Hey all, so I have read about how it is basically impossible to have an HDMI cable AND a optic Toslink cable connected at the same time. This is because Microsoft decided to place the HDMI port on the back of the Xbox so close to the other video/audio outputs that the dongle for the component video/audit actually BLOCKS the HDMI port. That disallows you from running an HDMI cable for video while also using the shipped dongle for optical audio

What can I do to solve this? I would like sound coming out from my surround sound speakers while playing. I already know about the overly expensive cable Microsoft sells (I already have many HDMI cables), and do not prefer the "cut with knife" method where you cut the plastic off or something.

Is there any way to help with this? Maybe it is possible to buy a separate audio dongle, but I don't even know what it would be called. I just say "dongle" because I see others saying it lol.

I have a Samsung LED TV
Panasonic HTIB which HAS one HDMI OUTPUT NO HDMI INPUTS ( http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9321682&type=product&id=1218084655189)

Thanks in advance!

Or wait wouldn't this work?
HDMI from xbox to TV
HDMI from blu ray (which is the receiver) to the tv?

It has an HDMI out so I don't even know if I need this lol

I already know about the overly expensive cable Microsoft sells (I already have many HDMI cables), and do not prefer the "cut with knife" method where you cut the plastic off or something

Follow the directions on the web to "wedge" the plastic off. Not a permanent thing if you need to reassemble; just be careful.

Just get rid of the plastic casing is all you need to do...And it is a connector NOT a "dongle"...:rolleyes:

Sorry I updated my post so late, but my receiver (which is the blu ray player) has an HDMI out port also.

Can I just use an HDMI cable from the xbox to the tv
Then another HDMI cable from the receiver to the tv?

Can't wait to hear the reasoning behind this thinking...The answer is no but i still want to know what you are thinking...

Not so good with cables even though it seems easy to understand. I am guessing it needs to go from the xbox to the receiver and not the receiver to the tv right?

Xbox 360 to the receiver and receiver to TV is correct...Your post said this tho:

Can I just use an HDMI cable from the xbox to the tv
Then another HDMI cable from the receiver to the tv?

Just use one HDMI from the receiver to the TV and connect the Xbox 360 to the receiver and you should be good to go...:)

HDMI cable goes from the: receiver hdmi OUTPUT to the tv hdmi INPUT
That is so the sound comes from surround sound speakers and not the tv speakers

But then I am confused when you say "Xbox to the receiver". I thought it was xbox hdmi OUTPUT to the tv hdmi INPUT for the video quality?

What do you want to do here man???

Connect the xbox360 to the receiver to get your surround sound...If you want the sound only from your TV then connect just to the TV...

You have to look and see what AVR you have and if it will pass pic/audio with the AVR being turned off and if the AVR will decode the audio in from the Xbox...

You gotta help yourself here and start making some connections and see what works...All we can offer is the basics and you take it from there...You are making this harder on yourself than you need to...

You have two choices:

1. HDMI from 360 to receiver (most modern receivers pass video, and decode audio from HDMI); then HDMI out to TV. Most likely, your TV speakers will be turned off.

2. HDMI directly to TV for video, optical from back of MS "dongle" to receiver for audio.

If in doubt, option two always works, and you lose nothing since the 360 only outputs stereo or Dolby Digital, two audio formats that do not require HDMI to perform. Additionally, I have heard of some receiver/360 combos not being HDMI friendly in terms of passing the correct audio stream, so again, option two is failsafe.

I would just carefully pop off the plastic on the optical/component connector. Keep in mind that you will need an HDMI cable with a relatively thin plug to fit under the dongle.