K, ive figured out that the cost of an xbox 360 is worth it to get the HD-DVD feature, but im trying to figure out how to hook it all up. My setup is a 5.1 surround sound system, and my 10.6 LCD. The LCD controller board has 1 HDMI plug, analog, 3 that are red green and blue, s-video and VGA, the back of the surround sound system has HDMI, yellow red blue plugs with s-video orange and blue plugs below those (says coaxle), audio in (white and red x2). Im just wondering how i can hook this up to get the HD-DVD video, and getting the surround sound audio. If i went xbox>HDMI>Controller board for video then xbox>red + white analog>surround sound, will i get surround sound, or does surround sound not work through analog? Could i get a HDMI splitter and run one to the HDMI on the surround sound unit for audio, and one to the controller board for video?

For 5.1 audio from the 360 you need to use the optical audio out, the black square on the back of the AV block that plugs into the console.

Ok, them where would that plug into on my surround sound system?

edit: nvm bout that part.

Aren't Microsoft dropping the HD-DVD now that Blu-Ray seems to be the hi-def winner? I'm sure there are plenty of them out there, and if you have a load of HD movies already then it's probably a good idea. Just a heads up though, and of course I could be completely wrong about this.

Hmm, i wasn't aware of this. So are they not going to be making HD-DVD's anymore? Just blueray? but still, once i have a system that plays HD (hd-dvd or blueray), how do i hook it up. Do i use HDMI for the video and component for 5.1 audio?

I use an optical cable from the Xbox HD connector to my Logitech system. You can also use a HDMI cable for 5.1 audio, no need for component.

From http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemse...s/hdmicable.htm


They also show how to use the other cable options. (I'm using the HD VGA cable to my projector, with the optical cable to the Logitech.)

im starting to think PS3 now lol With the blueray thing and all, might be cheaper overall cuz it has the player built in.

HD-DVD is already dead. The add-on drive for the 360 dropped down to $50 ($200 originally) a month or two ago. You'd probably have a hard time even finding one in a store (I'm sure you can get them on ebay though, or used.)

If you are going to watch a lot of HD movies, PS3 is probably the best bet. However, if you don't plan on buying a lot of HD movies, I think the 360 has significantly more good games than the PS3. If you do go the 360 route, you can probably pick up a load of HD-DVDs cheap, though you won't be able to get new releases anymore.

The best place I know of to get optical audio cables is monoprice.com. Same with HDMI cables. DO NOT buy them at retail stores, especially Best Buy or Circuit City. You can get the same $100 cable for literally $6-$10 online.

K, i just bought a ps3 I got the optical cable, but wheres it supposed to hook into? I dont have that connection on my surround sound or controller. I gave a list of my available connections. I didn't open it yet so its no biggie, but i need to know what cable i need.

Google Search: +ps3 +"5.1"

sooo.. basically i need a separate reciever and my current dvd player/surround sound is useless... *sigh*..... more money lol...

If your curent surround system (or dvd player) has a "digital in" for audio or that orange port labeled audio. You can get a converter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TOSlink-Optical-to-COA...1QQcmdZViewItem

Make sure you get the correct one i.e. optical in coaxial out not coaxial in optical out.