Sound problems with XBOX360 and new receiver

[VegasBuiltRebel]

Still working out the quirks on my new Denon 4310ci receiver. I have my XBOX 360 connected to my receiver with this HDMI converter cable:http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/13/madcatz-xbox-360-hdmi-conversion-kit-now-officially-available/. I'm using the HDMI cable only not the digital optical cable that is also supplied with the HDMI converter. I'm getting sound, but I'm not getting Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. The speaker input indicator lights only show my front right and left speakers and I think my subwoofer. But the sound goes in and out and this is also indicated by the input speaker indicator lights flashing on and off as the sound goes in and out. I have my XBOX 360 audio settings set to Dolby Digital 5.1. I checked the audio input signal on my receiver for the XBOX 360 and it displays the following information:

Surround mode: Dolby II Cinema
Signal: PCM
fs: 48khz
format: 2/0/.0

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi Vegas,

Should you simply just set your XBOX 360 HDMI output to Multichannel LPCM?

Maybe the Dolby Digital 5.1 is for the Optical digital output?

Just a hunch; seems to be similar to the Playstation3's settings.

 

[SopRage]

It sounds like you might be having the same problem I had (have); it's possible you need to adjust the order/timing in how you turn on your gear.

Try turning on your receiver and TV some 15 - 30 seconds before you turn on your Xbox.

I had the same issue when I first converted from component to HDMI. The Harmony remote I have was turning on the Xbox too soon, and for whatever reason it seems like the receiver needs to "settle in" before it's ready to receive the signal from the Xbox and process it correctly. Otherwise, the receiver gets "stuck" on the PCM that the initial logo and sound puts out.

This may not be the same issue you're having, but perhaps it's worth a shot?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hi Vegas,

Should you simply just set your XBOX 360 HDMI output to Multichannel LPCM?

Maybe the Dolby Digital 5.1 is for the Optical digital output?

Just a hunch; seems to be similar to the Playstation3's settings.

I was just wondering; anyone feels offended by this post?

 

[VegasBuiltRebel]

Hi Vegas,

Should you simply just set your XBOX 360 HDMI output to Multichannel LPCM?

Maybe the Dolby Digital 5.1 is for the Optical digital output?

Just a hunch; seems to be similar to the Playstation3's settings.

On my XBOX 360's audio settings it says I can get Dolby Digital via HDMI. How would I go about setting the 360's HDMI output to Multichannel LPCM? I didn't see any options in the XBOX 360's audio options to do this. Is this something I do through the receiver? Might just have to connect the HDMI cable to my TV and the digital toslink cable to my receiver. Was looking forward to using less cables with this new receiver though.

 

[Lordoftherings]

On my XBOX 360's audio settings it says I can get Dolby Digital via HDMI. How would I go about setting the 360's HDMI output to Multichannel LPCM? I didn't see any options in the XBOX 360's audio options to do this. Is this something I do through the receiver? Might just have to connect the HDMI cable to my TV and the digital toslink cable to my receiver. Was looking forward to using less cables with this new receiver though.

Sorry, my bad. Your XBOX 360 only output Dolby Digital (and DTS too) from the HDMI output, right?
So, yes, you set it to "Bitstream", for the digital HDMI audio output. That's it, I believe.
Do you have an external HD DVD drive connected to it?

* Your receiver just has to be set to "Auto", it will then decode the appropriate soundtracks from the discs.

** And like you said, for using less cables, just connect the HDMI cable from your XBOX to your receiver, and from your receiver to your TV.

Is that makes better sense?

Bob

Note: I made a simple error of judgement on my above post, and I realised it.
But that was not a good reason for someone to heavily penalised me for it, or was it?
(I ain't talking about you Vegas.)

 

[SilverMK3]

I've got the basically the same receiver, with a 360 and PS3 hooked up. The Xbox shows as Dolby Digital from the moment it boots because it has an onboard Dolby Digital Live encoder. Every sound that goes through the xbox gets transcoded to Dolby Digital 5.1 in real-time.

Since you get absolutely no benefit from running the Toslink cable through the HDMI adapter (maybe a little more latency), why don't you just run the optical cable directly to the receiver and let the HDMI do video only?

 

[Lordoftherings]

^ That sounds like a very wise proposition to me.

* No wonder, another Canadian Islander, my next town's neighbour.

How are you my friend? We did chat a bit a few weeks ago. Nice to see you again.

Bob

 

[Djizasse]

I've got a Yamaha RX-V861. The way I do it is:
Turn on TV, turn on receiver, set it to the XBOX input and then turn the XBOX on.
If it starts in 2.0, then cycle the DSP effects on and off. In my case I just press the "straight" button twice, which cycles between "Straight" and "Stereo" mode. This fixes the problem and I get 5.1 again.

 

[VegasBuiltRebel]

I just said screw and it and connected my XBOX to the receiver with the toslink cable. Works fine now.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I just said screw and it and connected my XBOX to the receiver with the toslink cable. Works fine now.

Just like SilverMK3 suggested.