Strange problem with music playback on a Xbox 360

[Xabe]

Hey all!

I got a few computer upgrades, and I learned that it's possible to stream music from my PC to my Xbox 360 via my home network. However, when I do, the music will play through all five speakers, but not the subwoofers. Here's my system specs:

The Xbox 360 is connected to my Denon AVR-3806 using component and optical audio. All the speakers are RBH, the front channel speakers are SI-6100s, the center channel is a MC-414C, and the rear channel speakers are TK-5Cs. The subwoofers are both 12" Infinity subs (not sure of the model name).

The strange thing is that while playing DVDs or games, the sound that the 360 produces does, in fact, play through the subs. Even playing music while playing a game will produce sound through the subs for the game's sound, but not for the music. The only thing I can imagine here is that my music is somehow incorrectly encoded, but I even tried putting a music CD in the 360 (an actual CD in it's original .wav format, not a burnt CD), and that wouldn't play any sound through the subs.

Any ideas?

 

[corey]

I had a similar setup for a while, but can't test it now, because my son moved his 360 into his room. Back when it was in the living room, it was hooked up to my Denon 1803. I really liked it as a music player, & had no problems with subwoofer output. When you play a DVD movie, your Denon should automatically select DTS or Dolby. What mode does your Denon go into when you play music from the Xbox? Have you tried other modes?

 

[chadnliz]

I dont know about your unit but for example Rotel units allow you to program them for individual modes and sub assignment so just maybe you have a sub menu and on music it is selected not to run and needs changed.

 

[Cruise Missile]

Some recievers have special set-up for stereo music. allowing you to decide or not to run the sub. Sometimes it is uder Advanced playback, ect. in the set up menus.

 

[GlocksRock]

My RX-V1800 plays the sub when it's in stereo mode, but not when it's in music enhacer mode, unless you are in 7 channel music enhancer mode then the sub does play. I'm not sure why it does that, but for some strange reason it does. Just play with the settings and see if it makes any difference.

 

[Xabe]

Ok, I did some more testing. My receiver has a multitude of input settings - "Pure Direct," 7.1 Surround, DTS, Dolby, and trying it with any of them resulted in the same thing - no subwoofer output for music.

I even tried all the settings with both game audio and music. Under heavy fire in Army of Two, the subs kick really hard to simulate a heart beat, so I know they're working... but playing music and a game at the same time, I get no subwoofer response from my music. The only time I got some consistency was when I set the reciever to Stereo, and then all the audio just played out of my front left and right speakers. Kinda obvious, though.

I've triple checked everything, my Xbox 360 is set to Dolby Digital, my Denon is set to play detect either DTS or Digital (keeping in mind all my audio is over optical), and yet I'm still not getting anything.

 

[Xabe]

Hmm... hate to bring back a dead topic, but I'm still kind of scratching my head here.

I have since tried this with two other Xbox 360 consoles, and they all do the same thing. This seems to be a problem with the 360, but I can't imagine why it would behave like this. Anyone know of any potential updates/support for this?

Thanks everyone!

 

[MinusTheBear]

Maybe try the different sound options that are available in the xbox 360 dashboard and see if that makes a difference.

 

[mytzen]

I just tried streaming music from my computer to my 360 and I am having the same problem, no sub output for music but it works for games. I have it set up the same way as you, so its definitely a problem with the 360.

I looked at the audio settings on the dashboard and if I set it to Dolby Stereo the sub works but on Dolby 5.1 it doesn't. I tried changing the settings on my receiver but I cant get the sub to work with 5.1 at all.

 

[corey]

I looked at the audio settings on the dashboard and if I set it to Dolby Stereo the sub works but on Dolby 5.1 it doesn't. I tried changing the settings on my receiver but I cant get the sub to work with 5.1 at all.

There's your answer.

The music you're streaming IS stereo.

 

[mytzen]

Yeah, I guess I will just have to leave it set to stereo for music.

 

[corey]

Prologic or Neo should be OK too.

 

[TheFactor]

Dont know if anyone mentioned it but in case they haven't whats your frequency cut off at? and try setting your sub to both I think its somewhere in your setup menu on your recveiver.