surround sound on the xbox 360

i think he means if your 5.1 system is an av reciever and speakers or if you have a 5.1 speaker set up that has an optical input on it.
 
da_mic_1530 said:
explain in simple terms scooby doo

bearing in mind i run a CRT tv
Click to expand...

If you've only got PC 5.1 surround speakers, the majority of the time they're basic, analogue packages that connect 3 or more cables to the back of the PC. This will mean they wont support Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS sources.

The item that you linked to on your original post is the ideal box for any creative 5.1 speaker package that does not already have an input for optical sound from the Xbox / Xbox 360 / DVD player / etc.

That box will also allow you to switch between PC / Xbox360 sound easily at the push of a button.
 
cheers DaveyD top class answer exactely what i needed to know

my current 5.1 doesnt have a optical input, though it does have 3 cables that connect to the PC into the soundcard. I currently use the standard Composite?SP that comes with the CORE package, i cant use the SCART connector as my freeview uses it, so i use the composite connectors on the front on the TV

so if i buy this



will that plug into the Creative unit in my 1st post

cheers again Davey D
 
da_mic_1530 said:
i cant use the SCART connector as my freeview uses it, so i use the composite connectors on the front on the TV
Click to expand...

Noooooooooooooooooo!!!! Do yourself a big favour, buy a switching scart block (where you can plug 2/3/4 RGB scart devices into one socket) and an RGB scart cable for the 360. The improvement in picture quality/clarity will be amazing!
 
da_mic_1530 said:
cheers DaveyD top class answer exactely what i needed to know

my current 5.1 doesnt have a optical input, though it does have 3 cables that connect to the PC into the soundcard. I currently use the standard Composite?SP that comes with the CORE package, i cant use the SCART connector as my freeview uses it, so i use the composite connectors on the front on the TV

so if i buy this



will that plug into the Creative unit in my 1st post

cheers again Davey D
Click to expand...

NO.

The red and white cables (left and right stereo) will NOT give you 5.1 surround sound.
You need to output a digital sound signal from the Xbox to the speakers.
That will be best effected with a TOSLINK or Optical cable.

The Xbox has optical sound output (I know sounds confusing optical sound lol, but it is an optical cable) and the creative device has optical input.

So Xbox optical sound out via optical cable to creative box optical input.
From there creative box to the 5.1 speakers.
Job done.

If you do buy a switching scart box I really recommend paying a decent whack of cash for it rather than a cheapo one that tends to leave interference.

Alternatively you might consider an amp, first building blobk of a really decent final system. Most decent amps will not only give you surround sound output but can handle video input as well.

This page of the device you mentioned shows 3 optical inputs on the back of the device (black squares on bottom left of back view) and top right shows an optical cable.
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=136&product=9468&nav=1
 
Last edited:
if you can afford, get Logitech Z5500 :)

plug the computer in digitally (mines via COAX)
and also the xbox optically - just press a button on the remote / volume box to switch input, glorius 5.1 sound
 
Does the composite cable that comes with the core package have a hole in the big block that connects to the xbox?

If not, then the RGB scart, VGA and component leads will have it. The hole outputs optical, and you need to connect this to an input on an amp or receiver or whatever using an optical lead.
 
da_mic_1530 said:
VIRII, noob question alert, how exactely do i output optical sound, what cable do i need, cheers for all the input guys
Click to expand...

The hole for optical cable is a small square hole. The cable itself looks like this below.

digital-optical-cable.jpg


You simply plug it into the Xbox (if i remember rightly there is a small square socket in the big plug that goes into the 360) at one end and the other into the amp or surround sound device.
 
McDaniel said:
if you can afford, get Logitech Z5500 :)

plug the computer in digitally (mines via COAX)
and also the xbox optically - just press a button on the remote / volume box to switch input, glorius 5.1 sound
Click to expand...

My friend just bought those speakers, an absolute bargain at £215 inc. delivery.
 
L33 said:
Noooooooooooooooooo!!!! Do yourself a big favour, buy a switching scart block (where you can plug 2/3/4 RGB scart devices into one socket) and an RGB scart cable for the 360. The improvement in picture quality/clarity will be amazing!
Click to expand...

Or component if the tv supports it.
 
I'm just going to colate things, and clear up some others.

Firstly: The cable that comes with the core (the one Mic is using at the moment) doesn't have an optical output, so you'll need a new cable whatever you decide to do.

Secondly, the TV: You say you have a standard CRT TV (I seem to recall you saying it's a 14" portable? or am I thinking of someone else...), so the best method of connection is an RGB Scart... You'll need to check that the scart socket will actually accept an RGB signal (it'll say in the manual), otherwise it's not worth bothering with (picking up a standard 360 premium cable, from someone who's changed their cable, would be a better solution). If it does, then, that's the way to go (the actual cable is called an "Advanced Scart," which will also give you an optical output). £20-30 on a good scart switcher will be money well spent.

Thirdly, sound: If you're happy with the speakers you have now, sure, get the Creative doo-da. But, if you're spending that kind of money, you'd be better off spending the extra hundred-or-so and getting the Z5500.

Fourthly, ;) um, catch me on Live tonight if you wanna talk through it.
 
THC_SsSsSnake said:
i saw this xbox 5.1 speaker system for 55£ in comet.would that work.forget the name but says for xbox ps2 pc
Click to expand...

I take it by "this" you meant "a" speaker system and not one of the setups mentioned in this thread?

For £55 I wouldn't buy it, it'd probably be one of those ones usually made by companies who make console accessories and would be a really poor setup. £55 isnt much for a 5.1 system as it is.
 
thanks for all the input guys, im basically left with 2 choices

get an advanced scart lead + a decent scart switcher + the creative decoder, total price about 120.

OR sell the 5.1 system, (any ideas how much it would be worth) and buy the logi's and the cable

EDIT - doug my TV is a 24inch sony CRT, but that will be replaced with a HDTV come may
 
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