The XCM Multi-Console Component Cable Version 3 provides the ability to connect multiple consoles (PS3, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP, PSP Slim) to one TV or component (YPbPr input).

Essentially you can have multiple consoles connected to a TV or other device and not have to swap video/audio cables when you want to switch consoles. Please note that there are other ways to go about this and I will list a few at the end of this review. The alternatives are more expensive. Video quality is always my main concern with cables like these. Will the video quality using this multi cable stand up to using the individual stock cables that come with these machines? Read on to find out.

The cables come in very plain cardboard box with no instructions though none should be needed. You just hook it up to your consoles and set the switch the console of your choice.

Here are the published features:

Fully Compatible with Xbox 360™, Wii™, PS3™/PS2™, PSP Slim™, Xbox™.
Built in switch prevents interference of other consoles
High quality shielded cable.
Support Component Signal (Stereo Function)
High Quality and High Speed for Transfer Signal.
Support Dolby Prologic.
Support DTS 5.1 Channel System.
Support DOLBY Digital and Surround Sound
Support Stereo Sound
Support Optical Signal on Xbox 360™
Compatible with Surround Receiver or Integrated Amplifier
Support CRT, Plasma, LCD or any HDTV System
Support D2 (480i/480P); (720i/720P) & D4 (1080 i/ 1080 P) technology.

For my tests I hooked the XCM Multi-Console Component Cable Version 3 to my capture device the exact same way as I did the stock component cables for the consoles. For these tests I used the Wii and Xbox 360.

First I hooked up the Wii with the the stock cables and captured at 480i:

Then I hooked the wii to the XCM Multi-Console Component Cable Version 3 and captured at 480i:

Both Wii captures (above) looked pretty much the same to me so I hooked up the xbox 360 using the stock cables and captured at 1080. Below is the captured image. (click for larger)

Below is a screen capture using the XCM Multi-Console Component Cable Version 3 with the xbox 360 at 1080i : (click for larger)

I could not tell the difference so I cropped an area of both and compared:

Then cropped and compared another:

I still really could not tell the difference so I took the HD Xbox 360 screenshots and zoomed in 500% in photoshop:

By zooming in I did see a difference but those differences are minuscule and most likely cannot be noticed by a normal (non videophile expert type) eye.

In conclusion I think the cables work very well. I actually expected to see unacceptable artifacting and ghosting and from my test I did not notice any ghosting. I did notice after zooming that the images from the XCM cables were slightly washed out compared to the stock cables and I did notice what seems like a very very minor difference in quality though its a difference that the normal eye would not notice. I would recommend the cable if you happen to have a need for this type of product.

Alternatives to using an XCM Multi-Console Component Cable:

1. Surround Sound receiver with component or HDMI video inputs: This option is a much more pricey but you could hook multiple consoles to one surround sound receiver. The advantage the XCM has is that it also has the PSP video capabilties killing the need to also buy one of those cables though that may not apply to you.

2. Component video switch: You could hook multiple component video inputs from multiple consoles to one component video switch. A powered switch is recommended to prevent signal degradation though they do cost more.