Rating: - Indispensable for those who travel internationally on a budget.
I bought this cable several months ago in order to watch my own programs when I go to a cheap hotel (professors can't afford the Sheraton!) in Europe or South America where there is a TV set in the room but no cable stations, which limits the programs to three or four channels (even in London!)
This is a very simple device. Just plug one end into the Archos earphone out jack, plug the other end with the white, red and yellow composite connectors to the TV's video in, and voilà. But don't forget to press the TV button (just right of the "on/off" button on top of the 604) otherwise you won't see anything!
There is a caveat, however. Most recent DVDs have a stupid code preventing pirating (that real thugs and honest knowledgeable folks manage to override, but average decent people are poisoned by it!) and in this case you won't be able to see your DVD elsewhere than on your small Archos screen, even if you paid for it, as I always do. This is the case for Loreena McKennitt's "Nights from the Alhambra" and both of my Sarah Brightman's concerts ("Live in Las Vegas" and "Diva" -I wrote a review for this last one) which is the reason why I don't expect to buy any other of their DVDs, even though I found a way to get around this inconvenience. I do this in three steps:
1) I record the protected DVD into my laptop using a device called "ADS Instant DVD" instead of recording it to the Archos
2) Then, I convert the Windows file to the "Pocket PC" format using "Windows Media Encoder" (free from MS website)
3) Finally, I hook the Archos to the laptop, choose the "Synchronization" option and transfer the encoded file into the machine. Now it works on a TV, no matter how protected it is! Note however that if you just drag it or copy and paste it to the Archos using the PC link option it won't work: you must synchronize it with the 604.
The only problem is that, if the quality is OK on the small Archos screen once it has been converted to the Pocket PC format, when you try to see this file on a big screen, it is not so good. This is acceptable for a film but not really for a concert.
Unfortunately, huge masterpieces such as "Gone with the Wind", "Dr. Zhivago" and "Forrest Gump" will not pass either on your TV, unless you convert them to the Pocket PC format as I already explained.
Nevertheless, most of my films on DVD (whether older or newer) work fine on a large screen when recorded directly to the Archos 604 via the home DVR station and seen on a hotel TV using this video cable. Among others, wonders such as Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole's "Becket", "The Da Vinci Code" with Tom Hanks, or Andy Garcia's wonderful "The Lost City", just to name a few masterpieces that everybody should own. Especially Andy Garcia's outstanding film about the Cuban revolution, which was boycotted by Hollywood for mere political reasons and that every freedom loving person should buy! On September 19, 2008 Amazon was selling it for only $11.49, which is an incredible bargain for a masterpiece. Furthermore, it's eligible for free shipping!
Also, my older films on VHS such as "Love Story" (another masterpiece that everybody should have!) can be seen on a big screen when recorded directly to the Archos, but newer VHS like "Pretty Woman" react like protected DVDs and refuse to read on my TV
On the other hand, with the exception of Loreena McKennitt, my two Sarah Brightman's DVDs, André Rieu's "The Homecoming", and a couple of other concerts, most of my concerts on DVD also work on a large screen with fair quality. Among others: Renée Fleming's wonderful "Sacred Songs"; Hayley Westenra in New Zeland; Bernstein's outstanding Christmas concert "Ode to Freedom" (Beethoven's 9th symphony, a collector's item!); "Andre Rieu In Tuscany", "In New York", "In Vienna", "The Flying Dutchman" and "In Wonderland" (a real wonder for this last one; it sure deserves that name!) and my two favorites with Renée Fleming's and Bernsteins's concerts: Celtic Woman 1 + 2 ("A New Journey", an outstanding concert for which you may read my review for Amazon, dated February 4, 2007 if you are interested). Unfortunately, their third concert ("A Christmas Celebration", that I expect to review before next Christmas, when I finish my FIU students' corrections for this semester) is protected but their masterpiece (number 2) works OK.
It is true, however, that the image quality is far from excellent, even on my small 20 inch Chinese stereo TV for which I paid $128, and even if I record an unprotected DVD directly to the 604 in AVI. Using the home DVR station and a traditional composite cable with three connectors at each end will dramatically improve the image quality, but the DVR is bulkier to carry around and it needs a power source to work. Nevertheless, this cable works fine for the audio part and I often use it to connect my 604 to my audio system, even when I'm home.
But all in all, this is an excellent value for money at just under $15, which will allow you to watch your favorite films or concerts on a hotel TV, listen to music or audio books without carrying the DVR station around, or show the pictures of Uncle Archibald`s tenth wedding in Tahiti during your next family reunion around Aunt Agatha's turkey on Thanksgiving's Day.
Before you go, let me add an interesting complement for those who like to travel light: the "Archos Docking Adapter" for $27 from Amazon as I write these lines. This is a small device (tiny if compared to the DVR station!) that connects under the 604 and will allow you to recharge your machine with the included worldwide AC adaptor, hook it to another computer with the also included USB cable (but don't use the AC adaptor while linking the 604 to a computer, which will also charge it) and, most important, to add a USB drive like the Adata in 32 Gigs (currently under $60 from Amazon) with plenty of films and concerts in it. At an average of 1 gig for a film recorded directly in AVI or only about 200 MB if converted to the PPC format, imagine how many films and concerts you may put into a 32 gigs device! You can also hook an SDHC with a USB reader or a 32 gigs Compact Flash in a CF USB reader, although these last two solutions are much bulkier than the single USB drive in 32 gigs.
Beware of multi slots card readers because they don't always work here! As for external 2.5 inch drives powered by the USB, none of my five pocket drives, between 40 and 320 gigs, will work via the USB. Your only option is therefore USB flash drives (my Adata in 32 gigs works very well), SDHC or CF in a USB reader. With this "Docking Adapter", the memory of your Archos is extended to infinity.
Rating: - Archos cable
great cable.. i used it with my 404 in a class presentation n the students were impress.
Rating: - Great product!
This cable works as promised. It allows me to watch videos on a TV without a docking station...
Rating: - Archos 604 WiFi audio/video cables...
These cables arrived in the original manufacturer's packaging. They are a good quality A/V cable connector; no gold plated connections or "Monster" type wiring. I wanted connectors I could put in my pocket or gadget bag to use when away from home. They allow me to connect my 604 WiFi to a TV, stereo receiver or radio with appropriate A/V inputs while not requiring the dock. These cables do not support charging of your Archos. The most important thing to remember is to get the correct cables for the unit you have. They look very similar but have slightly different connections. [...]
Archos Video Cables for 404, 504, and 604 Series Portable Media Players Reviews
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