I was hooking up my xbox with the hdmi output this afternoon and I was surprised there my no optical output. I'm well aware that hdmi can handle both audio and video but what (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) do you do if your receiver is non hdmi or just simply put a digital receiver. I'm hoping xbox is going to make me buy an hdmi cable with an optical input? If anyone could help me i really appreciate.

Xbox Optical dongle kit - 50 bucks - several threads here regarding this issue with non-elites.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hdmiavcable/ <---That's what you need.

MS sells an HDMI cable that comes with a special audio only dongle that has optical and RCA audio. It looks like this (http://cgi.*********/Xbox360-Elite-HDMI-cable_W0QQitemZ190153397678QQihZ009QQcategoryZ122517QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
You can also buy a VGA cable from a company called Dragon and the optical on that will work with the HDMI cable. The normal AV cables won't fit with the HDMI cable plugged in.

The MS dongle comes with the Elite.

i can't imagine this won't be corrected soon my MS.

Spend another $50.00 on a hdmi cable forget about it. I stick with the component cable I was pretty happy with that anyway. I just really wanted to get one of the newer 360. On the back of the console it says 2007 07 04 is it safe to say that the manufacturing date? If it is would you read it July 4th 2007 or April 7th 2007?

Get an hdmi receiver like the Sony STR-DG910 which is only $360. Clean simple hookup for your 360, plus lossless pcm sound from your PS3.

Spend another $50.00 on a hdmi cable forget about it. I stick with the component cable I was pretty happy with that anyway. I just really wanted to get one of the newer 360. On the back of the console it says 2007 07 04 is it safe to say that the manufacturing date? If it is would you read it July 4th 2007 or April 7th 2007?

Buy it from Costco if you have a membership there. If something happens, just return it.

Spend another $50.00 on a hdmi cable forget about it. I stick with the component cable I was pretty happy with that anyway. I just really wanted to get one of the newer 360. On the back of the console it says 2007 07 04 is it safe to say that the manufacturing date? If it is would you read it July 4th 2007 or April 7th 2007? July 07

someone on gamefaqs found out that one of the third party component cables will work since its thinner than the one ms sells.

Originally Posted by 6speednissan
I just bought the Halo console yesterday. I hooked up the HDMI, but later found out I needed that audio adaptor that comes with the Elite to have it hooked up to my surround sound. The reason is because the av cable that comes with the console is too wide to have it hooked up side by side with the HDMI cord. I had bought the Psyclone "HD only" component cables awhile back so I pulled them out and the plug in part is very thin, a lot thinner than the stock av cable plug. I was able to use the Psyclone for my surround sound and HDMI for my video and saved myself 49.99. Anyone else who may be in this situation I would get a set of those Psyclones off ebay for 10 bucks like I did.

You may want to check out ebay to see if you can get the psyclone cable cheap or if you can find a used one at gamestop, their used cables are usually $10.