Can I get 5.1 from my Xbox360?

Posted by: Consciousmess on 02 January 2009

Hi all,

I had to ask this question as I am perplexed. Surely if this is an up to date console, it will have the Dolby 5.1 abilities?? I have read the manual and it says nothing of this, but would I be correct postulating that outputting via HDMI brings with it the 5.1 signal?

In short, could I output into a processor and thus make my Xbox 5.1 sound?

Many thanks for your comments!

Jon

Posted on: 02 January 2009 by Graham Russell

I bought an Xbox 360 just before Christmas. The supplied AV cable also has an optical digital output. I have connected this to my processor and am getting 5.1 sound.

I haven't tried HDMI to the TV and taking optical digital out from TV.

I hope this helps.

Graham

Posted on: 02 January 2009 by garyi

I would recommend using the supplied optical output which is oddly on the cable end of the hdmi output lead (I seem to remember) unless your receiver has HDMI passthrough, but still I would suggest this is the better way.

I assume they do 5.1 because I got my brother an yamaha e800 receiver hand he phoned me later to say he was shitting himself playing gears of war because of the noises behind him.

Posted on: 03 January 2009 by john R1

i have a original x-box 360, had that plugged into my n-vi via optical lead and the 5.1 output was better than most films i have seen, the original 360s only had component for HD not hdmi

Posted on: 03 January 2009 by Consciousmess

Thanks for the tips!

I've just looked on my supplied AV leads and there isnt a digital output from them!

That means I guess I'll have to go from HDMI to a HDMI receiver and then to my TV. Bit of a shame as I didnt want to have to buy another AV processor!!

I also have the basic Xbox360 although I do have the HDMI port. Would I gain much from buying a hard drive?

Regards,

Jon

Posted on: 03 January 2009 by winkyincanada

There is an adaptor you need. It uses the honking big output on the Xbox to give analogue stereo or optical (toslink) output for sound. You use the HDMI for the video at the same time. Go to the Xbox 360 site and look at "cables" in the store. My XB360 came with.

FYI, my TV outputs optical (toslink) so I use that feed for the SuperNait. If your TV does the same, I think that would work for 5.1 if you set the TV sound options correctly. Basically it would flow-through the digital audio, converting from HDMI to optical in the TV. Take that feed to your 5.1 processor.

Posted on: 05 January 2009 by gazla

Bought and set up a 360 yesterday ... I have an HDMI cable to the screen and the optical connection from the back of the component cable to the AV amp. In order to get both cables to fit in the Xbox I had to break off the back of the plastic housing on the component cable ...

Posted on: 08 January 2009 by sonyguy

Along with the the correct cables for your audio the game has to have the digital 5.1 for it to really work. For example two of my fav games are GTA IV has "in-game Dolby Digital" however Test drive unlimited does not have it. Anyways im not an expert I just notice that the two game sound different on my system. Best of luck