-Jubal-

[Jubal]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask. 8)

I appreciate the offer and ill take you up on it! what the heck are ADCs and DACs?

thanks!
-Jubal-

[metaleggman]

eh, those multi console things suck. Tbh, just get an A/V Receiver with nice quality ADCs and DACs. If you need me to explain, plz ask.

I appreciate the offer and ill take you up on it! what the heck are ADCs and DACs?

thanks!
-Jubal-

well, ADCs and DACs are 'Analog to Digital Converters' and 'Digital to Analog Converters'. The reason you want to get an A/V Receiver instead of a switch box from gamestop, is because in almost every case, the A/V receiver will have 10 times better ones. Now the reason why having good ones is important is because every time you convert something from analog to digital or digital to analog, it messes with the quality of the signal a bit or sometimes a lot. This, including the a/v receiver, is how it would work:
console(D>A)--cable--A/V receiver(A>D)--outgoing signals(D>A)--cable--TV(A>D)

So that is alot of conversions BUT the difference in this case is that the onkyo has very high quality DACs and ADCs, while your 50 dollar switch box from gamestop has them at at least half the quality.

But, ya, it doesn't have all that many, which sucks, as that's about all ur gonna get in that price range. Now, if you wanna make the stretch, you could get something like this:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Onkyo_TX_SR604_ ... ml?tag=nav

That has a whole ream of connections, but is more than twice as much...

So, you may just save up for that one and get it to start your conversion to HD, as inexpensive yet great SEDs should be coming out in 2008, with inexpensive but great (but not as great as SEDs) LCDs getting cheaper and cheaper as the days go by. Everyone is swearing by CRTs, well, SEDs have those sets stopped in their tracks. except the delays, that is...

so those are your options. If you don't want to always go behind your TV everytime to switch stuff, one possibility is getting extension cables and plugging it into the TV, then using the extension cable to plug the systems into.

hope that helps, even in the slightest!