Hello does anyone know the BEST way to hook up the 360 for MAX surround sound. My HDT has an opticl out, but from what I hear it's better to go right from the sourse to the receiver...HELP, thanks!

I have my Xbox 360 connected via component and L/R audio to TV, then optical to the stereo as well direct from the Xbox. I like having the TV connection for my son or a quick game with lower sound (and no sub to wake up kids, bother wife!).

When I want surround I just turn down the TV volume. I have done the same with my PVR - nice to have "standard" TV controls, better audio when desired for shows/movies.

I have my Xbox 360 connected via component and L/R audio to TV, then optical to the stereo as well direct from the Xbox. I like having the TV connection for my son or a quick game with lower sound (and no sub to wake up kids, bother wife!).

When I want surround I just turn down the TV volume. I have done the same with my PVR - nice to have "standard" TV controls, better audio when desired for shows/movies.

Good Point! Thanks.

If you want surround sound out of your Xbox 360 you have to use an optical digital cable. It's the only way.

If you mean DD5.1 or any DD or PCM, then you are correct, however surround sound is available via Dolby Pro Logic from stereo sources like analogue red/white cables, it's just not discrete 5.1.

If you mean DD5.1 or any DD or PCM, then you are correct, however surround sound is available via Dolby Pro Logic from stereo sources like analogue red/white cables, it's just not discrete 5.1.

Yes of course, you are correct. I just don't consider that real surround sound. Maybe i'm a discrete 5.1 elitist. ;)

PS: I should say that I have an Xbox 360 connected to my RX-V2700 with an optical cable, and 5.1 discrete in games can't be beat. It's definitely worth the expense of an optical cable if you have a setup that can use it.

Try Deadrising with 5.1 on, OH MY! I have my 360 connected with optical cable directly to my Yamaha receiver. Love those Zombie sounds :-)

I bought an optical cable to hook up my xbox 360 and it kept popping out from the xbox connection side (it was fine on my receiver end). Anyone else have this problem? I used the cheap cable from The Source, maybe I should buy a more expensive 1??

I have exactly the same issue. I just tuck the cable for the HD-DVD drive under the TOSLINK connector to wedge it in place.

It looks like the TOSLINK socket on the XBox 360 side is a tad too big.

darn! I went and bought another cable thinking it might be the problem, but if it is the 360 connection then I guess I am S.O.L.

Well since getting my surround system I just had to express how friggin fantastic my viewing/gaming experience has become, the powered woofer is just NUTS, I fully recommend a surround system for all your viewing/gaming pleasures.

Well the new optical cable works! It was a cheap Walmart one too! :D

The xbox 360 5.1 sound is the best audio experience I've had yet. It really uses the surround speakers for something. It is not only for ambient noises...

when playing a racing game, you can often know on which side the car behind you is coming.
In hockey games, you hear the crowd yelling at you.
In shooter games, you hear you enemies coming.

Gears of war on my 52 tv + 5.1 sound is the best thing i've seen and heard....

crazycanuck, how much did the optical cable cost at Walmart?

it's probably the cable, not the port. try reversing it. but fibre optical audio cables are all the same. you can get xbox1 FO cables or regular stereo FO cables.

I have a new XBOX 360 (bought Nov/08). It has no optical or digital out...just HDMI.

I don't have an AV receiver w/ HDMI in. Just optical and digital in.

How am I going to get DD5.1 out of this thing?

I tried using the optical audio out from my TV but that won't produce DD5.1, just PCM.

I really want to listen to the XBOX from the surround sound system. Not the TV!

If it is the arcade version I believe you need the audio breakout cable dongle or the official HDMI cable kit from MS

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hdmiavcable/

Unfortunately due to the way Microsoft engineered the 360 you can't output hdmi and optical audio without an adapter. The adapter comes free with the Elites.

Edit: Quicksilver types faster than me ;)

There is a hack you can do as shown in the link below:

http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

Or you can sometimes find people that have purchased Elites selling the breakout dongles for cheap. I managed to get one this way.

Let me get this straight. Microsoft drops the price of the XBOX but takes out the digital audio out. Then you are forced to by an adaptor from them for $50. Where is the price drop?

I have an Arcade which I bought for $170. I was hoping to get a refurbished HD from Microsoft for $30. This would be a total of $200 which I thought was OK.

But now I have to shell out $50 for a cable. If I bought the Pro I would still need this cable, wouldn't I???

I looked at the hack but don't understand it. Is there an digital audio out under the casing. All they really show is how to take the casing off. But then there is a picture of another cable coming from the device. There must be something under the casing. Not sure what to do?

talk about bizarre! I have an old 360 without hdmi and has an optical out which is what I use....