Dolby Digital Surround Setup for XBOX 360 - How??
Discussion
Hi guys,
I've recently treated myself to a nice 40" 1080p Sony Bravia to replace my old 32" samsung. The telly came with a Sony Bravia Theatre surround sound/dvd upscaler system too, which supports Dolby Digital.
Thing is, I just cannot get it to output the 360 sound in dolby digital, I have to set it to pro-logic to get surround and I think this is cheating as it just decodes a 2 channel sound into psuedo surround, why do this when I should be able to have the real thing?
Have checked the manuals for the telly, surround and 360 but no help. Was hoping some of you home entertainment buffs may be able to assist
My set up is connected as follows:
Xbox 360 connected to Sony TV via HDMI (360 sound output is set to Dolby Digital 5.1)
TV is then connected to the surround sound via a digital optical lead.
The surround and TV are also linked via HDMI and are synchronised so that the surround function alters to suit the input on the telly etc.
Does anyone know how to get proper dolby digital from my 360 with this setup or is it just not possible without the 360 being directly connected to the surround (which won't be possible with the HDMI connection in place)?
It probably doesn't matter too much but I'm a fussy beggar and I want the setup to be as good as it can be
Happy with the picture though, the games now look absolutely amazing and I thought they looked good enough in 720p!
I've recently treated myself to a nice 40" 1080p Sony Bravia to replace my old 32" samsung. The telly came with a Sony Bravia Theatre surround sound/dvd upscaler system too, which supports Dolby Digital.
Thing is, I just cannot get it to output the 360 sound in dolby digital, I have to set it to pro-logic to get surround and I think this is cheating as it just decodes a 2 channel sound into psuedo surround, why do this when I should be able to have the real thing?
Have checked the manuals for the telly, surround and 360 but no help. Was hoping some of you home entertainment buffs may be able to assist
My set up is connected as follows:
Xbox 360 connected to Sony TV via HDMI (360 sound output is set to Dolby Digital 5.1)
TV is then connected to the surround sound via a digital optical lead.
The surround and TV are also linked via HDMI and are synchronised so that the surround function alters to suit the input on the telly etc.
Does anyone know how to get proper dolby digital from my 360 with this setup or is it just not possible without the 360 being directly connected to the surround (which won't be possible with the HDMI connection in place)?
It probably doesn't matter too much but I'm a fussy beggar and I want the setup to be as good as it can be
Happy with the picture though, the games now look absolutely amazing and I thought they looked good enough in 720p!
i have a similar set up
i have the dvd/cinema surround connected to the tv by hdmi
x box to tv by hdmi
but then i think our difference is my 360 is connected to the cinema kit and not the tv by optical lead.
definately worked as i tested it with the star wars thx set up dvd.
took me ages to work out though with a big head ache
so basicallyu plug the optical lead from the surround amp into the 360 (i think it may have to be an elite though i,m not sure the normal ones have it,my old one didnt)
i have the dvd/cinema surround connected to the tv by hdmi
x box to tv by hdmi
but then i think our difference is my 360 is connected to the cinema kit and not the tv by optical lead.
definately worked as i tested it with the star wars thx set up dvd.
took me ages to work out though with a big head ache
so basicallyu plug the optical lead from the surround amp into the 360 (i think it may have to be an elite though i,m not sure the normal ones have it,my old one didnt)
Edited by m3jappa on Sunday 1st June 14:42
Thanks guys, how can I connect a digital optical out to my 360 with an hdmi lead in place? Also if I do this how would I connect my tv's audio output through the surround as there is only one optical input on the back of my surround sound?
I find with the hdmi lead in the back of the 360 you can't connect the regular component connector that contains the optical output? I can't see any other optical output on the back of my 360 either and I don't really want to sacrifice the picture quality by switch from hdmi back to component.
I've got an 'updated' premium, hence the hdmi, and afaik there is no difference between this and the elite other than colour and hd size, could be wrong so please correct me if I am.
I find with the hdmi lead in the back of the 360 you can't connect the regular component connector that contains the optical output? I can't see any other optical output on the back of my 360 either and I don't really want to sacrifice the picture quality by switch from hdmi back to component.
I've got an 'updated' premium, hence the hdmi, and afaik there is no difference between this and the elite other than colour and hd size, could be wrong so please correct me if I am.
Ok, it seems the answer was in the system blade of the 360 itself.
It states something along the lines of digital audio output will only occur when using the following cables... and it lists everything bar the hdmi lead.
Strikes me as odd really, you'd think that it could manage it, I mean the 360 in theory should output the audio and picture via the hdmi digitally to the tv with no loss of quality.
The audio is then transmitted digitally from the tv to the surround via the optical lead.
You would think it was therefore possible for the Dolby Digital signal to be sent through the hdmi to the tv and then from the tv to the surround through the optical lead... but no it seems this would be far too straight forward
Ah well, the pro logic 2 doesn't do a terrible job of it all and the improved picture quality of the hdmi when compared with that of the component leads is noticeable enough that I think I'll just be happy to compromise with a slightly less than perfect surround experience in order to have the best picture I can get
Cheers for the above help guys, although I would still be interested to know how those of you connecting to the tv with hdmi leads are also connecting to the surround by optical direct from the 360, as if it can be done I'd like to do it
It states something along the lines of digital audio output will only occur when using the following cables... and it lists everything bar the hdmi lead.
Strikes me as odd really, you'd think that it could manage it, I mean the 360 in theory should output the audio and picture via the hdmi digitally to the tv with no loss of quality.
The audio is then transmitted digitally from the tv to the surround via the optical lead.
You would think it was therefore possible for the Dolby Digital signal to be sent through the hdmi to the tv and then from the tv to the surround through the optical lead... but no it seems this would be far too straight forward
Ah well, the pro logic 2 doesn't do a terrible job of it all and the improved picture quality of the hdmi when compared with that of the component leads is noticeable enough that I think I'll just be happy to compromise with a slightly less than perfect surround experience in order to have the best picture I can get
Cheers for the above help guys, although I would still be interested to know how those of you connecting to the tv with hdmi leads are also connecting to the surround by optical direct from the 360, as if it can be done I'd like to do it
Righto, me again!! But this time with something useful for anyone, like me, who did not know.
Most tv optical outs will only carry stereo signal, so in order to get proper dolby digital from your 360 AND have it connected to the telly via HDMI you need either a hard to come by and rather overpriced MS adaptor that allows you to connect an HDMI lead and the original component out plug (believe this is actually bundled with Elite consoles), or there is the pikey spec bodge as per this link:
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50
I'm opting for pikey spec as I have a number of spare 360 connectors laying about from previously trying various types in the quest for the ultimate picture quality, so I figured I may as well give it a go!
Hope this proves useful to others!
Most tv optical outs will only carry stereo signal, so in order to get proper dolby digital from your 360 AND have it connected to the telly via HDMI you need either a hard to come by and rather overpriced MS adaptor that allows you to connect an HDMI lead and the original component out plug (believe this is actually bundled with Elite consoles), or there is the pikey spec bodge as per this link:
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50
I'm opting for pikey spec as I have a number of spare 360 connectors laying about from previously trying various types in the quest for the ultimate picture quality, so I figured I may as well give it a go!
Hope this proves useful to others!
I got an elite about 3 weeks ago which i have been able to connect a hdmi and an optical lead to,so maybe its a further update.
i feel your pain though,i bought a full hd plasma,harman kardon cinema kit and found the harman wouldnt play 1080i or 720p apparantly it needed an update.
so needing a new 360 anyway i went and got one and connected it to the amp via optical.
only then to find i could update the harman kardon myself.
so all round a major headache. gone are the days of the easy to use scart lead.
i feel your pain though,i bought a full hd plasma,harman kardon cinema kit and found the harman wouldnt play 1080i or 720p apparantly it needed an update.
so needing a new 360 anyway i went and got one and connected it to the amp via optical.
only then to find i could update the harman kardon myself.
so all round a major headache. gone are the days of the easy to use scart lead.
Cheers m3jappa, I suspected either a new update or had read elsewhere that the elite did come packaged with an adaptor that allowed both to be connected, that solves that one then!
madrob, yep any old hdmi will fit on a later 360, the earlier ones didn't have an output but the revised ones all do.
Update on the 'pikey spec' fix, did it this evening after purchasing a digital optical splitter earlier allowing me to connect two optical sources to my surround amp. It all works perfectly
At the moment have just got the casing off the component plug and fitted along side the hdmi. Will tidy it up soon by cutting the excess cabling off of the component connector and shrink wrapping the whole lot to keep it insulated.
Very chuffed with having dolby digital from my 360 now, totally transforms certain games, stuck dead rising in to test it and was as if I was actually in a room full of the undead, awesome stuff
madrob, yep any old hdmi will fit on a later 360, the earlier ones didn't have an output but the revised ones all do.
Update on the 'pikey spec' fix, did it this evening after purchasing a digital optical splitter earlier allowing me to connect two optical sources to my surround amp. It all works perfectly
At the moment have just got the casing off the component plug and fitted along side the hdmi. Will tidy it up soon by cutting the excess cabling off of the component connector and shrink wrapping the whole lot to keep it insulated.
Very chuffed with having dolby digital from my 360 now, totally transforms certain games, stuck dead rising in to test it and was as if I was actually in a room full of the undead, awesome stuff
Polarbert said:
Is there really that much noticeable difference between HDMI and component? I was under the impression that the difference was marginal.
I switched over to a hdmi lead midway through playing the halo 3 campaign on my old 720p screen and there was a noticeable difference even at that definition, I found the little details were clearer and there was generally just that little bit more 'life' to the image. But I'm a real fussy b*stard when it comes to av quality, I don't necessarily buy all the best stuff but I like to make sure I'm making the most of the equipment I have and can be quite anal over changes in quality, hence owning every bloody type of 360 AV cable there is. Yes I'm that much of a loser.
I think if total quality bothers you then you'll likely appreciate the difference whereas if you've never really been bothered you're unlikely to need to worry now, the component does a fine job really
However an hdmi cable can be had for a tenner, so could be worth a punt, if nothing else it's less cables to get tangled up behind your telly
No you're right there, early ones without the connection can't have it, although I thought they'd all red ringed by now
It's not worth changing consoles for if that's the verdict you were looking for, I was 'lucky' and my second 360 red ringed within a year, took it back to gamestation and they swapped it, got it home and found the cheeky little hdmi socket on the back
haha, yes that makes me chuckle too, had a massive debate with a guy at work over the differences (or lack of) in image quality between cheap and expensive hdmi leads!
It's not worth changing consoles for if that's the verdict you were looking for, I was 'lucky' and my second 360 red ringed within a year, took it back to gamestation and they swapped it, got it home and found the cheeky little hdmi socket on the back
haha, yes that makes me chuckle too, had a massive debate with a guy at work over the differences (or lack of) in image quality between cheap and expensive hdmi leads!
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