Hi, I have a receiver with no HDMI input. How do I get HD audio/video?

Question

I have an xbox360 and an HDTV with HDMI capabilities. How would i set up my receiver/xbox/HDTV to get the best possible audio and video quality?

I am really new to this home theater stuff. Ive read in answers to these types of questions, that i can connect the audio from the TV to the receiver using fiber optic?...but it generates 2.1 channal? I am really confused. My receiver is http://www.buy.com/prod/pioneer-600w-hts-gs1-5-1-surround-sound-speaker-system-designed-for/q/loc/101/204509050.html

what is fiber optic? and which fiber optic cables are best?

Answer 1

First check if your tv is 1080i or 1080p, then you have to go into your console settings on the xbox to select which one you want. Then you need HDMI or Component cables. Thes are the ones that include the blue and green ones. As far as sound, I use fiber obtics for my DVD to the reciever, but for my xbox, i just have the sound hooked up normal and play through my reciever and I can still hear every surround sound aspect. Especially on the war games, bullets are flying everywhere. So when i play xbox, my reciever is on my tv setting, i keep the TV turned down with the reciever on.....Now that you mention it, I may check into fiber opting my xbox.......

Answer 2

It could be a settings issue with the TV. Why not provide model numbers for everything you plan to hook up? Then you will get the correct hook up and materials for what your application.

E-mail me.

Answer 3

If you receiving hi-def programming through your tv, and have the tv connected to your receiver with an optical or "Toslink" cable (aka fiber optic) you should get surround sound or "5.1" Standard tv broadcast, regardless of the connecting cable to the receiver will be 2.1 because they are not broadcasting surround audio. Your receiver comes with an optical cable and there is a dedicated "XBOX " optical audio input. You can use the other optical audio input for your tv. I would use the XBOX Component HD AV cable "Part Number B4V-00004" to connect the XBOX to the TV since this receiver has no video inputs. Just connect the Y, Pr and Pb (red, green and blue cables) to the tv and **DO NOT** use the composite (red and white + yellow AV) cables that are bundled with them. You will need to access your XBOX's setup menu and change to the high definition output that your tv can handle, since you didn't say what tv you have, I don't know what it can handle, but the XBOX is very good at helping you through that part of it. There is a HUGE difference between the sound you will get using the optical cable versus using composite (red and white) audio cables, and since the receiver comes with one, you are good to go.