A closer look at PSP's AV cables

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 20th 2007 at 1:30PM }

Here are the cables that you'll need to get your PSP connected to your TV. Official pricing hasn't been announced quite yet, but we can still stare in awe at the packaging, marveling at when we'll be able to connect our PSP systems to the TV.

See past the break to see more images of the PSP cables.

Tags: av, component, psplite

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

firejoker @ Aug 20th 2007 1:43PM

You wont be able to use them on the current PSP's, righty?

GRT @ Aug 20th 2007 1:52PM

They're something like 8 feet long, right? I wonder if a 3rd party will make longer ones, and have the A split farther from the V. The distance between the audio inputs on my receiver and the video inputs on my TV is probably 3-4 feet.

dannygcork @ Aug 20th 2007 1:59PM

Any chance that the current PSP being able to hook up to a tv say by a firmware update in the future that will enable it?

I'd-like-to-know @ Aug 20th 2007 2:42PM

Is it true that you won't be able to play games from your psp on your tv without having a hdtv? I'm poor so I was just wondering

jimmy @ Aug 20th 2007 2:57PM

Man we need this to work on the PSP1000.

Zero101 @ Aug 20th 2007 3:06PM

I would hope these cables are relatively long... say 12' or more. I site a good 8' from my TV, and anything less than 10' would mean I was sitting on the floor to take advantage of the PSP's TV out. That, or I will need to buy some kind of extension cables to plug into.

Alien @ Aug 20th 2007 3:13PM

Its a bummer that it wont work on regular TVs only on ED/HDTVs :( Other than that I cant wait for my new PSP :D

hiberphoptik @ Aug 20th 2007 3:27PM

uhm.. whats the point??? wouldnt this just turn the PSP into a PS

the PSP is portable.. what are you gonna do carry your HD TV around with you everywhere now?

required @ Aug 20th 2007 3:35PM

Alien I believe you are wrong. My understanding is that it will work on any TV (as long as the TV has component inputs).

required @ Aug 20th 2007 3:37PM

hiberphoptik, think of it as being similar to most notebook computers: just because I can plug into external displays/keyboards/mice/etc doesn't mean I'm no longer using a portable.

runemaster @ Aug 20th 2007 3:52PM

yeah, be able to carry a bunch of movies in your psp's memstick then watch it on your friend's TV is awesome.

..it's like carrying a mini DVD player.

Unafraidworm @ Aug 20th 2007 4:21PM

I think you can use it on a PSP-1000. But Sony is going to make where just the PSP-2000 will only get use it. So Sony can just get more money from us. Because they both have the same connections on the bottom.

TwistedBishop @ Aug 20th 2007 4:38PM

Speaking as someone who has a current PSP and is looking forward to the new model for various reasons...I never got the point of the TV-Out function.

Do people really want to play PSP games on their TVs? Or watch lower-res UMDs on them? I'm just not seeing the value here.

superaktieboy @ Aug 20th 2007 4:44PM

cool 8) im gonna buy a PSP-2000 8) but one question the Component Av Cable can work as a normal Av Cable right?

Wreckard @ Aug 20th 2007 4:50PM

There's obviously a lot of confusion around this.

1) these cables will absolutely not work with the PSP-1000. The PSP-1000 is not and will never be capable of direct video out like this.

2) Games can only be played using the component cables (so it will only work on HDTV's and the like). Videos can be watched using either the Component cables or the composite cables.

3) The composite cable is a separate item. The cables picture are component only.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 20th 2007 4:56PM

Ok here's some clarification. The PSP-1000 series is NOT capable of the new TV-Out function because the hardware has been changed INSIDE the PSP. Only the PSP-2000 series can use the TV-Out function.

Second, you can only play games through TV-Out if your TV or monitor has component cables. If you only have an SDTV (which usually only comes with AV ports) then you CANNOT play games but you CAN do everything else.

Joseph @ Aug 20th 2007 5:13PM

That's stupid, all the people who don't have a "HD" TV won't be able to play games on there normal AV TV

Explanation:
You can only play games with the "High Definition Cables". If you look closely at both boxes you can see that the HD cables say "Enjoy photos, video, music & games on your TV. The normal AV Cables just say "Enjoy photos, video, & music on your TV". I don't know if the HD cables will work on your Older TV either.

Joseph @ Aug 20th 2007 5:15PM

But will the Composite cords work with a normal TV?

Larz @ Aug 20th 2007 5:24PM

The US is way behind in HD TV technology. I doubt Sony is deliberately trying to force HD TV on us, but are just thinking "who would be using such an ancient TV?"

Wreckard @ Aug 20th 2007 5:52PM

I doubt it's anything so cynical. It's more likely that the PSP isn't capable of interlacing the video signal during games.

I'm guessing it's just a matter of time before someone comes out with a down-scaler / interlacer that works with the PSP.

And yes, composite will work with a standard definition TV for video - that's the single "yellow" rca cable you're probably using for your other video game systems.

Joseph @ Aug 20th 2007 6:40PM

The Person who just sent the message above could you explane. Well because there isn't a yellow cord with the Component cable. All I want to know if the HD cord will work with a standard normal non HD TV with just the Red, White, & Yellow cords. Please Respond back!

shawnkhoda @ Aug 20th 2007 6:55PM

do u think they will make an hdmi cable for it?

required @ Aug 20th 2007 6:57PM

TwistedBishop, what do you mean by lower-res UMDs? They're encoded at 720 x 480 which is in no way "lower-res".

maximumzero @ Aug 20th 2007 8:03PM

Okay. Everyone explain this one to me.

I have a standard def television with component inputs.

Can I play games on it?

TwistedBishop @ Aug 20th 2007 9:44PM

Required: My mistake, I thought the UMDs were encoded at 480x272. That it offers a 480 picture is certainly good news, however I still worry about the quality on a larger screen with so much compression. It definitely won't be as smooth as a DVD experience.

So why would we want to go through all this hassle (both in expense and experience) to play a movie at a friend's house, when we could just take the DVD along with us?

dave @ Aug 20th 2007 10:18PM

can we stop talking rubbish please about the video quality etc. thanks :)

the PSP can handle both 480x272 AND 720x480 using AVC in mp4. Now 720x480 is DVD standard for NTSC and using a high bitrate AVC file, you will be be able to get pretty damn good quality.

480x272 is actually watchable on a HD set, I check out my encodes on my 37" HD set.

I dont recall anyone suggesting that you buy a new PSP purely for TV out, but its a pretty handy addition.

http://www.bontragerphotography.com/psp/

dave @ Aug 20th 2007 10:21PM

ooh and a quick comment :P i have a media player which i took over to a friends house this weekend as i had ripped tonnes of TV shows they wanted to see. I didnt want to take my box set DVD's so just took the hard disk media player.

so the PSP could easily be used for this purpose in future using AVC and a 4gb card.

Hoffer @ Aug 20th 2007 11:39PM

Many SDTVs also have component inputs. Component is not a HDTV only thing.

I have a black PSP 2000 on preorder from amazon.com. I will probably pick up the component wires as well just to play around with.

pregunta @ Aug 20th 2007 11:54PM

I plan on using it on flights to drone out the other cattle using this: http://www.icuit.com

pregunta @ Aug 20th 2007 11:55PM

Dangit Sorry! Typo on url: http://www.icuiti.com

Wreckard @ Aug 21st 2007 11:11AM

"The Person who just sent the message above could you explane. Well because there isn't a yellow cord with the Component cable. All I want to know if the HD cord will work with a standard normal non HD TV with just the Red, White, & Yellow cords. Please Respond back!"

That's why you won't get the product pictured above. There is a separate product that will be a PSP composite cable. That's what you'll get.

"Okay. Everyone explain this one to me.

I have a standard def television with component inputs.

Can I play games on it?"

Only if your TV accepts progressive scan inputs via component (which it probably doesn't).

Quest @ Aug 21st 2007 1:05PM

While all of the suppositions above are likely factors for Sony in their decision to make the games Component only, let us not forget that SDTV will die a pre-determined death in just over 18 months. By making the PSP 2000 games HD compatible, they have bought themselves some time to develop the "PSP2" that we all keep going on about.

Personally, I don't have a reason or desire to play on my HDTV. I do want to have the option to play my TiVo-copied shows on other TV sets if I like. Not at home, though. We have a TiVo for every TV in the house ;)

joseph @ Aug 21st 2007 11:27PM

u dont need HD check ur tv i checked mine and the in has all the slots for the cmpponent ones and an extra yellow slot

moony @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:06PM

if you use the component cables as composite cables will it only display one color of blue red or green depending on which one you put in?
i don't really wanna buy 2 cables!!

sachin @ Sep 5th 2007 3:47AM

i was just wandering, i have and hd tv and im getting the new psp since ive been waiting for a wile but how come thre r so many cables,(D terminal cables, component cable, av cable, composite cable, S Video cables etc.) what do they all do??

Adam @ Sep 7th 2007 8:17PM

hey this new psp is gonna be sweet! i own a psp right now and i will be buying a new one! the tv out will be sweet. I think its aimed more at people who dont have a regular counsle like me. i used to have a ps2, but got rid of it. so now i can play at home or on the road. AND FOR ALL THE MYTHS THAT THE PSP IS ONLY FOR HD TVS, SUCK IT!!! IT HAS AV CABLES, YOU CAN HOOK IT UP TO 90% OF THE TVS OUT THERE!!sry i had to get loud, but most vcr's/tvs have av cables. later

Karas_kun @ Sep 16th 2007 5:41PM

Search eBay, there is S-video cables also, same price, but better than composite for video.

Actually I own Flat Screen CRT 21 Toshiba that has a Component input, but not 480P.
PS2 looks much better on such TV than on my Samsung HDTV 27in, all HDTV's will upscale any lower than native resolution, so all games, video, cable TV that 480I and even 480P looks like crap, colors are washed out. But 360 and PC looks gorgeous. When I get my psp and cables ill try it on my Toshiba 21 and see how is it.. should be sweet