HDMI(DVI) and Sound Issue using xbox 360

[talwynor]

I have an xbox 360 (pre HDMI), a Samsung 5084 plasma TV, a Blu Ray, several other components and a home theater box setup with only one optical line in. I connect all my audio and video devices (2 HDMI and then the xbox via VGA) to the TV and have all of them output to the sound system via the optical cable into the line in.

Heres my problem - my understanding is that, because of HDCM copy protection, the optical output degrades to 2 channel sound. Heres my question - is that true in all cases? It sounds like my xbox is getting 5 channel (the back speakers generate sound...does 2 channel fill all speakers?)

Any way around this issue short of a switch? Switch's concern me because of quality degradation...I think that's true of video, but perhaps the sound quality does not degrade?

Any thoughts or suggestioons would be appreciated...hate to get fragged in halo cuz I didn't hear someone approaching behind me!

 

[Steel_Wind]

if your Xbox is using the Optical output off of the VGA cable mount on the 360 - then you are not using it as part of any HDMI input to your TV.

It should not be degraded.

 

[John Crichton]

I have an xbox 360 (pre HDMI), a Samsung 5084 plasma TV, a Blu Ray, several other components and a home theater box setup with only one optical line in. I connect all my audio and video devices (2 HDMI and then the xbox via VGA) to the TV and have all of them output to the sound system via the optical cable into the line in.

Heres my problem - my understanding is that, because of HDCM copy protection, the optical output degrades to 2 channel sound. Heres my question - is that true in all cases? It sounds like my xbox is getting 5 channel (the back speakers generate sound...does 2 channel fill all speakers?)

Any way around this issue short of a switch? Switch's concern me because of quality degradation...I think that's true of video, but perhaps the sound quality does not degrade?

Any thoughts or suggestioons would be appreciated...hate to get fragged in halo cuz I didn't hear someone approaching behind me!

You could get a optical switcher to go into your receiver. I did that for a while and it was fine.

Also, I have the same TV ... it was totally worth it to upgrade to the 360 with the HDMI output. I would suggest the same. You can dump your old 360 for about $200 on ebay.