Optical Out - 5.1? Connection REALLY sucks ass? EDIT#3!

Javery

Javery

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EDIT#3: UPDATE: I bought a new optical cable (acoustic research) and it works perfectly. The design of the monster cable was not allowing it to be plugged in all the way. Unbelievable. I'm happy it works though - now I have to tweak my surround settings because I'm not getting any noise from the rear speakers. The sub kicks ass though.

EDIT#2: There's either something wrong with my optical cable or something wrong with my HD cable. I plugged the optical cable into an optical port on my receiver and it pops in and is damn near impossible to remove. It just won't stay in the back of the HD cable - it's like older headphones where if you tweak the wire just right you get sound - it just isn't working. Unfortunately, I have to get another optical cable to test it out to see where the problem actually lies. When I plug in the cable there is a little "catch" but the slightest movement and it falls out - I am pressing as hard as I can do it just won't go in any further...


EDIT: OK, I finally tried hooking everything up and the optical cable isn't going to my rear speakers. It's also very very flimsy at the end going into the 360. It actually falls out if I don't carefully place the 360 back in the entertainment center. I can't figure it out because I am using the same cable I had for my DVD player (the 360 is now my main DVD player) and it worked fine. It's a Monster optical cable if that makes a difference. This is so frustrating.



I finally got my 360 today and I'm in the process of hooking it up. I don't see an optical out port on the back for my receiver. Am I missing something?
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']There should be a spot on the HD cables. Its located on the plug that goes into the 360.[/QUOTE]

Got it thanks - that thing is hidden! So all I have to do to hook this beast up is:

1. Connect the red, blue and green component cables to my switcher;
2. Connect the optical out to my receiver for 5.1 sound; and
3. Plug it in

Is this how I'm supposed to do it? I've got an HDTV but it looks like I'm not going to be using the red and white audio and yellow video cables, right?
 
[quote name='javeryh']Got it thanks - that thing is hidden! So all I have to do to hook this beast up is:

1. Connect the red, blue and green component cables to my switcher;
2. Connect the optical out to my receiver for 5.1 sound; and
3. Plug it in

Is this how I'm supposed to do it? I've got an HDTV but it looks like I'm not going to be using the red and white audio and yellow video cables, right?[/QUOTE]

Yep, that looks like you're all set. :)

You won't be using the red, white, and yellow cables. Unless you want to set it up like I did: I did the same thing you did, except I hooked the red and white audio cables directly to my TV set (on the same input I'm using for the 360). I listen to the audio from my TV when it's late and I don't want to disturb anyone with the 5.1 setup.
 
[quote name='javeryh']Got it thanks - that thing is hidden! So all I have to do to hook this beast up is:

1. Connect the red, blue and green component cables to my switcher;
2. Connect the optical out to my receiver for 5.1 sound; and
3. Plug it in

Is this how I'm supposed to do it? I've got an HDTV but it looks like I'm not going to be using the red and white audio and yellow video cables, right?[/QUOTE]


Make sure you have the little switch on the cables set to hdtv and not to tv.
 
[quote name='javeryh']Got it thanks - that thing is hidden! So all I have to do to hook this beast up is:

1. Connect the red, blue and green component cables to my switcher;
2. Connect the optical out to my receiver for 5.1 sound; and
3. Plug it in

Is this how I'm supposed to do it? I've got an HDTV but it looks like I'm not going to be using the red and white audio and yellow video cables, right?[/QUOTE]
That's right. Just the tri-colored video, and the optical.

One thing everyone forgets is the little switch on the cable that came with your xbox, switch that to HDTV, otherwise your picture will look normal def.
 
Javy... Do you need instructions for making toast too? :p

You've gotta be the least tech-litterate technophile I've ever seen, but I still like you because you poop yourself and tell us about it. ;)
 
yeah, you'll love the 5.1. especially on a game like cod2. ive got a 7.1, and it sounds amazing. yesterday, i heard someone trying to melee me in halo 2. it came through the back speakers. it was bad ass!!
 
[quote name='Kayden']Javy... Do you need instructions for making toast too? :p

You've gotta be the least tech-litterate technophile I've ever seen, but I still like you because you poop yourself and tell us about it. ;)[/QUOTE]

hahaha yeah... I used to know all about this stuff back in 1992 when there were just the red and white cables for everything. Trying to keep up with all this stuff is tough.
 
[quote name='javeryh']hahaha yeah... I used to know all about this stuff back in 1992 when there were just the red and white cables for everything. Trying to keep up with all this stuff is tough.[/QUOTE]

You should try being a PC gamer sometime. Talk about a learning curve. I spent a week playing catchup on CPU technology, DDR vs DDR2 (a.k.a. AMD vs. Intel), PCI-E. I thought I was good to go when I upgraded to my Athlon XP 2000+ three years ago. The chip still kicks much ass but the 64-bit/Dual Core revolution is a'comin...
 
EDIT: OK, I finally tried hooking everything up and the optical cable isn't going to my rear speakers. It's also very very flimsy at the end going into the 360. It actually falls out if I don't carefully place the 360 back in the entertainment center. I can't figure it out because I am using the same cable I had for my DVD player (the 360 is now my main DVD player) and it worked fine. It's a Monster optical cable if that makes a difference. This is so frustrating.
 
what do you mean by "it isn't going to the rear speakers" ..you can't hear sound in the rears?

Every receiver comes with a "test" option to send test tones to all the speakers to make sure they're working. Check your remote/manual.

Also, optical cables cannot be "flimsy" on any ends..They snap into place. Try pushing it a little harder -- it may look like you're going to break it, but it'll be fine.
 
Try pushing it a little harder -- it may look like you're going to break it, but it'll be fine
Click to expand...

that's what she said.


(i have nothing constructive to offer.)
 
Yeah, you have to push it in pretty hard until you hear the click. I did the same thing, I thought the cable was in and it just fell out. It's definitely harder to connect than any other optical port I've used.
 
the true question here is why are you using your $400 xbox for a $30 dvd player...dumb...why chance burning out your xbox360 dvd drive when a progressive scan dvd with optical out can be had for under $40
 
[quote name='scp89']the true question here is why are you using your $400 xbox for a $30 dvd player...dumb...why chance burning out your xbox360 dvd drive when a progressive scan dvd with optical out can be had for under $40[/QUOTE]

Because most low-mid range HDTVs don't have 20 component inputs and quite a few of us have warranties on our 360s.
 
[quote name='scp89']the true question here is why are you using your $400 xbox for a $30 dvd player...dumb...why chance burning out your xbox360 dvd drive when a progressive scan dvd with optical out can be had for under $40[/QUOTE]

I have no room for a DVD player underneath the TV so this is the best solution for me. I also can't believe that I'm supposed to worry about breaking a product by using it for its intended purpose. It's supposed to play DVDs, right?

I'll try pushing the optical cable in ther a little harder - I thought I was pushing hard enough but I guess not.
 
i wish they would have offered a connection Digital Coax out, its actually a better connect since you dont have to convert it to fiber optical light and than back, but everybody is t3h love of t3h optics :D
 
[quote name='Maynard']i wish they would have offered a connection Digital Coax out, its actually a better connect since you dont have to convert it to fiber optical light and than back, but everybody is t3h love of t3h optics :D[/QUOTE]i love digital optical, no signal discintigration and the cables are very very affordable. you can throw all of that "monster is best" crap out of the window with optical cables.
 
[quote name='thagoat']i love digital optical, no signal discintigration and the cables are very very affordable. you can throw all of that "monster is best" crap out of the window with optical cables.[/QUOTE]


Agreed, Nothing beats a $1.99 6 foot optical cable from the Radio shack.
 
[quote name='Apossum']that's what she said.


(i have nothing constructive to offer.)[/QUOTE]

the chick(?) in your avatar?

actually, i tried to word it in a non-sexual manner, but there just wasn't any other way to do it.
 
EDIT#2: There's either something wrong with my optical cable or something wrong with my HD cable. I plugged the optical cable into an optical port on my receiver and it pops in and is damn near impossible to remove. It just won't stay in the back of the HD cable - it's like older headphones where if you tweak the wire just right you get sound - it just isn't working. Unfortunately, I have to get another optical cable to test it out to see where the problem actually lies. When I plug in the cable there is a little "catch" but the slightest movement and it falls out - I am pressing as hard as I can do it just won't go in any further...
 
Uh, don't get another cable, just switch around the one you have. Since you know it connects fine on the one end to your receiver, use that end on the 360 side. If it doesn't work, then maybe the HD cable/port is defective. And if the other end doesn't fit in the receiver, then it's the optical cable.
 
[quote name='SeeYa']Uh, don't get another cable, just switch around the one you have. Since you know it connects fine on the one end to your receiver, use that end on the 360 side. If it doesn't work, then maybe the HD cable/port is defective. And if the other end doesn't fit in the receiver, then it's the optical cable.[/QUOTE]

Good idea. I'll try that tonight.
 
EDIT#3: UPDATE: I bought a new optical cable (acoustic research) and it works perfectly. The design of the monster cable was not allowing it to be plugged in all the way. Unbelievable. I'm happy it works though - now I have to tweak my surround settings because I'm not getting any noise from the rear speakers. The sub kicks ass though.
 
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