Xbox 360 bitstream DD / DTS?

[cw-kid]

Hi

Just setup a new Sony AVR for a friend. We got Blu-ray movies on the Sony PS3 bit streaming the HD audio fine to the Sony AVR.

However when we play a game on the Xbox the AVR shows LPCM, I was expecting it to bit stream and light up as Dolby Digital on the AVR but it's just LPCM. Checked the dashboard audio settings which are set to Dolby Digital etc.

This MS KB suggests the Xbox will bit stream DTS presumably because the Xbox doesn't support DTS. But it doesn't mention anything about bit streaming Dolby Digital to an AVR.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906660

The Xbox is connected to AVR via a HDMI cable.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[cw-kid]

Just tried a Dolby digital 5.1 DVD movie disc in the Xbox 360
and that shows LPCM on the AVR as well!

[newfiend]

There is an optional media update for the xbox that may help, have you installed this yet? I had to go to Game Marketplace -> Explore content -> All Games -> Browse All Games -> O -> Optional Media Update. From here I was able to download Optional Media Update as an addon and run my files. Not sure if it helps with audio but I thought it might.

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[newfiend]

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Produ ... 02fffe07df

Next to overview (1 of 2) click the arrow to the right.. DOLBY DIGITAL. Pretty sure this has to be installed for it to work.

HTH,
newfiend
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[cw-kid]

Hi thanks forth reply.

I've checked and that optional media update was already installed. I downloaded the update again but still no Dolby digital showing on AVR when playing a game.

[StumpyBloke]

Are you sure it even bitstreams via HDMI? I thought it was just toslink?

[cw-kid]

Are you sure it even bitstreams via HDMI? I thought it was just toslink?

I dunno should it work with HDMI? I've never tried this before with an Xbox.

[StumpyBloke]

I don't think it does...I think you have to use toslink for digital audio. I googled and couldn't find a definite yes it will, but plenty of people asking the same question.

[cw-kid]

Might have to try optical then instead.

Regarding that update, if i go to system settings - storage - hard drive - system items I think it is I can see two optional media updates listed, neither have today's date or are the same file size as the update I just downloaded again from the game Market place.

[newfiend]

On the Xbox dashboard go to settings,system,console settings, audio.
Digital output..on the right it says..
For digital audio output use one if the following Xbox 360 cables: component HD, Advanced SCART, s-video, HDMI, or VGA HD.
Clicking digital output allows you to select digital stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, or Dolby Digital with WMA pro. On my xbox. And I am getting Dolby digital lights on my AVR.
Have you tried removing the optional media update, restarting the Xbox then reinstalling it?


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[newfiend]

I am using HDMI BTW... But I do have a optical running from tv to AVR.. I just checked.. Without the optical no Dolby..
HTH.

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[cw-kid]

So you don't get Dolby on AVR when only using HDMI cable?

[newfiend]

So you don't get Dolby on AVR when only using HDMI cable?

Your equipment would have to support ARC (Audio Return Channel) to be able to get audio with just the HDMI cable.
See more here: http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/arc.aspx
You will have to have the Optical to get the Dolby if your equipment does not have ARC.
Are you hooking Xbox to AVR then AVR to TV via HDMI? if so you should get Dolby W/O using an Optical I would think
My Xbox is hooked HDMI to TV and AVR HDMI to TV (My AVR in the Bedroom only has one HDMI PORT) so to get the Dolby I had to use an Optical off the TV back to the AVR. (its a Sony cheap HTIAB 5.1 setup). I set the TV up to use the "external speakers" in the TV menu.
newfiend~

[cw-kid]

Will have to look in to that. The AVR is a Sony str-dh820

The tv is an LG 42lf7700

[StumpyBloke]

And assuming that optical out on the TV supports more than stereo. Not all TVs do.

[cw-kid]

Wouldn't I just connect an optical cable
From back of Xbox direct to AVR?

[newfiend]

I checked the AVR it does support ARC.
For clarification you are hooking XBOX via HDMI to AVR Input and another HDMI output (off AVR) to the TV? correct?
Since the AVR would be UPSTREAM in this situation (audio and video signal sent to AVR first) you shouldn't need optical. The AVR should be getting the Dolby Signal through HDMI, decoding that for your speakers, and then passing the video signal off to the TV. (no Optical needed in theory)
If you had a cheaper AVR (like me with only one HDMI out) then you would have to use an optical out.
If you are hooked up HDMI from XBOX > AVR > TV then you should get the Dolby Signal on the HDMI cable.
My Living room set up is HTPC > Sony AVR STR-DN1000 > Sony TV and I get all my Dolby signals sent to my AVR via HDMI and Decoded there and Video Passes to the TV via HDMI.
Since its all sent "upstream" (HTPC or XBOX > AVR > TV) there is no need for ARC or optical in this situation.
How are you hooking things up? is this a XBOX Slim or the Older XBOX?
newfiend~

[newfiend]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937899

Basic functions
The Xbox 360 HDMI Cable carries both video of up to 1080p resolution and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio over one cable. The cable can be daisy-chained. You can connect the cable to other HDMI-compliant devices, such as an audio decoder, which is then plugged into the HDTV display. You can also plug the cable directly into the display. ( In the event you are running HDMI out of the XBOX to AVR, then HDMI to TV you should get DD W/O an optical is how I understand this.)

When you use HDMI, you should not have to set your Xbox 360 Dashboard resolution to your HDTV display’s optimal resolution. The console detects the display’s optimal resolution over the HDMI cable, and adjusts the resolution automatically.



Optional audio adapter (Older XBOX I believe not the slim)
A second cable, the Xbox 360 Audio Adapter, is included with the Xbox 360 HDMI cable This device resembles a small AV pack that has only stereo RCA jacks and a S/PDIF optical connection, or TOSLINK port. The audio adapter cable can be used together with the HDMI cable. If both cables are plugged in, the Xbox 360 transmits audio over the audio adapter and video over the HDMI cable. This gives you flexibility when you want to connect the HDMI port to your HDTV, and you want to route audio to a non-HDMI device.


Note The Xbox 360 S Console features a TOSLINK input jack on the back of the console. In this case, you do not have to use the audio adapter for digital audio. However, either connection method will work in the same manner.


Additional support
Xbox 360 HDMI Cable connected to a TV by an HDMI input

Notes•If you have an audio receiver that has optical audio input, connect your optical audio cable to the HDMI Audio Adapter (by using a TOSLINK connector).
•The Xbox 360 S Console features a TOSLINK input jack on the back of the console. In this case, you do not have to use the audio adapter for digital audio. However, either connection method will work in the same manner.


Note If you have an audio receiver that has analog audio input, connect your audio cable to the HDMI Audio Adapter.

I did read in another thread that sometimes setting the audio to Dolby 2.0 save and exit
Then going back in and setting it back to 5.1 sometimes helps.. I guess it (XBOX) can have handshake issues at times..
HTH,
newfiend~

[StumpyBloke]

Wouldn't I just connect an optical cable
From back of Xbox direct to AVR?

Yup that's an option!

[slowbiscuit]

That's what I do - run HDMI to the TV and optical to the receiver. Works great for DD 5.1, haven't tried DTS.