better sound setup with xbox?

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

beachBOYken

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hi

im looking to setup my xbox elite and hd addon so that i can use my 2 bookshelf speakers when watching movies and normal tv speakers for playing games , now i have not got prologic or anything like that but just want to use my louder wharfedale speakers i have the following:

xbox elite
nad 320bee amp
wharfedale 9.1 speakers

is there a cable i can use from my xbox that can go into the amp? , obviously i still want to use hdmi on the xbox.

cheers:)
 
If not, you may be able to run a couple of phono cables from the audio out on your TV to the amp. It's a bit convoluted but should work.
 
hi

no optical input as its quite old but still a good amp, im to bothered about all the dolby digital stuff i just want to be able to use my bookshelf speakers for when watching movies?
 
would it be better if i just change my nad amp to a reciever that has optical so i can then use the supplied hdmi and optical connector that comes with the elite?

cheers
 
i just thought with HDMI how could you output optical? on the component and VGA its built into the bit that plugs into back of xbox.
 
dont know because i have not got my elite yet

i just need to know if i got say an yamaha reciever and 2 bookshelf speakers a centre speaker would i be able to hook my elite and cd player up to it?

anyone

cheers
 
I believe there's an additional adapter that comes with the elite that you'll need to use in order to get optical out.

In the last month or so I got the Pioneer Xbox360 surround speakers.

Surround sound in CM Dirt is rather impressive.

As far as receivers go, I'd make sure it has 2 optical to accommodate the 360 and whatever else you might upgrade to.

Also, something to consider, if you have the HDDVD drive, some titles won't decode in 5.1. I'm sure the HDDVD doesn't handle HD audio e.g. I don't get surround sound with the 'brotherhood of the wolf' HDDVD - think the only non-HD 5.1 audio source is in the english dub.
 
beachBOYken said:
dont know because i have not got my elite yet

i just need to know if i got say an yamaha reciever and 2 bookshelf speakers a centre speaker would i be able to hook my elite and cd player up to it?

anyone

cheers
Click to expand...

Yes.

You would have to prepare for a downgrade in sound quality though.
 
Le Samourai said:
I believe there's an additional adapter that comes with the elite that you'll need to use in order to get optical out.

In the last month or so I got the Pioneer Xbox360 surround speakers.

Surround sound in CM Dirt is rather impressive.

As far as receivers go, I'd make sure it has 2 optical to accommodate the 360 and whatever else you might upgrade to.

Also, something to consider, if you have the HDDVD drive, some titles won't decode in 5.1. I'm sure the HDDVD doesn't handle HD audio e.g. I don't get surround sound with the 'brotherhood of the wolf' HDDVD - think the only non-HD 5.1 audio source is in the english dub.
Click to expand...


hi

that pioneer surround system looks great , am i correct in that it has the reciever so just needs connecting to the elite?

also whats the wires like (could be a problem)?

cheers
 
Yes, you just connect to the console to the Xbox 360 optical port. Can't say what the length of the wires are. I'm guessing the front speakers have about 3m of wire, the rear satellites about 10m.
 
beachBOYken said:
hi

that pioneer surround system looks great , am i correct in that it has the reciever so just needs connecting to the elite?

also whats the wires like (could be a problem)?

cheers
Click to expand...

The amp is built into the sub - 2 optical, 1 coax, and stereo inputs.

There's no denying there are a lot of wires but they hide behind the sub... what you don't see...;)

I found the rear speakers were too quiet after the auto calibration (comes with a mic to calibrate the positions of the speakers) but they were fine after manually increasing their levels.

It's also really loud, so be prepared to lower the sub and volume if it's just for a bedroom.

You get an optical cable with the pioneer but it's real flimsy, so you'll need to grab a monster or any other manufacturer that takes your fancy.

Something to note. If you pop in a cd into the 360 you'll only hear that in stereo as it's just a stereo sound source - until you manually upscale the surround settings. Same with ripped cd's to the 360 HDD.

I found I got more surround options with the pioneer via the 360 when it is acting as a media extender for vista media centre - it's still just upscaling a stereo sound source though.

Edit:

beachBOYken said:
it seems good but i cant find many well known suppliers in the uk that stock it?

also would i still get 5.1 sound playing hd dvds?

cheers:)
Click to expand...

It's available from a well-known dvd online emporium - play around with some searches.

As long as the HDDVD has dolby digital 5.1 or DTS then you'll get 5.1 - if it uses HD audio then I'm pretty sure the 360 HD player will only output a stereo source.

Edit:

I'm now getting the option to select Dolby Pro Logic 2 for the 'brotherhood of the wolf' HDDVD with the pioneer setup which is giving surround sound. Pretty sure I couldn't do this the last time I checked.

Oh well, the audio pixies have fixed it for me... yay!
 
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OP, if you simply want to hook your 360 up to your NAD with analog, simply grab a pair of phono to phono cables, and plug them into the stereo phono output on the audio dongle that come with your Elite.
If your using the component or VGA cable, use a dual phono coupler and the above phono cable to extend the cable so that it will reach your NAD while allowing the video cables to reach your monitor.

I've not used my 360 for movies, but the analog output sounds good enough for gaming in stereo for me :)
 
I can't remember what happens with the HD-DVDs. I do know on HD TV material which I've had from the USA, like American Idol and Heroes, it does put them in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and they sound great!

You can also stick the PS3 in the other optical port and it will play Blu-rays in DD5.1 or DTS.
 
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