Xbox 360 Audio/Video FAQ thread & guide

[L33]

Thought I'd start a little thread where we could keep useful info on the 360's AV connections/functions/settings/whatever as similar questions seem to come up pretty frequently - hopefully this will help somebody somewhere

Here is a little to get the thread started, any incorrect info please say! Please help and add anything you can


Jargon:
SD - Standard Definition (wikipedia link)
HD - High Definition (wikipedia link)
Scart - Analog SD AV interface (wikipedia link)
Component - Analog video interface, usually associated with HD (wikipedia link)
VGA - Initially a computer video interface, now present on many HDTVs (wikipedia link)
Optical Audio - Sometimes called 'toslink', a fibre-optic sound interface able to carry digital audio (wikipedia link)
Phono (RCA) - The typical AV connection that everyone will have seen at some point! (wikipedia link)
PAL - Video colour encoding standard we follow in the UK (wikipedia link)
Upscaling - A method of resizing a video signal usually associated with SD sources on HD displays (wikipedia link)

Available AV cables:
Note that this list only contains 'official' microsoft cables, there may be others available from 3rd parties but it is generally agreed that the microsoft cables are less likely to give problems and are therefore recommended (lots of 3rd party VGA/component cables gave ghosted, blurry images).

"Composite AV Cable"
Included with core system
RRP £?
NON-HD

The most basic of all available AV cables. Included with core systems, this cable is really only intended for use on SD TV sets or as a basic starter in order to get you up and running. If your TV can accept a HD input or has RGB scart connections, it is strongly suggested you replace this cable with a superior one.
This lead is supplied with a scart adaptor (still a composite signal, do not confuse with a true RGB scart such as the "Advanced Scart AV Cable")

Pros
+ Can be used with pretty much any TV set made within the last 15 years
+ Extenders can be attached to the two phono/RCA connectors for routing to seperate audio equipment (Hifi etc)

Cons
- Far inferior picture quality when compared to RGB Scart / Component / VGA cables
- No digital optical audio output


"Advanced Scart AV Cable"

RRP £17.99
NON-HD

A step up from the Composite AV cable, but still intended mainly for SD sets due to its inability to offer HD video. This cable provides a true RGB picture which is a far cleaner & sharper image than that provided by composite.

Pros
+ Sharper, clearer image than composite
+ 5.1 Dolby Digital optical audio output (and standard stereo too)

Cons
- Inferior picture quality to component or VGA
- No phono/RCA connections, so no easy way of outputting audio to a seperate source if you do not have a digital connection on your audio equipment


"Component HD AV Cable"

RRP £19.99 (Included in box with premium system)
HD

This is probably the cable 90% of people with HDTVs will have, mainly as component is available on all 'HD Ready' HDTVs, and because it is included with the premium pack. Able to offer a great HD picture right up to 1080p and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound via the optical connector.
Available video outputs:
480p
720p
1080i
1080p

Pros
+ Able to provide true HD video
+ 5.1 Dolby Digital optical audio output (and standard stereo too)
+ Switchable between component and composite, ideal if you use more than one TV and one of them is SD only.
+ Extenders can be attached to the two phono/RCA connectors for routing to seperate audio equipment without optical inputs (Hifi etc)

Cons
- Not quite as sharp picture as VGA on most TV sets
- Optical audio cable not included
- Does not allow for upscaling of DVDs


"VGA HD AV Cable"

RRP £19.99
HD

A superb cable for those that either have a HDTV with VGA(PC) input, or those that wish to use their standard computer monitor as a HD display for their 360.
Available resolutions:
640x480
848x480
1024x768
1280x720
1280x768
1280x1024
1360x768
1920x1080

Pros
+ Use your computer monitor as a HD display for the 360!
+ Able to provide true HD video
+ Allows for upscaling of DVDs
+ 5.1 Dolby Digital optical audio output (and standard stereo too)
+ Phono/RCA to 3.5mm headphone-type jack adapter supplied for connection to 3.5mm audio sockets (useful for such connections as computer sound cards 'line in')
+ Extenders can be attached to the two phono/RCA connectors for routing to seperate audio equipment without optical inputs (Hifi etc)

Cons
- On some TV sets the colours are not quite as vivid as those displayed when using the component connection
- Optical audio cable not included


FAQs

Should I use 720p or 1080i?
A new topic on this question is started pretty much weekly in the OCUK Console forums. There is only one true answer: Whichever looks best on your TV. Try them both for a few hours and see which you prefer!

 

[Stellios]

Nice idea, should prove useful

Ive got the component cable running to a standard CRT TV, pictured HERE . Does a standard Scart cable really make that much of a difference to the image? Ive got a few things to pick up in town next week so will it be worth getting this cable?

 

[DaveyD]

Nice little bit of info, some of the details are already in the sticky, but not all, so could probably slap those into the sticky with the rest of it later maybe.

 

[DaveyD]

Nice idea, should prove useful

Ive got the component cable running to a standard CRT TV, pictured HERE . Does a standard Scart cable really make that much of a difference to the image? Ive got a few things to pick up in town next week so will it be worth getting this cable?

It depends upon the TV, sometimes RBG SCART can make a world of difference in picture quality, however overall it will give an improvement to colour and sharpness.

 

[TheMagicPirate]

+ Phono/RCA to 3.5mm headphone-type jack adapter supplied for connection to 3.5mm audio sockets (useful for such connections as computer sound cards 'line in')

That alone made it worthwhile for me, cracking job

 

[monkeyspank]

VGA cable pro - can upscale DVDs

 

[Begbie]

The bits about 5.1 surround isn't correct is it. Thought only way for that is through an optical cable or coxial, which 360 does not have? Maybe me being stupit, if so ignore

 

[DaveyD]

The bits about 5.1 surround isn't correct is it. Thought only way for that is through an optical cable or coxial, which 360 does not have? Maybe me being stupit, if so ignore

He's not specifically said what the 5.1 output is, it should read:
5.1 Dolby Digital Optical Connection

 

[Begbie]

Yeah, does composite standard adapter not have a digital output? Thought they were all the same thats a bit crap. Vote for sticky though.

 

[DaveyD]

Yeah, does composite standard adapter not have a digital output? Thought they were all the same thats a bit crap. Vote for sticky though.

The standard composite lead / core lead doesn't come with optical out, no. Kind of silly really as I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to actually put the optical out on the Xbox instead of the cable.

 

[Begbie]

The standard composite lead / core lead doesn't come with optical out, no. Kind of silly really as I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to actually put the optical out on the Xbox instead of the cable.

Thats where i actually thought it was until this thread

 

[L33]

Cheers for all the points raised guys, have added them to/amended the guide

Does a standard Scart cable really make that much of a difference to the image?

When I first had my 360 I was using it on a 32" CRT with composite; I noticed lots of colour bleeding and lots of distorted/eroded(?) edges. I also for instance could not read the smaller text in PGR3.
I bought an RGB scart cable and the difference was night and day, made a huge impact on the picture quality! It may differ from TV to TV but there will almost always be a big improvement.
May want to double-check that your TVs scart sockets support RGB? Otherwise it'll just be fed composite via the scart socket and will look no different.

 

[L33]

I wanted to tack this onto the FAQ, but apparently the message is too long, maybe a mod would be kind enough to do so if possible?



Connections
This is to help identify which ports your HDTV/monitor has available. A full list should be present in your user manual.

Yellow RCA socket = composite socket. Usually situated near and identical pair of white/red RCA style sockets which are L and R audio respectively.

21-pin rectangular socket with one slanted edge = Scart socket (sometimes called euro connector). Check your sets user manual to see which scart sockets support RGB signals if using the Advanced scart cable.

Red/Green/Blue RCA sockets = component video. Usually situated near an identical pair of white/red RCA style sockets which are L and R audio respectively. Quite often labelled 'Y Pb Pr'.

Blue 15-pin 'D' socket = VGA. Usually situated near a 3.5mm headphone-style jack which is audio input. Sometimes labelled 'PC input' or 'D-Sub'.

Small rounded-square connector similar to above image is a toslink/optical audio connector.

 

[Sclodion]

Just a small amendment, the first post states the component cable supports 1080p output, it doesnt. 1080i is the highest over component.

 

[DaveyD]

Just a small amendment, the first post states the component cable supports 1080p output, it doesnt. 1080i is the highest over component.

It does support 1080p for games, however it can not output 1080p for HD-DVD.

 

[suarve]

Ok, i have a Tv set downstairs that has an HDMI connection. Can i use the 360 component HD cable on this TV? Apologies if this is a nub question but im kinda noobish on these subjects

 

[DaveyD]

Ok, i have a Tv set downstairs that has an HDMI connection. Can i use the 360 component HD cable on this TV? Apologies if this is a nub question but im kinda noobish on these subjects

Not via HDMI.

All HDTVs have component connections in one way or another, so that's one option, or the other by using the VGA cable.

 

[suarve]

Not via HDMI.

All HDTVs have component connections in one way or another, so that's one option, or the other by using the VGA cable.

Again, apologies for what is most likely a noob question. It's a 19" HDTV, what setting shall i use on to display it (from the 360 dashboard set up).

 

[Sclodion]

It does support 1080p for games, however it can not output 1080p for HD-DVD.

Are you certain about that? The Component connections do not have the required bandwidth for a 1080p 60 signal. If games could be supported, then so could the HDDVD output.

I don't have a 1080p TV so if i'm wrong I do apologise, but component is not designed to carry 1080p (This I know, i'm a video engineer). My understanding was VGA was the only option for 1080p on the XBOX360.

Edit: the possibility is 1080p but at 30 frames per second encapsulated in a 1080i 60 carrier, but I know of no domestic TVs that would handle this.

 

[DaveyD]

Are you certain about that? The Component connections do not have the required bandwidth for a 1080p 60 signal. If games could be supported, then so could the HDDVD output.

I don't have a 1080p TV so if i'm wrong I do apologise, but component is not designed to carry 1080p (This I know, i'm a video engineer). My understanding was VGA was the only option for 1080p on the XBOX360.

Edit: the possibility is 1080p but at 30 frames per second encapsulated in a 1080i 60 carrier, but I know of no domestic TVs that would handle this.

100% certain. I can select 1080p on my 360 via component.
See here if you don't believe me: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/fallupdate

Is there a link somewhere that says all the limitations of 1080p via component? I don't personally know them, as I was under the impression that it wouldn't have a problem, as you can do 1080p via VGA fine, and that's a similar (well both analogue) tech.