xbox 360 hdmi and audio dilemma

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TNA

TNA

TNA

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Before I order a xbox 360 premium. I want to use the HDMI for picture and my stereo system here to output the audio through my nice big speakers. I did this when I borrowed my brothers PS3 a couple of weeks ago and it worked very well. But I am not sure that you can do it with the xbox.

There is a lot of fuss on the net that you need to buy the official xbox hdmi cable which comes with an adaptor.

Would I not be able to just use the HDMI cable for picture on my Dell 2408 monitor and then use the component cable to get the sound coming out of my stereo?

Also any recommendations on a HDMI cable? or are they all the same?

Thanks a lot.
 
I don't think you can use the component cable and HDMI at the same time. There isn't enough room for both on the Xbox.

I am just using GAME's own brand HDMI cable and that is just fine with my Xbox and Toshiba 32AV505D TV.
 
You can do it, but as Lucifurr says, the component cable's plug won't fit in at the same time as an HDMI cable ... unless you mod it ;)

Basically you just pop the plastic casing off the component cable plug then it'll fit in with the HDMI cable allowing you to use the optical port or the stereo sound plugs. More info is here: http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

Another option if you don't fancy prising apart a brand new component cable is to just buy one off an auction site or just get hold of the bog-standard composite cable that comes with a 360 Core/Arcade - the plugs on those are smaller and will fit in at the same time as an HDMI cable.
 
Buy the official MS HDMI cable and you get an adaptor 'block' with phono audio and optical out which fits at the same time as the hdmi cable.
 
Yeah but that official cable set has a £35 RRP (no doubt it can be had for cheaper, have never looked personally), compared to a cheapo HDMI cable costing about £3 and a quick bodge job.

Also it may be worth noting that the Elite comes with the HDMI cable and audio adapter as standard, just in case that, along with the doubled HD capacity, helps justify it a bit more.
 
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Thanks for all that info guys. That is annoying that I will have to open the casing, as I get the feeling the cable will come apart much easier in the event it get tugged or something.

Is there a big difference from the composite to HDMI image? As my Dell 2408 has composite. Would I be able to use it at 1080p?

Also I have a spare HDMI to DVI cable lying around, would it the same to use that instead of going and buying a HDMI only cable? Is there any difference in quality? As far as I know its just no sound, which I don't need anyway.
 
I assume you mean component

Component cannot display 1080p as far as I am aware, only 1080i and lower. You must use HDMI for 1080p.
 
Composite to HDMI? Yes, composite isn't HD :)

I'm guessing you probably mean component though? The difference between component and HDMI at the same resolutions is really down to the display - on my HDTVs it looks pretty much identical. The 360 itself is capable of outputting 1080p over component, it's just that not many displays can do it. However I'm pretty sure the 2408 can do 1080p via component :)

HDMI is just DVI with sound, so the HDMI to DVI cable would be absolutely fine provided the DVI device it's plugged into supports HDCP (the 2408 does).

As I say though, if you don't fancy prying the cable open, pick up the regular composite (not component) cable that comes with a Core/Arcade 360 - the 360 end plug is smaller and the other end simply has 3 plugs - composite video and left/right audio. Just had a quick look on an auction site and you can pick these up for around a fiver.

Lucifurr said:
I assume you mean component

Component cannot display 1080p as far as I am aware, only 1080i and lower. You must use HDMI for 1080p.
Click to expand...

Nope, as mentioned above, 1080p is possible via component, it's just that not many TVs/monitors will accept it - there is a 1080p option when you're using the component lead.
 
Phemo said:
You can do it, but as Lucifurr says, the component cable's plug won't fit in at the same time as an HDMI cable ... unless you mod it ;)

Basically you just pop the plastic casing off the component cable plug then it'll fit in with the HDMI cable allowing you to use the optical port or the stereo sound plugs. More info is here: http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

Another option if you don't fancy prising apart a brand new component cable is to just buy one off an auction site or just get hold of the bog-standard composite cable that comes with a 360 Core/Arcade - the plugs on those are smaller and will fit in at the same time as an HDMI cable.
Click to expand...

Composite cables don't have optical out but I just took the plastic off my component cable and have used that for ages now to get optical out as well as HDMI.
 
Indeed I obviously meant component. I don't use these terms very often and got them mixed up there :o

So Phemo, are you saying that as my monitor will run 1080p on component, it will be identical or nearly to HDMI?

When I get it, I will test both. If I see a difference, then I will go buy a cheap "composite" cable from an "auction site" ;)

The reason I don't want to crack open the case is just in-case I want to sell the console in the future it may make it less attractive. Unless its very easy to put back on?
 
Kreeeee said:
Composite cables don't have optical out but I just took the plastic off my component cable and have used that for ages now to get optical out as well as HDMI.
Click to expand...

Aye, I should've made that point clear but he just wants to use the standard RCA jack audio so the crappy composite cable would be fine for that :)


TNA said:
So Phemo, are you saying that as my monitor will run 1080p on component, it will be identical or nearly to HDMI?

When I get it, I will test both. If I see a difference, then I will go buy a cheap "composite" cable from an "auction site" ;)
Click to expand...

It shouldn't be much different, but it depends on the screen - not used the 2408 so I'm not sure personally. However on my HDTVs I can't tell any difference between component and HDMI. Some people swear there is a pretty big difference on their TVs though so I guess you'll just have to give it a shot and see.
 
I got my xbox 360 pro today and have tried both hdmi and component. The only difference I see is the component seems to be a bit more colourful and the HDMI seems to have a small amount white tint. I asked my girlfriend to compare also, we did it a few times back and forth. Did not see anything special in using HDMI. Both are at 1080p so its all good :)

Anyone else here used component at 1080p and found that the HDMI shows better?
 
I've recently gone from component to hdmi at 720p on a 32" Tosh and I saw no difference whatsoever.

I'd hazard a guess that you'd only notice a difference if you were running the cables over a significant distance.
 
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With VGA and HDMI I get no overscan so I get far fewer jaggies. VGA is too soft for me though so I prefer HDMI. Colours are identical across the range for me.
 
Kreeeee said:
With VGA and HDMI I get no overscan so I get far fewer jaggies. VGA is too soft for me though so I prefer HDMI. Colours are identical across the range for me.
Click to expand...

Does component create overscan? I was watching out for jaggies and it seemed the same on both cables. There does seem to be a lot of jaggies in say forza, is this normal?
 
I am curently using HDMI lead to the monitor for video, and a VGA adaptor lead that has Audio output on it for the sound,. It works, but it dose take a bit of time for the Xbox to turn its self on and sync to the monitor, i have to turn off the monitor and back on at the same time as when the xbox boots up to get it work. I think it gets confuse because if got the VGA lead in the other port.
 
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