Since I receive a few PM asking how do get the right sound out from Xbox 360, why my speakers no sound and etc...

let see what we can gather around the webs, and gather them all here for an easy-to-read, for beginners guide on Getting the right sound out from the Xbox 360 you owned.

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Part 1: Glossary & Basic Terms you should know before you proceeed,

Connections:
1. Optical Output, also called TOSLINK - Read this
2. RCA Connector also called AV Cable - Read this

Formats:
3. Dolby Digital, also called AC3 - Read this
4. Dolby Pro Logic II - Read this
5. Stereo - Read this

Misc:
6. HTiB - Home Theater In A Box
7. AV Receiver - Read this

More to be added later whenever fits.

Part 2 - Audio Formats Available on Xbox 360

The native format are Dolby Digital, which offer 5.1 discreet channel for more realistic gaming experience, why say so?

Well, I bet you have been to a movie in modern cinema before, where you can have a car race scene, the car moving from front to back, left to right, the sound is then presented in the same direction, front to back, left to right, which allowed you to feel that the car really race pass by you. Without the sound, everything is not as exciting.

Back to gaming on Xbobx 360, imagine you are playing 1st person shooting game, you are hiding somewhere and you are trying to locate your enemy, suddently u heard a light sound come towards you from behind, you will then know where your enemy is right? Bullet bursting sound, from left corner to right corner and etc.

The additional formats are the good old Stereo & the Dolby Pro Logic II, which processes any high quality stereo signal source into "5.1"-five separate full frequency channels (left, center, right, left surround and right surround) plus one low-frequency-effects (deep bass) channel.

Which format is better?
- Dolby Digital 5.1, followed by Dolby Pro Logic II then Stereo

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Part 3 - How do I get connected?

A. For Dolby Digital 5.1
In Xbox 360, there are no analog 5.1 AC3 Output like what you can find on most Computer sound cards. Instead, Microsoft chosen to use SPDIF via TOSLINK. In other words, you will need to make sure you have 3 items for the Dolby Digital to work.

1. You must have one of the A/V Output cable that has a Optical Output, for example this cable, some 3rd party cable are known to be lack of the optical output out.
2. A receiver that has a optical in, for examples:-
- AV Receivers such as Sony, Panasonic, Yamaha and etc
- 5.1 Speakers with Intergrated Decoder such as Logitech Z680 and etc
3. Optical Cable

Once you have the 3 items, you are ready to go. Setup your speakers accordinly, plug in the Optical Cable to both end of the Optical Port which look like this. Go to your Dashboard, System setting, change the audio output to Dolby Digital under digital output. and Start to enjoy your game.








This post has been edited by Maniac: Dec 8 2006, 12:09 PM

More on Dolby Pro Logic & Stereo Setup later
now take a break