Review on 🔌 Enhanced for High-Definition: Microsoft Xbox 360 Black HDMI Cable (Retail Packaging) by Luis Green

I usually review products so people know how they differ from the competition. I also want customers to feel that the product is worth buying. In this case it is difficult to do. There are no competing products and you get standard plugs. When you need them, you have no other choice. HDMI is the standard. Microsoft hates standards because they allow you to buy things from other vendors. Your HDMI cable is probably fine. I don't know because I don't need it. I have many standard HDMI cables. What I didn't have was the key. Instead of putting the standard Toslink connector into the XBOX, Microsoft offers its own connector and a standard HDMI connector. They give you an SD cable when you buy an XBOX, which defeats the point of HD graphics. If your XBOX comes with component cables, you will have a Toslink connector BUT the cable will block the HDMI connector. Why would Microsoft do anything other than force you to buy their key? That way, even if you already have both of the ports you need, like a school bully wanting your lunch money, one blocks the other. You can use any good quality HDMI cable and get the same results. This will give you the best picture and sound. However, if you need to connect an HDMI cable to your TV and need a Toslink connection for your audio system, you will have to pay for this dongle. The key itself works perfectly. I now get full surround sound for my XBOX and any HD DVD it plays. It's no better than the component cable's Toslink connector, except that it no longer blocks the HDMI connector. In my case I have the best Sony HDTV. Sony designed it to accept three HDMI connections, and its Toslink output offers full surround sound EXCEPT when the input is from an HDMI source instead of the built-in tuner. It has nothing to do with this cable except when you need it. If you can connect an HDMI cable to your audio system and send the HDMI output to your TV, you don't need this cable/adapter. If you're using your TV's audio, or if it sends all-digital audio to your audio system, you don't need this cable either. This cable also gives you an analog stereo output. It's pretty pointless. If your TV has an HDMI input, you can use its analog audio outputs if your audio system doesn't have digital inputs or surround sound.