I just bought a 360 Premium with an HDMI port. I need to get optical audio to my receiver so I can get my 5.1 sound going.

Can I connect the Xbox to my Samsung 5265F using HDMI... and then use the optical out on the Samsung to go back to my receiver and get my 5.1 sound that way?

And would this type of setup also work for other items... like my cable box? (HDMI from Cable box to TV... then Optical out to the receiver?).

My receiver does not have HDMI ports.

Thanks in advance.

Most Sets only allow you to pass Digital Stereo (2.0) through the Optical Out.
MS sells an audio "dongle" for 50 bucks (will fit simultaneously with your HDMI cable and allow for optical audio or RCA Analog. Or you can search these forums for a method of modding your peripherals, to allow both the Component and HDMI to be plugged in simultaneously.

Im not 100% sure how involved this mod is, but I think I remember its as easy as prying off the plastic housing on your component A/V cables where the wires come out, and then they both fit with no damage done to your 360's case or ports.

Edit: You can get 5.1 from your set via the optical out for Over-The-Air broadcasts.

Most Sets only allow you to pass Digital Stereo (2.0) through the Optical Out.
MS sells an audio "dongle" for 50 bucks (will fit simultaneously with your HDMI cable and allow for optical audio or RCA Analog. Or you can search these forums for a method of modding your peripherals, to allow both the Component and HDMI to be plugged in simultaneously.

Im not 100% sure how involved this mod is, but I think I remember its as easy as prying off the plastic housing on your component A/V cables where the wires come out, and then they both fit with no damage done to your 360's case or ports.

Edit: You can get 5.1 from your set via the optical out for Over-The-Air broadcasts.

If you go with the mod then you make sure you pull the black wire or your 360 will restart when switching sources.

I've got a Samsung HLT-6187S.

It appears on most (if not all) Sammy's they don't allow 5.1 to pass through their HDMI via optical.

Call their CS line and complain. Maybe we'll get a FW update.

It's not the TV manufacturers' fault. It's part of the HDMI standard that it not pass through 5.1, in order to keep people from making pure digital copies of content. Thank your friendly entertainment provider and their lawyers for this.

I just bought a 360 Premium with an HDMI port. I need to get optical audio to my receiver so I can get my 5.1 sound going.

Can I connect the Xbox to my Samsung 5265F using HDMI... and then use the optical out on the Samsung to go back to my receiver and get my 5.1 sound that way?

And would this type of setup also work for other items... like my cable box? (HDMI from Cable box to TV... then Optical out to the receiver?).

My receiver does not have HDMI ports.

Thanks in advance.

?

The optical out on your display is used for off-air HD or if you have cable card option for HD cable you can then use the optical to go to the surround sound.

I had the same question about connecting optical to my AVR (non-HDMI) and HDMI to my TV.

After researching this problem I found that if you want HDMI going to your TV and Digital Optical to your surround sound, Microsoft has engineered the Premium in a way that requires you to purchase their HDMI cable with audio adapter for $49.99. (Like I need to give MS another $50?) This is because the HDMI and componet A/V cable slots are so close to one another, and the componet A/V casing is so thick, you cannot have both plugged in at the same time.

However, you can modify the componet A/V cable that came with the 360 by removing the plastic casing from the A/V cable. This is done by wedging a knife between the slit in the plastic casing and seperating the two sides. Now all you need is any standard HDMI cable.

Here is a link to the Xbox 360 Premium - HDMI Cable and Digital Optical Adaptor Hack:

http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

I think you have to use the dongle that plugs into the old AV connector if you want to pass optical when using HDMI. Unfortunately it only comes with the elites and otherwise it's really expensive and somewhat hard to find.

I have one from my elite that I'm not using. Original poster or first person who messages me (OP gets priority) will get mine for postage plus a couple bucks.
(Mods,if this breaks the rules,I'm sorry. I'm not trying to make a profit, just provide a "good faith" service for someone in a crappy situation.)

Sadly I found the hack...but I went ahead and spent the money for the proper connection..$50 is pricey for what it is but that the name of the game.

I had the same question about connecting optical to my AVR (non-HDMI) and HDMI to my TV.

After researching this problem I found that if you want HDMI going to your TV and Digital Optical to your surround sound, Microsoft has engineered the Premium in a way that requires you to purchase their HDMI cable with audio adapter for $49.99. (Like I need to give MS another $50?) This is because the HDMI and componet A/V cable slots are so close to one another, and the componet A/V casing is so thick, you cannot have both plugged in at the same time.

However, you can modify the componet A/V cable that came with the 360 by removing the plastic casing from the A/V cable. This is done by wedging a knife between the slit in the plastic casing and seperating the two sides. Now all you need is any standard HDMI cable.

Here is a link to the Xbox 360 Premium - HDMI Cable and Digital Optical Adaptor Hack:

http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

Ok, I am thinking about going elite however I am not sure about the HDMI audio cable as I can't find a clean picture or description, will this cable allow for optical audio connectivity?

As just answered in another thread...

The Xbox 360 Elite includes a separate audio dongle which allows analog and digital optical audio to be transmitted out of the Xbox 360 at the same time as HDMI video, with no cable hacks or further purchases.

See:
http://www.llamma.com/xbox360/news/inside_the_xbox_360_elite.htm

If you go with the mod then you make sure you pull the black wire or your 360 will restart when switching sources.

I have taken plastic case off of the HD AV cables and everything fits perfectly now. As mentioned though my 360 will restart when switching sources. Can anyone clarify where the black wire is that I need to pull that RTRic mentioned?

Many thanks.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13647529#post13647529

Cut the wire that the arrows are pointing to and the XBox 360 won't reset.

I have taken plastic case off of the HD AV cables and everything fits perfectly now. As mentioned though my 360 will restart when switching sources. Can anyone clarify where the black wire is that I need to pull that RTRic mentioned?

Many thanks.

I don't have any idea what an RTRic is, but the easiest way to fix the restart problem, is to put a narrow piece of tape over the contacts for pins 26 and 28. In that case, there's no need for any disassembly of all that crap on the connector. The plastic housing is trivial to remove as you've seen, but the rest of the stuff is a royal pita.

P.J.

Thanks to both of you for replying. I found the correct cable and everything works perfectly now.

And RTRic was the original poster who I saw mentioning the black cable :)

Will this mod also work with a vga cable as well?

Best Buy's Insignia and Dynex TVs pass full 5.1 sound from HDMI to the optical out.

Will this mod also work with a vga cable as well?

As long as it has the optical audio port then yes. The "Dragon" brand of VGA cable will actually fit at the same time as HDMI without any modding.

Will this mod also work with a vga cable as well?

Yes, the VGA cable will also work, but if you want to eliminate the restarting issue when switching away and then back to HDMI input, you have to disconnect the jumper between pins 18 and 20, or put a piece of tape over those pins on the business end of the connector.

P.J.