How to hook up xbox 360, surround sound, and vizio hdtv

Question

I have a xbox 360, 26" vizio vw26l (the one without optical output), and am looking to purchase a surround sound system. Im wondering will this wiring setup work?

HDMI out from the xbox to the surround sound reveiver, then, HDMI from the reveiver to the tv's HDMI input.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, receivers cannot use HDMI to get the audio signal.  This means you MUST still connect your 360 (and any other surround sound device) to your receiver with a separate audio cable.  In the 360's case, this would be an optical audio cable.  The connector for the optical audio cable is located on the HD-AV cable kit, or, if you bought the official Microsoft HDMI Cable Kit for the 360, it came with a special connector that features only the audio ports.

I was rather annoyed to find out that I had to go buy the silly Microsoft HDMI cable just to get that stupid connector...  At least it's not TOO outrageously priced.  Still, why can't they just sell the audio connector separately?

Answer 2

This all depends on whether or not you have an xbox 360 that came with an HDMI output like the newer ones, or if you have an older model that requires a separate audio connection.

If indeed you have a newer 360 then you can hook up the system exactly as you described in your original question.  HDMI from the 360 to the receiver, then HDMI from the receiver to the TV.  See instructions in the link below from xbox for this exact setup.  Here's a direct quote from that page.

"If you have a receiver that supports HDMI you don't need to use the HDMI AV cable. Instead, you can simply run your HDMI cable straight to the receiver and then out of the receiver to the TV."

If you have an older 360 (like me) then you will need to connect an optical audio cable to your receiver as others mentioned.

Hope that helps

P.S. Previously only Elite 360 consoles came with native HDMI support, now all new units come with it.

Answer 3

That setup won't work.   The tv will not output sound through hdmi.  Its no problem though, simply connect an optical audio cable

from the HD AV cable at the end attached to your xbox directly to your receiver.   These cables are around 5 dollars on amazom.com.  

The website below has a good illustration.

Answer 4

There is this one small thing you need to buy, there are detailed instructions in my source on how to get this setup, glad I could help :D