Optical Cable - XBOX 360 - PS3 - Surround Sound???

Question

Ok well we use the PS3 as a DVD player and I use my Xbox 360 for gaming....and i love it when my xbox is on surround sound...but my mom gets mad when the ps3 isnt on surround sound and i hate switching them cuz theres only 1 optical input on the surround sound...and neither the xbox or ps3 has a coaxial output....and my surround sound doesnt have an auxiliary...what do i do!!!!!!! so i dont have to keep changin the cable....and if it helps this is the surround sound system i have

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-5-1-Channel-1000-Watt-Receiver-Theater/dp/B000P6J79E

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Go to parts express.com they have an optical switch box part #180-980 for $20.00 bucks it hooks up three inputs and gives you more flexibility to hook up another game console or if you know your not going to need the box than buy the optical splitter part #180-964 it cost only $6.25 it should do the trick which ever way you go because I got mines from radio shack but they stop making them so part express has every thing you need if you decide to get something from there ask for a catalog you won't regret.

Answer 2

well save for buying a whole new receiver you have to keep switchng them. actually they do make optical switchers that let you plug in up to 5 optical cables in. but it might be hard to set up. i dont know. im just content to keep switching them.

Answer 3

if you're thinking of buying an Xbox 360 you should out this site first. they give you an xbox 360 for FREE! all you need to do is complete a few quick tasks for them.

Answer 4

I've used this trick in the past:

Go to an electronics store or home theater store and purchase an optical audio splitter.  This is a small plastic Y-shaped widget that lets you take a single optical audio source and connect it to 2 separate receivers.  Should be about  $5-7.  Also, pick up 2 additional optical audio cables.

Ok, now to connect things up.  You're going to use the splitter backwards - use the input as an output, and the outputs as inputs.

The single "input" port should be connected to your receiver.

Now connect the 360 and PS3 to the other 2 "output" ports.

You've basically created a passive switch.  Whichever device is on will use the receiver for surround sound.

Just remember, ONLY the 360 OR PS3 can be on at any time, NOT BOTH.  Otherwise, the audio signals will collide, causing your receiver to just ignore both of them.

This is cheaper than buying an actual optical audio cable switch (about $20-40) and works just fine for 2 devices.  If you have 3 or more, this splitter  trick won't work as the signal degrades too much.