IXOS XPP03 PS2 to 2 RCA & S-Video

My TV of choice for gaming was an older JVC 28" CRT widescreen which didn't have composite sockets for connecting to my PS2, so I bought the Ixos XPP03 as the next best option- the original scart connector was just grim, and I had already upgraded to a better quality gold one with noticeable improvement. At the time my Ixos lead arrived I was playing Tomb Raider Legend, and the difference on connecting the Ixos was instantly and vastly superior. Definition was much improved, with less colour bleed, and fewer burred edges. I could make the picture sharpness setting much higher to get better definition, without all the colour borders onscreen becoming a mess of jagged splinters. Well worth a tenner if you don't have composite sockets. If spending more, you should look at composite connection possibilities for comparison if you have this capability.This review facility asks for star ratings as if the cable were a game.I have awarded stars based on function and value. It missed out on a star as, on delivery, part of the cable insulation had not bonded to the gripping block adequately, and required to be glued to prevent further damage or possible strain on the cable conducting material and plug connecting joints. Otherwise a fine buy.

This S-Video analogue lead is made specially for the PlayStation 2 [not 3 which uses digital HDMI]. It is designed to offer superior sound and image quality compared to a standard [RF out] aerial or even SCART connection. The first IXOS lead sent had a problem with a damaged pin giving the picture as B&W. Amazon sent a replacement immediately and the next lead was perfect, i.e. the TV picture was in colour [and no bent S-Video pin]. The lead appears to be very well built, with gold plated quality connectors and the packaging talks of quality internal cable shielding and pure crystal oxygen free [low noise] copper wires. The plugs fit in firmly but aren't oversized, in fact they fit perfectly. Our old thin £3 PS2 SCART TV cable provided far better image/sound than the original RF aerial lead supplied, but this cable is clearly superior even to the SCART lead. It mostly gets rid of ghosting around text and reduces image fuzz a tad. Plus the PS2 connecter to the TV used to fail [crackle] if the PS2 SCART lead was touched [at the PS2 end], and this doesn't happen now with this IXOS leads far superior PS2 connector. Don't expect a massive improvement in image quality though, as it can't do anything to the inate PS2 screen pixel resolution.On my 12 year old sons 26" Samsung LCD TV image quality is good enough if viewed from over 8 feet away - and it's probably the best you can get without going to a new PS3 in high definition. The lead is 6 feet [2 metres] long and has a PlayStation 2 connector one end and a S-Video [TV] and twin Phonos [Sound] the other [a standard AV input on many modern TVs and AV amplifiers]. The only minor downside is that the thick [1cm] cable is rather inflexible owing to it's solid construction. Plus on our TV the S-Video/phono AV input is at the side so the cable sticks out from the side of the TV [but that's not the cables fault]. The cables sheathed in an attractive protective netting material for extra toughness. Overall it's a hit and we'll give it 5. Just make sure you have the correct S-Video/phono AV inputs on the TV [and a Playstation 2, ours is the older style large case version]. Plus also be very carefull when plugging it in to the S-Video socket - I have once bent the pins on the new lead doing this and had to straighten them using a watchmakers screwdriver, after which it was fine [the S-Video socket sticks out of the side of our TV so it's easily and regularly knocked out].

Best Quality.