360 surround sound setup

[Skie]

How do i do it. I cant find anything on google about it. I do NOT have a optical cable but willl get one asap. In the mean time the guy said i coudl do it but wouldent really have surround sound

[Furtwangler]

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/3/132827.html
I think it depends on the source of the sound. The xbox I thought will give 5.1 in red and white cables provided your receiver can support it properly. I've never noticed a difference. According to these posts, you'll need an optical for true 5.1, but either way your reciever must support it.

[Skie]

im looking for more of a guide. Like

1) hook the original cable to the 360, and hook the green, blue, red cables to the reciver

2) run the a new HDMI cable from recver to tv

3) set tv to HDMI2

4) FFXI

[Isiolia]

Depends on what you're hooking the 360 up to, and what sort of sound you are expecting to get out of it.

You have three basic options for sound. You can either use the basic stereo RCA cables, optical digital, or use the digital sound carried over HDMI.

Stereo RCA is capable of some forms of surround sound. Pro-Logic, in its various forms, works over that. So, if the game/movie/whatever outputs a surround track in that format, then it should work.

In order to get Dolby Digital, DTS, or similar 5.1 sound, then you need to use a digital signal, which means optical or HDMI.
Using HDMI for video and optical for audio on the 360 requires you to use the audio-only adapter, which was included with the official HDMI kit, the earlier Elites, and so on. Using that, you can just output sound over optical to your receiver, if your receiver lacks HDMI functionality. The other A/V cables block the HDMI port.

You can then just go into the preferences in your 360 and set the audio output appropriately.

If you have an HDMI-compatible receiver, one that actually can pull the audio stream out (some low end models simply serve as HDMI switchboxes and can't actually process anything from it), then connection should be as simple as 360 -> HDMI on reciever, and HDMI out from the reciever -> TV.

[Skie]

I have:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+B...=1218065493710

im not really looking for zomg wtf pwn sound. Just something to spice up the 360 experience so to speak. I have 360 pro, that has the adapter that is split into to, one regular cables 1 hd cables and the switch that flips to hd to tv. i'll buy a optical cable i dont care. Just do i like run the cable from 360 6o the receiver then the receiver to the tv?

[Isiolia]

From what the specs indicate, your audio system only has audio inputs. Video cables would continue to go straight from the 360 to your TV.

So you'd either use the component cable (the red/green/blue video connection) from the 360 to the TV, with an optical cable going to the audio system... or you could continue to use HDMI to your TV, and output audio via optical with the audio adapter I mentioned above.

[Skie]

Ok so basicly take this:

http://secure.llamma.com/catalog/ima..._component.jpg

1) Connect cable from 360 to TV.

2) Buy Optical Cable and connect it to the the port on the component cable

http://img381.imageshack.us/i/cableswitch5ia.jpg/
[The square on right side]

then connect the other end to the receiver. right?


I would like to use HDMI cable (component slot is filled by satellite atm) and use a optical cord for the sound. but the 360 doesn't have a port for the optical unless using the component cord. How do i use the HDMI cord with the switch? doesn't seem like it has a place to hook a HDMI cable. (i'm a newb when comes to this stuff sorry)

[Isiolia]

Yep. Then you may need to go into the configuration on the 360 to make sure it uses the digital audio out.

[Furtwangler]

1) Connect cable from 360 to TV (Red Green Blue). (Ignore the completely red and white cables)

2) Buy Optical Cable and connect it to the the port on the component cable
[The square on right side] Make sure switch is on HD

3) Connect other end into reciever.

[Skie]

is there a converter i can use that adapts for HDMI cord and Optical? kind of like the xbox componet cord but instead of the rgb cables its a hdmi port (i dont want to have to plug and unplug shit everytime i play 360/tv

[Isiolia]

Yes, but it's not a single cable.

What you'd use if you want HDMI video + optical audio is the audio adapter.

It's a short adapter that has stereo RCA and optical connections on it, and is low profile so that it doesn't obstruct the HDMI port on the back of the 360.

[Skie]

oh so you can use both? hook that into the component slot and use it for sound then use the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the 360 to the HDMI port on the tv?

[Norellicus]

Uh, you guys know the xbox will pass 5.1 audio over HDMI right

Edit: Nevermind I'm retarded, didn't see the specs posted for the receiver

But yeah you should be able to use HDMI + av port thingy at the same time, HDMI will pass video and other thing will pass audio (once configured).

You may want to know that having to 'split' the signal like that can sometimes cause desync problems though (usually most noticeable with games like Rock Band). YMMV.

[Isiolia]

oh so you can use both? hook that into the component slot and use it for sound then use the HDMI cable from the HDMI port on the 360 to the HDMI port on the tv?

Yep, I used HDMI for video + optical audio with that for years before I got an HDMI-capable receiver. Works fine.

Uh, you guys know the xbox will pass 5.1 audio over HDMI right

Yes. The catch is that he's talking about outputting surround audio to a system that has optical and coaxial digital inputs only. If he had, or were looking to get, an HDMI capable receiver, then it'd be different.

[Skie]

Ok bought the optical cable, didnt relize it was fiber optic lol. But componet is hooked into the 360 and tv (till switch comes in) optical cable is hooked into the componet cable and into the reciever. No sound. Xbox is set to Dolby Digital 5.1 i've fliped threw all the inputs on the reciever and nada. Ideas?


Exit: Fixed thank everyone for your help, i'll revive problem if any troubles when get the switch in.... lost my HDMI now and it sux lol

[viperlasson]

I had the same issue as OP. My receiver only accepts optical and I wanted to use an hdmi cable for my tv. But.. If you try to use both an hdmi cable (for video) and the standard a/v plug (for 5.1) microsoft gives you, they dont fit! The a/v is too fat and goes over the hdmi input. Good job microsoft, making you buy another cable. I just took off the plastic block that wraps around the a/v cable and the hdmi cable 'just' fits.

[Skie]

got my audio cable in last night. Have the surround sound with HD and LOAVING IT! gota tell you. Went form playing HD halo to componet cord halo SUCKS went form like 15 kill a game to 5-7