I have a major beef with my new Xbox 360 Premium

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CaseySWT02

Member
Aug 13, 2000
106
0
0
So I purchased an XBox 360 Premium w/HDMI when Meijer had that awesome 20% off deal, and I'm regretting not spending $200 more for the PS3.

Don't get me wrong, the XBox 360 is great... Graphics, game play, functionality, etc. are all great, and I've had a lot of fun playing NCAA '08 (my only game) so far.

But I have one major beef. Unless you happen to own HDMI 1.3 sound equipment, there's NO WAY to use the HDMI port and get 5.1 surround sound - unless I am mistaken and the 360 only has HDMI 1.2 capability.

The reason for this is the proximity of the HDMI port to the traditional A/V port and the fact that the traditional A/V port is the only way to get access to the Optical Audio functionality of the 360. So, if I stick with HDMI (and I want to, so that I can play games in 1080p and perhaps get the HD DVD player and watch movies in 1080p as well), I'm also stuck with 2 channel audio.

How frustrating!
 
X

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
I don't know how this all works since I don't have an HDTV yet, but my friend does and he has a 360 with HDMI along with a great surround system. He gets 5.1. Do some Google research and see what you can do to fix this issue.
 
H

herkulease

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
3,923
0
0
microsoft forces you to buy their adapter to use optical out.

or you can do some modding, cutting way the rubber/plastic mold on the cable.

it only supports hdmi 1.2 specs.

 
Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Adapter

I agree though. It does suck that you are forced to buy this over-priced adapter in order to utilize the optical out.
 
Drekce

Drekce

Golden Member
Sep 29, 2000
1,398
0
76
That is one of the reasons I bought the Elite. More HD space and no HDMI+Optical issues.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,559
6,391
126
yea the PS3 has all the same games that the Xbox360 has, you should definitely go get that instead since you obviously got Xbox360 for all the games on Xbox360 ... :roll:
 
Oyeve

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,057
880
126
My only problem with my 360 is that if I gently nudge it (standing vertical) I get a disc read error. And sometimes if I pause a game I get a non responsive disc. Its a PITA but I plan to have it horizontal soon and get it off my floor. Hopefully those probs will go away, but I doubt it.
 
Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Originally posted by: Oyeve
My only problem with my 360 is that if I gently nudge it (standing vertical) I get a disc read error. And sometimes if I pause a game I get a non responsive disc. Its a PITA but I plan to have it horizontal soon and get it off my floor. Hopefully those probs will go away, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

LOL. How about stop nudging it?

If you put the 360 horizontal the disc read problems will more than likely go away. If not, then that is a probably issue with the drive.
 
Oyeve

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,057
880
126
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: Oyeve
My only problem with my 360 is that if I gently nudge it (standing vertical) I get a disc read error. And sometimes if I pause a game I get a non responsive disc. Its a PITA but I plan to have it horizontal soon and get it off my floor. Hopefully those probs will go away, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

LOL. How about stop nudging it?

If you put the 360 horizontal the disc read problems will more than likely go away. If not, then that is a probably issue with the drive.
Click to expand...

Hehe, well, its located near my feet near my PCs setup. Playing GH2 I get too into it and start rocking and bump into it a lot. I do have to move it somewhere else, but the nest of cables I have running all over the area is a major chore. Maybe next week.:)
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: purbeast0
yea the PS3 has all the same games that the Xbox360 has, you should definitely go get that instead since you obviously got Xbox360 for all the games on Xbox360 ... :roll:
Click to expand...

Seriously... of all the things to base your console choice on, this is one of the stupidest. It's like choosing the 360 over the PS3 because the PS3 comes with composite cables. Stupid.
 
S

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
3
81
Originally posted by: CaseySWT02
So I purchased an XBox 360 Premium w/HDMI when Meijer had that awesome 20% off deal, and I'm regretting not spending $200 more for the PS3.

Don't get me wrong, the XBox 360 is great... Graphics, game play, functionality, etc. are all great, and I've had a lot of fun playing NCAA '08 (my only game) so far.

But I have one major beef. Unless you happen to own HDMI 1.3 sound equipment, there's NO WAY to use the HDMI port and get 5.1 surround sound - unless I am mistaken and the 360 only has HDMI 1.2 capability.

The reason for this is the proximity of the HDMI port to the traditional A/V port and the fact that the traditional A/V port is the only way to get access to the Optical Audio functionality of the 360. So, if I stick with HDMI (and I want to, so that I can play games in 1080p and perhaps get the HD DVD player and watch movies in 1080p as well), I'm also stuck with 2 channel audio.

How frustrating!
Click to expand...

Your premise is mistaken. The 1.3 spec only adds the ability to transmit the high-bandwidth audio tracks found on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs. Any HDMI plug can carry Dolby Digital, DTS, etc, to your receiver.

Edit: Wikipedia explains what the different HDMI versions can do: Link
 
GrantMeThePower

GrantMeThePower

Platinum Member
Jun 10, 2005
2,923
2
0
Go check out avs forums...a bunch of people have found a way to get the optical out and still use HDMI without buying the expensive adaptor.
 
R

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: Oyeve
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: Oyeve
My only problem with my 360 is that if I gently nudge it (standing vertical) I get a disc read error. And sometimes if I pause a game I get a non responsive disc. Its a PITA but I plan to have it horizontal soon and get it off my floor. Hopefully those probs will go away, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

LOL. How about stop nudging it?

If you put the 360 horizontal the disc read problems will more than likely go away. If not, then that is a probably issue with the drive.
Click to expand...

Hehe, well, its located near my feet near my PCs setup. Playing GH2 I get too into it and start rocking and bump into it a lot. I do have to move it somewhere else, but the nest of cables I have running all over the area is a major chore. Maybe next week.:)
Click to expand...

The 360 has issues when you nudge it while it's vertical...it's been known (depending on the drive) to scratch up the disk. Seriously, it's not the best idea to be moving it while it's on and a disc is spinning at XXXX rpm. It's not meant to take shocks and still read like a car cd player.
 
NaOH

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: Oyeve
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: Oyeve
My only problem with my 360 is that if I gently nudge it (standing vertical) I get a disc read error. And sometimes if I pause a game I get a non responsive disc. Its a PITA but I plan to have it horizontal soon and get it off my floor. Hopefully those probs will go away, but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

LOL. How about stop nudging it?

If you put the 360 horizontal the disc read problems will more than likely go away. If not, then that is a probably issue with the drive.
Click to expand...

Hehe, well, its located near my feet near my PCs setup. Playing GH2 I get too into it and start rocking and bump into it a lot. I do have to move it somewhere else, but the nest of cables I have running all over the area is a major chore. Maybe next week.:)
Click to expand...

The 360 has issues when you nudge it while it's vertical...it's been known (depending on the drive) to scratch up the disk. Seriously, it's not the best idea to be moving it while it's on and a disc is spinning at XXXX rpm. It's not meant to take shocks and still read like a car cd player.
Click to expand...



Seriously, you sound like my friend who complains that the xbox360 scratches his disks because he flips it from horizontal to vertical (and vice versa) WHILE it's playing. For what reason, I do not know.
 
R

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
1
76
There's a good thread at AVS why HDMI 1.3 is pointless (unless you want to have a reason to bitch). Getting 5.1 audio while using HDMI on the 360 isn't really a problem.
 
E

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
4,778
0
76
I can almost guarantee that you'll see cheapie 3rd-party optical adapters by the end of the year.
 
F

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
4,568
0
0
Uhh... So can we get an answer from someone who actually is using HDMI... Are you able to process the 5.1 signal over HDMI?
 
B

biggestmuff

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2001
8,201
2
0
Originally posted by: binister
Uhh... So can we get an answer from someone who actually is using HDMI... Are you able to process the 5.1 signal over HDMI?
Click to expand...

Yes. The HDMI output of the XBox360 carries video and audio.

My setup is XBox360 -> Onkyo804 -> Samsung DLP via HDMI.
 
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