Modify X360 Component Cable to work with HDMI Cable

[DJ_Tet]

I recently modified my X360 component cable to work in conjunction with an hdmi cable ordered from monoprice.com and thought I'd post about it.  There are pics as well as a brief method, basically I'm just confirming that it indeed DOES work.

I hope this topic doesn't come off as a troll, as I was legitimately unaware of this design issue when I bought my 360, and was disappointed to learn that the only way I could utilize 5.1 audio and HDMI video with my setup was to buy a MS HDMI cable with the optical audio dongle built into the cable.  This cable is $50 as opposed to a regular HDMI cable (~$2.)

My setup is probably like a lot here, a high end TV with a medium end sound system.  My receiver does not take hdmi, but that's fairly common for a 5.1 set.  My tv does accept hdmi audio but it does not pass it through the digital optical out.  And due to the design of the hdmi port, the component cable basically blocked the hdmi port on the 360.

I thought perhaps if I could cut through the casing of the cable, I could have enough room to squeeze an hdmi cable in there for video while using the component cable for 5.1 audio.  I didn't know if it would work, but I took my dremel and hacked away at the casing.  It's hard rubber, you could probably attack it with a sharp pocket knife.  It took me about 5 minutes to slice through it with my high speel dremel.  There appears to be a metal box in the cable, so you don't have to worry too much about cutting through the cable or anything.  Just make sure you don't have it plugged in.

Always, do this stuff AT YOUR OWN RISK!  I'm NOT RESPONSIBLE if you mess up your cable.
Here are the pics:




In this pic you can see the hacked cable, and the metal box at it's core. 




And here you can see the hacked cable alongside an hdmi cable from monoprice.  It's a tight fit but they do squeeze in there.  If you decide to hack your cable, be sure to orient it correctly and cut off the CORRECT SIDE of the cable.  I've tested it thoroughly and I get both 5.1 audio through my receiver and digital optical cable through the component cable, and hdmi video through the hdmi cable.

[brawndolicious]

whoa, that's a lot of trouble.  play a racing game or fps game in 5.1, it'll make you blow a load.  it actually helps the gameplay.

[DJ_Tet]

Halo 3 and Gears of War sound SO much better in 5.1

They look better in hdmi, but the real difference is the sound.  I wanted the best of both worlds and MS wanted me to pay $50 to get that.  Fuck em.

[hyp]

  holy shit bro.

[brawndolicious]

wait, don't some sound systems let you connect the console to the TV and then the sound system to the TV so that the TV passes 5.1 audio information to the sound system directly?

[DJ_Tet]

wait, don't some sound systems let you connect the console to the TV and then the sound system to the TV so that the TV passes 5.1 audio information to the sound system directly?

Yes, some tv's do indeed do this, and once I saw my TV had an digital optical out I was excited.  However, my Pioneer 4270 plasma (very high end plasma for reference) does NOT accept audio through hdmi and pass it through the digital audio out.  I am not sure what it does with the digital audio out, now that I think about it.  Google informed me that it wouldn't work, and it didn't pass out any audio when I tried it.

Some tv's do do this, and some people have receivers that process hdmi.  My equipment gave me a little roadblock though, since I knew others were/are in my boat I figured I'd share how I got around this.

[brawndolicious]

ah, yeah setting up a sound system is complicated (imo).  it is so awesome when you can hear your competitors coming up to you in racing games though.

[MCD]

Can someone please tell me the difference between AUX (2 rca cables) and optical?

I am using optical myself but to be honest, when i switch to AUX i can hardly notice any difference.

if there is really no difference, then i better clean up all those wires and switchers, lol.

[Mupepe]

Can someone please tell me the difference between AUX (2 rca cables) and optical?

I am using optical myself but to be honest, when i switch to AUX i can hardly notice any difference.

if there is really no difference, then i better clean up all those wires and switchers, lol.

... you should notice a HUGE difference.  It's astounding really.  You did something wrong or you need your ears checked if you can't tell the difference.

[DJ_Tet]

Can someone please tell me the difference between AUX (2 rca cables) and optical?

I am using optical myself but to be honest, when i switch to AUX i can hardly notice any difference.

if there is really no difference, then i better clean up all those wires and switchers, lol.

Make sure your receiver is outputting the sound at a 5.1 level, like Dobly Digital.

Your receiver can take a 5.1 input like your optical and then output a 2 channel sound with it, so make sure the settings are correct.

[MCD]

I can hear 5.1 via the two wires (red/white) but really, I'm not an audiophile and my hearing ain't all that excellent, so forgive my ignorance.



 

[Mupepe]

I can hear 5.1 via the two wires (red/white) but really, I'm not an audiophile and my hearing ain't all that excellent, so forgive my ignorance.



 

you're beautiful though.

[MCD]

I can hear 5.1 via the two wires (red/white) but really, I'm not an audiophile and my hearing ain't all that excellent, so forgive my ignorance.



 

you're beautiful though.

I'm hairy, forget it my friend.

[Mupepe]

I can hear 5.1 via the two wires (red/white) but really, I'm not an audiophile and my hearing ain't all that excellent, so forgive my ignorance.



 

you're beautiful though.

I'm hairy, forget it my friend.

like a bear? 

[MCD]

Almost.

[demi]

I can hear 5.1 via the two wires (red/white) but really, I'm not an audiophile and my hearing ain't all that excellent, so forgive my ignorance.



 

you're beautiful though.

I'm hairy, forget it my friend.

like a bear? 

NO MUPEPE HE IS MINE GTFO COCKSUCKER