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Hey guys need some advice..

#1
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10/27/09 at 11:06am
  • Joined: October 2009
  • Post Count: 3

Alright the other day I upgraded to my first HDTV and Stereo system(37" Vizio LCD, Samsung DVD/Stereo 1000W)


I know all that stuff isn't exactly "top of the line" but it fell in my price range.. I also pre-ordered the new xbox 360, with the 120 gb HDD.. My problem starts with not knowing the best way to set it all up..


I'm using a hdmi cable from the dvd to the tv, the surround sound and picture works.. but when I hook up a friends xbox using the component(red/green/blue, with the red and white audio going into the audio in on the tv, then having another red/white audio cable going from the tv to the dvd player.. there is no HDMI in on the dvd player) the surround sound doesn't seem to be working..

I wanted to get the HDMI kit for my xbox but I'm not sure if its worth it since the sound system doesn't have the hdmi in, and I'd just be using the standard audio cables.. I heard there isn't a huge difference in picture quality between hdmi and component..
Anyway, lets say I get an HDMI cable anyway, and run that to the tv.. Will it still work if I use the audio out on the tv, to the dvd player, or will i have to pick up another set of cables, and use the red/white audio adapter that they also make for the 360..
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lfHItkIVL.jpg

http://cdn1.gamepro.com/article_img/gamepro/110489-9.jpg



Oh yea, the DVD player/ Stereo only has HDMI out, comp out, red/white audio in..

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#2
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10/27/09 at 12:30pm
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Post Count: 294
Running the audio from the XBox to the TV, then to the receiver unit will not work.  With very few exceptions, the audio out jack on the TV will only be 2.0 stereo for everything but channels tuned using the TVs built-in tuner.

You say the DVD/Receiver unit has only stereo R/W audio input?  Is there no digital input (either a single RCA jack or an optical jack) at all?  Can you provide the model number of the Samsung system you have?

Without at least one digital audio input on the DVD/Receiver unit, I don't think there's any way you can get 5.1 from the XBox.  If this is the case, there's no difference, really, between running the audio from the XBox to the TV then to the DVD/Receiver vs. directly to the DVD/Receiver other than saving you an audio cable.

I would suggest (if in fact, there are no digital audio inputs on the Samsung) that you return it and consider finding a system that will allow at least one external 5.1 source.  If you can provide us with a budget and any other requirements that you have, we can hopefully find a reasonably priced alternative that better suits your needs.
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#3
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10/27/09 at 2:44pm
  • Joined: October 2009
  • Post Count: 3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=82-676-121-S02&ISList=82-676-121-S01%2c82-676-121-S02%2c82-676-121-S03%2c82-676-121-S04%2c82-676-121-S05%2c82-676-121-S06%2c82-676-121-S07%2c82-676-121-S08%2c82-676-121-S09%2c82-676-121-S10%2c82-676-121-S11%2c82-676-121-S12&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16882676121&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=SAMSUNG%20HT-Z320%205.1-Channel%20Home%20Theater%20System

 

 

 

Wow long URL, but yea I guess it does have one of those optical ins.. Sorry, I had absolutely no idea thats what those were for... So, grab one of those cables right? What would be a good brand? Should I get the HDMI kit for the xbox along with that?

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#4
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10/28/09 at 7:06am
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Post Count: 294
Ok - I had to chat with a buddy of mine that has an XBox - I've never used one, so wasn't familiar with the output connections on it.

Apparantly, the XBox doesn't have the standard Toslink optical connection on the back (though it does have a regular HDMI connection - odd!).  What the "HDMI Kit" provides (in addition to a regular HDMI cable) is an adapter that provides a Toslink optical output (plus stereo RCA jacks).  While you can probably find this simple adapter by itself somewhere (and save some cash buying the HDMI cable seprately), it's probably just easier to get the kit and a Toslink optical cable.  Conveniently, Amazon has a great deal where you can get the HDMI Kit and they throw in a Toslink cable for 1 cent more.

Using the HDMI out will allow you to get full 1080p from the XBox, whereas the component video is limited to 1080i.
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#5
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10/28/09 at 7:16am
  • Joined: October 2009
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Alright, thats cool.. One last question.. I was reading up on the toslink cables, and saw that they don't bend well.. How much bend is too much? The xbox and receiver are about 3 feet apart, both at the same level..  So what would be reccommend length to avoid bending to line too much?
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