Just got my Xbox 360 Arcade and have a few questions

[lokiju]

I got in on that Amazon $30 bonus for every $60 worth of games traded in and ordered a Xbox 360 Arcade.

Just got it today and had a few questions.

One is the audio, my receiver doesn't have HDMI but does have SPDIF or Coaxial Digital but I don't see any way to output the video via HDMI direct to my TV and split off the audio via optical or something like that. Is this not possible like it is on the PS3?

Whats the deal with Xbox Live? Can I not do anything at all without paying for Live access?

Can I not even download demos, videos, use Netflix without Live?

That's about all I can think of right now.

:beer:

 

[herkulease]

here's your hdmi + optical solution
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

as for live. If you don't pay for gold you won't be able to use Netflix. You will not be able to get demos right as they are released. you must wait a week or so.

 

[Lotheron]

Originally posted by: lokiju
I got in on that Amazon $30 bonus for every $60 worth of games traded in and ordered a Xbox 360 Arcade.

Just got it today and had a few questions.

One is the audio, my receiver doesn't have HDMI but does have SPDIF or Coaxial Digital but I don't see any way to output the video via HDMI direct to my TV and split off the audio via optical or something like that. Is this not possible like it is on the PS3?

There is a Toslink/SPDIF adapter available, similar to this. There are ones that are audio only.

http://www.ikeytron.com/3ixb360hdtvc.html

Whats the deal with Xbox Live? Can I not do anything at all without paying for Live access?

You can download demos/chat with friends. But no, you cannot play multiplayer games.. A $40 12 month card can be had on the internet with ease

Can I not even download demos, videos, use Netflix without Live?

Demos / Videos yes with silver, netflix no.

That's about all I can think of right now.

:beer:

:beer: for you, too!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Tip: don't buy a "play & charge" kit, i found out too late that the defect rate is apparently as high as launch 360s.

If I'd done my homework, most people recommend rechargeable AA batteries (and a charger) instead.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: herkulease
here's your hdmi + optical solution
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

as for live. If you don't pay for gold you won't be able to use Netflix. You will not be able to get demos right as they are released. you must wait a week or so.

This advice is unfortunately not going to be applicable any longer, because no Xbox 360 that is currently being produced has an optical audio output out of the box. Microsoft replaced the component video cable with a composite video cable, even in the Elite, and that composite video cable has no optical output.

I'm not sure what third party cables are out there or how they rate against the MS cable.

Some TVs are capable of passing audio back out to a receiver via an optical output; check your TV, OP.

 

[Industrial]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Tip: don't buy a "play & charge" kit, i found out too late that the defect rate is apparently as high as launch 360s.

If I'd done my homework, most people recommend rechargeable AA batteries (and a charger) instead.

what's defective? they don't charge, don't hold a charge? aside from not lasting long (compared to the DS3) I haven't had any problems with the two I got.

After playing a day with the AA, the weight of the controllers I thought was too heavy for long gaming sessions. It's all personal preference of course.


to the OP:
if you like playing online against others, you can't, unless you get the Gold membership. Silver is free and you can download demos, game videos...etc.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: herkulease
here's your hdmi + optical solution
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50

as for live. If you don't pay for gold you won't be able to use Netflix. You will not be able to get demos right as they are released. you must wait a week or so.

This advice is unfortunately not going to be applicable any longer, because no Xbox 360 that is currently being produced has an optical audio output out of the box. Microsoft replaced the component video cable with a composite video cable, even in the Elite, and that composite video cable has no optical output.

I'm not sure what third party cables are out there or how they rate against the MS cable.

Some TVs are capable of passing audio back out to a receiver via an optical output; check your TV, OP.

Well that's just embarrassing.

I could have sworn my TV didn't have optical out! But I decided to recheck and sure as shit it does!

:laugh:

Well not only does that solve this issue but it helps me with other devices also.

:beer:

 

[lokiju]

Also, what gives with MS calling the Arcade the Arcade when it doesn't come with ANY games!

I can't even test this sucker out

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Tip: don't buy a "play & charge" kit, i found out too late that the defect rate is apparently as high as launch 360s.

If I'd done my homework, most people recommend rechargeable AA batteries (and a charger) instead.

I'm covered there, I have a ton of those Sanyo Eneloop batteries which are awesome.

 

[erwos]

Only problem with the optical out on your TV is that it might only pass stereo for non-tuner inputs - keep your eyes and ears open, I suppose.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: erwos
Only problem with the optical out on your TV is that it might only pass stereo for non-tuner inputs - keep your eyes and ears open, I suppose.

I'm resetting up my Harmony remote now so I can cycle through all my devices and test.

Good point though.

If it doesn't properly pass audio (such as Dolby) then it's really not worth it IMO.


EDIT: Dammit, looks like it's not passing through the proper audio signal like it should.

Son of a...

EDIT2: After looking more into it for some damn reason Samsung doesn't pass the 5.1 through HDMI. If I were to use the OTA tuner on a HD station that had Dolby digital 5.1 it would pass that through the same output but if it's coming from an input via HDMI it will not output the 5.1, ridiculous.

I have the Samsung LN46A550 FWIW.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That stinks. The MS hdmi cable + optical dongle kit was $40+ last time I checked, and their component with optical was $30+

The PS3's standard optical out is one thing it does better, along with built in wifi and play-&-charge that actually works.

Lost Odyssey is fun so far though.

 

[viivo]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons


and play-&-charge that actually works.

I've seen you mention this in a few threads now. How many have you had go bad? Mine has lasted over a year, charges in under an hour and lasts more than 10 hours without vibration.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
That stinks. The MS hdmi cable + optical dongle kit was $40+ last time I checked, and their component with optical was $30+

The PS3's standard optical out is one thing it does better, along with built in wifi and play-&-charge that actually works.

Lost Odyssey is fun so far though.

You can get the HDMI cable for $21 shipped at Amazon. I got mine from Niagaras, and had it in 2 days.

 

[Dari]

Lots of nickle and diming with the Arcade. Seems better to get an Elite if it comes with a year of Gold.

 

[Rage187]

I've never seen an Arcade not come with pack-in games. Maybe because it was an Amazon deal?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Rage187
I've never seen an Arcade not come with pack-in games. Maybe because it was an Amazon deal?

They took the games that were packed in with the Arcade out.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
That stinks. The MS hdmi cable + optical dongle kit was $40+ last time I checked, and their component with optical was $30+

The PS3's standard optical out is one thing it does better, along with built in wifi and play-&-charge that actually works.

Lost Odyssey is fun so far though.

Why buy the official component cable for $30+, when you can get a good-quality knock-off for $6.75? http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=4011&seq=1&format=2

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Why buy the official component cable for $30+, when you can get a good-quality knock-off for $6.75? http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=4011&seq=1&format=2

I :heart: monoprice. but that doesn't list optical digial out in the specs and the photo doesn't show us the back of the AV connector where it would be.

Edit: one of the customer reviews say it's there:
> " You CAN use this cable with an HDMI cable to get optical audio,"

... but others warn not to use it for video (poor quality).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Why buy the official component cable for $30+, when you can get a good-quality knock-off for $6.75? http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=4011&seq=1&format=2

I :heart: monoprice. but that doesn't list optical digial out in the specs and the photo doesn't show us the back of the AV connector where it would be.

Edit: one of the customer reviews say it's there:
> " You CAN use this cable with an HDMI cable to get optical audio,"

... but others warn not to use it for video (poor quality).

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...=1&format=1#largeimage

Third pic down, looks like it has optical. Sounds like that + optical cable + HDMI cable may be the way to go for people buying a new 360. I think I'll pick one up, because I'm taking my 360s on a trip soon and don't feel like unplugging stuff from my receiver... it took me long enough to get it all set up.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: Dari
Lots of nickle and diming with the Arcade. Seems better to get an Elite if it comes with a year of Gold.

It doesn't. There's just as much nickel-and-diming going on with the Elite now.

 

[dfnkt]

So does the arcade still come with games?

 

[Queasy]

not anymore.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Queasy
not anymore.

WTH, they should call it Xbox 360 Barebones.

 

[cruzer]

Does anyone know how to hook up the HDMI video cable to a HDTV and the optical dongle to a receiver without having to mute the TV every time? I want it to output audio through optical only, not both at the same time like its doing now. BTW, the audio is faster through the optical; I heard this HDMI audio delay is due to DRM.