Official Wii Component Video Cable Reviews

• Decent depending on what you use it for...

  
  By ABSYIF0ONC2AF on 2007-03-02
  My opinion on this cable is mixed...
  
  Pro:
  -You need this cable if you're going to surf the Internet with the Wii. It makes text a lot sharper and more clear.
  -Widescreen support gives you larger view of the game
  
  Cons:
  -This cable is more expensive than cables from 3rd parties. There is no visual difference between this cable and a cable from a 3rd party.
  
  -This cable does make things sharper... that being said since the Wii doesn't support anything above 480P, for gaming all this cable does is to further accentuate jaggies.
  
  For those that don't know what jaggies are:
  
  "A video problem in which stairstep-like lines appear where there should be straight-angled lines or smooth curves."
  
  Without the cable, jaggies are simply blurred and the graphics look decent (Xbox 1 quality). With the cable, most games will actually look crappier.
  
  (I'm not sure if there's a big difference in colors with most games beyond Wii Sports, but if there is it's definitely not noticable unless you look really hard and pay attention.)
  
  Bottomline:
  
  If you're not using the Wii to surf the Web or read News, save your money for games and controllers (or for video accessories for game consoles can at least handle 720P)
  
  

• Works as it should, first-party peace of mind

  
  By A2UJ8XLKJZ55LO on 2007-02-14
  Not too much to say about these cables, they work as they should and really do let the Wii output a clean crisp image compared to the horrible composite cables in the box. If you have an HDTV, you'll get better color saturation and cleaner edges with less mosquito noise.
  
  The cable is about 8 feet in length, so you can put plenty of distance between your TV and Wii if desired. Mine is right next to the TV, so I used cable ties to gather up the excess cord. Strangely, this degraded the image quality, almost as if there was interference or the signal was being choked off. After letting the cable free and re-bundling it loosely the issue went away, so I'm leaving it as-is. The plugs are also quite snug on TV input jacks, I have a Sony Bravia LCD TV and when I plugged in the cable I had to apply a large amount of pressure that actually pushed the jack about 1/4" into the TV before the plugs were fully seated. The jacks popped back to their original position after I released the cable, but no other cables I have required as much insertion force.
  
  Though the Wii's resolution tops out at 480p, everyone can enjoy better graphics with these. Not a night-and-day difference, but definitely noticeable. It's a must-buy if your TV has the necessary inputs. Being an official Nintendo product also gives me a little peace of mind after having several third-party accessories for different consoles die on me.
  
  

• Simply Great !

  
  By A1UG2QVMQ68JRD on 2007-02-25
  I bought the Mad Catz, simply because it was cheaper than the Nintendo, considering that its just a copper wire encased in plastic, i thought MadCatz will do. And it works great.
  
  For those who are pondering about "My TV does 480i so 480p isnt gonna make much difference". STOP!. Just go get the cable the difference is very obvious.
  
  I have a TOSHIBA 32 inch LCD Flat panel and the images were fuzzy, sort of like 'out of focus'. I know this because i had a regular 27 inch SONY TV before and it was sharp in the SONY(Because it was smaller than the TOSHIBA and was a SDTV) But the moment you switch to a higher resolution(HDTV) TV the Wii started showing its graphic weakness.
  
  Got the Component cable and the pictures are sharp in my TOSHIBA now and i love the clarity.
  
  Go get the cable Nintendo or other manufacturer and you wont regret it.
  
  

• Remember: the Wii isn't a true HD device

  
  By AJSN3236XAYTN on 2007-07-30
  Let's get something out of the way first: The Wii does *not* do anything, resolution-wise, above 480p. It can do 480p widescreen at a 16:9 ratio, so it'll fill up the TV nicely and all, but, it's still pretty low-resolution.
  
  I picked up a shiny new big HDTV with full 1080p support. After picking up these cables, I did notice some notable color improvements, and the difference between 480i (standard def) and 480p really is visible. When playing games with more cartoonish graphics, such as Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, everything is looking pretty good. However, anything with a bit more realism (Wii Sports isn't exactly realistic, but it has more detail in the graphics) doesn't look nearly as good as it would at a higher resolution, and pumping up the screen size does show off some jagged edges on things.
  
  My wife, who isn't really a big gamer, has lamented the quality of the image. She's said to me on multiple occasions now (and we've only had the TV for two weeks) that she wishes the Wii looked better on it.
  
  These cables work well for what they do, but really, the system behind it can't push the best resolution for it to matter a ton. I'm glad to have picked them up on sale, but I wouldn't pay the full $30 for them. I'd bet you'd be safe picking up a third-party set for $15.
  
  

• Solid product; works great

  
  By A114TMHW9GRMPB on 2007-04-26
  I am using this with my 46-inch DLP HDTV and the picture looks solid. It is difficult to imagine a 480p signal look any better on a 720p HDTV. If you have an HDTV, this is a "must-buy" for the Wii!
  
  
• Disappointed.
  By A56IAIR71TPP5 on 2007-03-01
  I couldn't detect a visual difference on screen when I replaced the original composite cable that came with the Wii system with this component cable.
  
  
• A "must-have" if you have HDTV
  By A4Q3HRQVWRPEU on 2007-04-05
  First off, if you do not have an HDTV, then don't bother.
  But, if you have an HDTV, then most likely you will see a picture improvement by using the component inputs rather than the composite jacks.
  Don't expect miracles from 480i or 480p. But, if you are like us, having so much fun with the Wii is worth a lot more than the 1080p display our PS3 and 360 gives us.
  
  
• Definitely good to have, but do you need a Licenced product?
  By AHCVWPLA1O4X8 on 2007-09-06
  When I connected these cables I noticed a definite improvement in my Wii's image quality. The system is still only capable of 480p resolution, of course, but these component cables provided better colors and sharper images, even though I experienced some of the jaggedness that other reviewers have complained about.
  
  That said, do you need THIS particular set of component cables? Probably not, and in this case it seems that you're paying extra for little more than the Nintendo name. If you can get these cheap it may be worth it--if not a set of third party cables will give you the same effect. If you have a component input on your TV I'd recommend something like this, though I can't say I think these Nintendo cables give you an advantage over those from a third party.
  
  
• Awesome Cables and Awesome Picture! Component Input Necessity.
  By A32YYHMU47GPEC on 2007-12-24
  These cables are great! If you have an HDTV or just a TV with component inputs, these cables are a necessity for better picture. I have both a CRT style TV with component inputs and a 1080p HDTV. Both TV's have more vibrant colors and better picture when using the component cables. Make sure that your HDTV supports 480p if you want the Wii to display in that resolution. DO NOT TRY TO ENABLE 480P IN THE WII SETTINGS IF YOUR TV WILL NOT DISPLAY THAT RESOLUTION.
  
  For those not noticing a difference compared to the included Composite Cables this can be atttributed to 2 things:
  
  1. You have forgotten to enable 480p in the Wii Settings
  2. Your HDTV does not display 480p as well as it's native resolution like 1080i/1080p. Not all HDTV's are built the same.
  
  ***VERY IMPORTANT FOR 480p Output***
  -Please note that your TV must be a high-definition TV (HDTV) or enhanced-definition TV (EDTV) to view 480p output.
  -You will also be required to change your Wii settings from Standard TV (480i) to EDTV/HDTV to view 480p.
  ***VERY IMPORTANT FOR 480p Output***
  
  Super Mario Galaxy looks even more incredible with these cables!! Awesome.
  
  Thanks Amazon for the great price! Thanks Nintendo for another fantastic product!
  
  
• Not that great
  By A3OO4WIO4SKD55 on 2008-03-21
  I originally purchased this because the Component this cable hooks into was the only remaing component left on my TV. But it doesn't work on Wii Virtual Consol games unless they are Nintendo N64 games and the packaging fails to mention that. And also, This is a cord to hook the wii into A high-def component and the Wii isn't really a high-def system. And Playing Wii games while using this cord didn't improve the pictre quality at all I think I'll return this cord and pass.
  
  
• Ripoff
  By AMW636ZQYB7MC on 2007-02-13
  Anybody paying $30 for these cables are spending $10 too much. Mad Catz makes the same cable for $20, also on sale at Amazon. I own the Mad Catz cables and they work great.
  
  
• Nintendo Wii Component Video Cable
  By A31CWHX95IATFX on 2007-02-16
  I just recently got my component cable from Nintendo because I couldn't stand the low quality of the original composite cables and after I plugged in the cables and set the Wii to 480p and I noticed an immediate improvement in the color display of of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wii Sports but I also noticed that the image display had become a bit fuzzier... I was not sure if this was normal so don't no exactly what to do about but it but others these component cables are great. Excellent color and more details although some of them might be a little fuzzy (or maybe it's just my TV settings).
  
  
• A must buy!
  By A3GGBECJ1MK3PE on 2007-03-18
  This cable definitely made a difference when it came to the clarity and definition of the games that I play on the Wii.
  
  You should buy this cable if you own a Plasma HD TV or an LCD TV. It will definitely sharpen the picture!
  
  
• HD For Wii Dummies
  By A3W4D8XOGLWUN5 on 2007-02-26
  With the success of HDTV systems all over, many need to upgrade inorder to play their favorite video games in high-definition. That case needs to be shown with all systems, including the Nintendo Wii. Although the Wii has a audio/video cable, there needs to be a specialty one for those who have those new televisions. This one that Nintendo made is very convient, and has the highest quality in service to function well with the new system. It is easy to setup and is worth its money. Although there are other companies that have made other specialty cables for HDTV's for the Wii, you're only bet is to stick with this one from Nintendo.
  
  Price: B+
  
  Quality: A
  
  Overall: B+
  
  
• Makes a big difference in video quality
  By A3HOE5R7UY41N5 on 2007-05-14
  The Wii is not known for it's graphics at this point in the video game console evolution anyway, so every little bit helps. With the component cables and my HD TV, I noticed some huge differences in picture quality. In most games, it mostly just upped the quality of backgrounds and the skins of the items on the screen. Basically, it made things look "prettier" in a very significant way. The biggest difference I saw was in games like Wii Sports and Wii Play. The only game so far that it actually messed me up on was Excite Truck, where the increase in graphic quality made it harder to tell where the road is.
  
  Overall, if you have an HD TV and a Wii, get it.
  
  
• Worth the money
  By A3Q2LS9OS5PU02 on 2007-02-13
  I received my Nintendo cables a few days ago and the picture is great. It's a shame that the Nintendo Wii tops out at only 480p, but the graphics are still awesome.
  
  
• HD component cables for Nintendo Wii
  By A3IJSOG1D57EKE on 2007-03-18
  I highly recommend upgrading to HD cables if your television permits. There is a very noticeable improvement in the quality of the picture.
  
  
• Works Like a Charm
  By A2XTKFR6PS4U8F on 2007-06-12
  While this cable won't upgrade the 480p up to 1080i on your big screen TV, it definitely increases the sharpness of images and especially of text. I have been using the Wii Internet feature lately and the component cable provides a dramatic improvement as compared to the composite cables that the Wii comes with. I am recommending that all my friends purchase the cable if they have a big screen like me.
  
  
  
• Not a major difference
  By A3PSN2U6XTZ2PO on 2008-05-27
  Aside from arriving in a torn box, this profuct worked fine. That being said, it's not all that necessary to buy this cable if you're a Wii owner as the picture quality isn't that much greater than with use of the standard A/V cable that comes with the Wii. It only allows an output of 480p (a minor upgrade over the standard 480i) and is not, by any means, high-def (only outputs of 720p or higher are considered high-def). To the naked eye, there is no difference whatsoever.
  
  If you're a Wii afficianado and you want the best picture money can buy for your beloved toy (plus if you currently possess a Wii - you've either severely overpaid for it or spent an absurd amount of time and energy finding it), than you certainly want to spring $30 for a minor picture upgrade, but you really won't notice any difference.
  
  
• If you have an HDTV or an EDTV you MUST get these
  By A3TZTPUWN61MLC on 2007-02-14
  These are the official compenent cables for the Nintendo Wii. I have them, as does my friend and they work perfectly. They may be a bit pricey but the are official brand. Buying 3rd party cables for less is a risk. While nothing may ever happen there is a possibility it could and if so, your waranty will be useless.
  
  
• Works as promised (a.k.a. sometimes first party product are worth it)
  By A1225PGJZSUA5S on 2007-02-23
  Seems to clean up the picture a bit on my 57" HD set. The amount of fan out cable was fine to hook up to my amplifier without having to stretch too much.
  
  
• Wii component cable review
  By A3EYQ7TA28J5UQ on 2007-05-07
  The Wii component cables exist in perfect harmony with the Nintendo Wii hardware and my Aquos HDTV. The colors are brilliant; and while the jaggies are more present, the overall quality of the picture is much improved than it was with the composite cables, which, incidentally, will end up in a landfill somewhere.
  
  I will applaud these gaming companies when they finally get with the times and include cables that most gamers want so as to play in the "next generation." Giving you composite cables is kind of like giving a high schooler 2-year-old board books to read. It just doesn't make sense.
  
  The cables are worth the price, and if you are like I am, there is some peace of mind that they are coming from a manufacturer with as good of a reputation as Nintendo.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Makes a great difference in visual quality on the Wii
  By A24YEWTKCD4DSO on 2007-06-08
  I love these cables - they make the difference in realism on my games so much more noticeable (in particular, Twilight Princess). Water, especially, looks great. Make sure you set the console to use high definition once you have these plugged in! I forgot to and was a bit confused at first as to why the resolution seemed the same. If your television supports these, they are a must-have for your Wii.
  
  Unfortunately, these are not compatible with the Gamecube. It looks as though it could work, but the plug is made specifically not to fit.
  
  
• An imporovment over the composite
  By A1QBRROS3L836R on 2007-09-11
  These component cables are a big improvement over the composite cables. It's especially noticeable on a 65 inch screen.
  
  
• Fine composite cables, not enough split
  By A2YKPEASEE9L44 on 2007-12-29
  First a couple of words about Amazon. Almost everything I buy here arrives quickly and in great shape. These cables are no exception and work fine but if you plan to connect the video cables to your tv and audio cables to your surround sound receiver, you'll find the split too short and you'll need barrel connectors and a 2nd set of audio cables to use as extensions. That's why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. Honestly I think that you really need to be looking at every pixel to notice any difference between different brands of composite cables. I'm now using Cyclone composite cables with barrel connectors and gold-plated extensions because the Cyclones seem a bit heftier, image on my 50" Sony HDTV is very crisp. Picked up the Cyclones at Circuit City for $25.
  
  
• Nintendo cable is utter garbage.
  By AMPSU4YEO7L5G on 2008-02-20
  This cable is so thin I could barely see the thing. Must be Nintendo's signature quality... The picture with this cable is aweful, and I have horizontal interference lines running through the picture. The resolution is so low and pixelated. God I hate nintendo and I wish I had never got a Wii, I get constant error messages with it. Nintendo is garbage and so is this weak cable. I thought this 'Nintendo brand' cable would be the best since it was made for the Wii, but I was wrong. I'm sure that Monster would be a better bet, or even some junk like mad catz.
  
  
• Is this thing for real?
  By A3OK6M3W6FLIKG on 2008-02-22
  After reading many stellar reviews from this site, I was sure that this would be a decent buy. With the Nintendo branding, you can't go wrong, right?
  
  Before I plugged in the component cable, I decided to turn on my Wii with the composite cable to get an accurate comparison. Composite = grainy, blurry. Component = sharp, pixelated. By the way, i have a 52" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV.
  
  With the settings configured for 480p and widescreen, the aspect ratios still seem a bit off. I haven't turned on my Wii since then. Thank God for Xbox 360 and 1080p.
  
  
• I just don't know if this item is worth buying.
  By A2XAKGRUHIE2ZA on 2008-04-27
  This is a quality item, well made and fits perfectly into the Wii, and the TV. I have HDTV with outstanding resolution on HDTV shows.
  
  I read the directions, set both the Wii and TV to the correct resolutions. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between these and the standard cables. I wouldn't buy the item again.
  
  
• Work better than some alternatives, but at a higher price
  By A1ZXCTUVMKDMDH on 2008-06-26
  I decided to purchase the official cable after trying a cheaper $10 cable that, while it worked fine, didn't provide the best picture quality (that's what I get for not buying first-party to begin with). This official cable definately had a better picture quality and while the difference wasn't amazing, it was noticeable and to me, worth the extra price. I have a budget LCD, so the difference betweent the lower- and higher- quality cables might be more noticeable. In short, these work great and I am much happier with the way my Wii looks now on an HDTV. I will not be hooking this up to my speaker system until August, so the length of the audio cables has not yet been a problem for me.
  
  While I'm happy with these cables, I took one star off for the price. I know I'm paying for the Nintendo name and the "official" seal, which I am always happy to do with Nintendo products, but I think $30 is a little steep.
  
  As a side note, the plugs didn't seem too snug or loose when I plugged them in and they are nicely sized - even if your inputs are crammed close together you won't have a problem fitting these in there.
  
  
• Great Cables - Too bad the wii max's out at 480p
  By AX9CDTZRLQMU on 2007-02-14
  These cables are the best you can buy. Anything MadCatz is very cheaply made.
  
  However, the graphics are still - ehhhh, so-so.
  
  I'd rather have seen Nintendo try and go all out and go for HD (720p, 1080i, 1080p). It's a little disappointing. Yeah the controller can be nice, but I'm looking at graphics that are no better than my 7 year PS2 (or xbox, etc).
  
  
  
  

• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play
• Tips & Tricks Magazine
• Wii Wireless Sensor Bar

• Wii Nunchuk Controller
• Wii Remote Controller
• Wii Play with Wii Remote
• Wii Charge Station
• Wii Classic Controller