Xbox360 5.1 surround...Sony SDPEP9ES?

[exerion]

Hi everybody Please excuse my ignorance.

I'm trying to setup true 5.1 surround sound with my Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 outputs Dolby Digital 5.1 through an optical cable.

I originally had a cheap Logitech 5.1 speaker system that didn't contain a Dolby Digital decoder or optical in so I couldn't get true 5.1 surround sound.

I see a lot of receivers around that have optical in and decode Dobly Digital then I saw this and now I'm confused...

Sony SDPEP9ES

* Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Dolby Pro-Logic processing
* Bass Redirection to suit all speaker types
* Basic and Advanced menu control modes
* Dynamic range compression control
* Can be used as an external high grade D/A converter for CD players
* 3 x optical / 1 x coaxial / 1 x RF digital inputs
* 1 x optical digital output
* 5.1 channel full bypass inputs to connect other pre-amps/processors
* Remote Control
* Technology
* Digital Cinema Sound with Cinema Studio and Virtual 3-D modes
* 24 Bit processing for unmatched dynamic range and clarity
* Dolby Pro-Logic processed digitally
* Digital Parametric tone control for Front/Centre/Rear speakers
* Independent jitter-free Current Pulse D/A converters for each channel
* Full Feed-Forward digital filters for each channel
* Digital i Volume Control
* Frame and Beam Chassis

If I plug my Xbox 360 into this via the optical cable and connect all the appropriate speakers will I get true 5.1 surround sound from this device or is it meant to be hooked up to a receiver?

I missed out on Sony TA-VE215 the other day which I think would have been perfect for what I need.

I would prefer a compact receiver as I dont have a lot of space. Can anyone recommend any good compact receivers that do what I need and may be able to find for ~AU$150.

HUGE Thanks

 

[GlocksRock]

That will give you true 5.1 if you hook up the optical digital cable to it from your 360.

 

[exerion]

Thanks GlocksRock

 

[exerion]

Hi GlocksRock

After some more reading I'm once again confused.

You didn't specify whether I needed to connect the Sony SDPEP9ES to to an amp/receiver or can it be directly connected to speakers n sub?

I looked through the user manual and it just refers to connecting it up to an amp, then amp to speakers. The unit has a volume control which again confuses me. If it wants me to connect it an amp/receiver then why does it have a volume control?

Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions?

Thanks

 

[snappy_snoopy]

Hi GlocksRock

After some more reading I'm once again confused.

You didn't specify whether I needed to connect the Sony SDPEP9ES to to an amp/receiver or can it be directly connected to speakers n sub?

I looked through the user manual and it just refers to connecting it up to an amp, then amp to speakers. The unit has a volume control which again confuses me. If it wants me to connect it an amp/receiver then why does it have a volume control?

Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions?

Thanks

is this Sony SDPEP9ES a receiver, it most likely is i will have a quick look into it. You can check to see how much power it can output on each channel and what the lowest speaker impedance is. What is the speaker impedance you are using ??

 

[snappy_snoopy]

just had a look at the sony website the australian one actually while i wait for it to load i decided to keep writing my reply. Just make sure that your speaker impedance is higher than the rated minimum or you will cook your new toy, also if you turn it up and make sure that your speakers can also handle the output power or they will go up in smoke too. Found no output power rating still looking tho, bare with me.

If you are in Australia since the currency you states was Australian i think and you are looking in the future to upgrade to some bigger gruntier speakers go to jb hi fi and check out the JENSEN range i wrote a quick review on some of them here too and on the JB online sotre, they are absolutely brilliant (just a thought, i just bought some for myself as an upgrade just a week ago )

Just waiting for the manual to download NZ internet sucks lol

oh man still waiting, from the picture it is a bit hard to make out if it does have on board amps so just waiting for it too load. You could also try out the lower pioneer range they are pretty cheep aswell and they got amps built in (100W x 5) and a sub channel, i got the pioneer vsx 517 s and got it for less than $200 nz new, which is a really good price and the receiver sounds dam good and is really easy to set up also.

Man still going oh dear its at least been a few minutes now this internet is really pathetic i mean geeze the file is only 3.5MB big which is not that much.

I got a 360 as well and i only had enough money to run it in stereo at the moment with a sub and with a proper sound system it does sound amazing. You will be impressed i am sure still if i where you, i would also look into the PIONEER range of receivers, YAMAHA also does some really nice ones in the lower price range for us normal folk who get into trouble when they spend too much on toys

File is nearly completed then i have the manual and can give some better advice.

I am sorry to say you would need an amplifier with that model best to give PIONEER or YAMAHA a try. Good luck

 

[exerion]

Hi snappy_poopy

Thank you very much for all your advice.

 

[snappy_snoopy]

Hi snappy_poopy

Thank you very much for all your advice.

Not a problem , I like to give back a little when ever i can to save someone some griefe. I have also had plenty of help through these forums and there are some very knowledgable guys around. Keep us posted on hoe the search goes, but most entry level receivers have optical inputs for audio, if its in your budget i suggest going for a receiver with more than 1 optical input if you also have a dvd player to connect to the system that way you get good sound from both devices (xbox 360 + dvd player).

Still i recommend SONY (dad got one running strong, now for 13 years and still going), he also got a ONKYO bought 22 years ago and still sounding WICKED and i got a PIONEER which also sounds very nice. So as you can see these devices do last a long time, as long as you are not the statistic that gets the faulty one so some investment with the idea of keeping it a while would be good to save you money on requiring an upgrade later.

The sony you got is something like what my dad needs because he does not have any digital inputs into his receiver since its so old so he needs to get a digital to analogue converter and decoder which he can then pass into his receiver and away he goes because on his system the 5.1 channel information is fed in by 6 different RCA plug cables.

Anyway i hope my rambling helped

 

[snappy_snoopy]

Hi snappy_poopy

Thank you very much for all your advice.

Oh another thing i thought off at the last minute, when buying a receiver you also got to make sure that it can play the formats you desire, ie the new ones can play the high definition audio formats and are dhmi capable or support 7.1 channel audio processing. Just thought i would put that in there that if you going to push the envelope a little then you should consider what changes xbox 360 might make to their audio signal processing in the future and the same applies to your dvd player. but most entry level receivers will do the job you require, you will be surprised what quality stuff you can already get at the entry level you just got to find the right store.

 

[exerion]

I've decided that I can't justify the cost of a real home theatre system and have opted for a bloated pc speaker system. I'm going to get the Logitech Z-5500. It decodes Dobly Digital, has optical in, can also easily connect my pc and is only AU$323.

It's going in a small room so I'm sure I'll be more than happy with the sound.

My only concern is finding room for the sub as its recommended it be positioned at least 60cm from any other electrical gear.

=D