Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 7:27 PM
After purchasing my new HDMI-equipped Xbox 360, I decided to hook the console up to my LCD computer monitor to check out the video quality the system can produce. As I wrote about earlier, Best Buy pestered me throughout my visit with offers of pricey cables, including a $40 HDMI to DVI adapter, an $80 HDMI cable, and more. Not wanting to pay those ridiculously marked-up prices, I found a much cheaper solution.
Getting high quality video out of the Xbox 360 is quite easy with the help of a $15 (shipped) HDMI to DVI cable from NewEgg. Connecting the console and the display is a snap, and the video settings are easily adjusted to match the native resolution of the LCD panel.
Audio, on the other hand, is another matter. The placement of the HDMI port on the Xbox 360 is quite poor. It resides directly below the standard A/V output, and the component+composite cable that ships with the premium console is too bulky to plug in above the HDMI cable. It’s only possible to plug in one at a time, as one connector blocks the other. Frustrated, I turned to Google to see if anyone else had run into this design oversight. As it turns out, the Xbox 360 Elite package comes with an HDMI cable and an audio adapter cable with a much thinner plug. Unfortunately, the audio adapter cable is not available as a separate purchase, and can only be bought from Microsoft as a $50 HDMI+audio adapter cable kit (or on eBay for $30 and higher). Clearly a better answer was needed.
I took a trip to my local GameStop store to see what kind of cabling they had in stock, and I managed to score quite a deal that easily solved my audio problem. A standard composite+stereo audio cable, presumably from a now-discontinued Xbox 360 Core package, was available for $5, and it had a thin plug attached.
Using the HDMI to DVI cable and the regular video/audio cable, I can get crystal clear video and stereo audio out of the Xbox 360 for a combined total of $20, which trumps Microsoft’s kit by a great margin. After digging up some additional stereo adapters of my own, I now have a pair of headphones connected, ready to play Halo 3 in crisp 1280×1024 video without waking the neighbors.
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You just saved me $50. Thank you so much for posting this.
BTW, monoprice.com has really cheap HDMI -> DVI cables, like $6 for a 15 footer. peace
If you have a little tech know how you can set up a 360 to VGA adapter for under 15 dollars. In your case even less since you got the core units cable for 5 bucks.
You just need to do some soldering and yuo can fit the entire unit inside the endpiece that plugs into the back of the 360.
But what i guessing here is that you actually can use both outputs on the 360 at the same time? To get audio from one and video from the HDMI port?
Just wondering, did your gamestop have more than one of these cables? I am currently in the same boat, I’m using my 22″ Westinghouse with an HDMI -> DVI cable (which ran me only $6) but I need audio! I haven’t checked my Gamestop, but I will do so soon to see if they have them. Send me an email if your gamestop had more than one, maybe I can work something out to buy one off of you.
i was able to fit my vga output and hdmi to dvi in at the same time, using the vga for audio. You can get those pretty cheap.
I’m in the exact same position. The DVI to HDMI is not works great, the video is clear and awesome. However I cant get audio! Can you tell us what brand your cables are from gamestop? maybe we can buy it through another source. Were these Microsoft’s brand? If so, do you have a picture of how this looks like? Great article btw.
Thanks for the writeup. It helped me to think I was not the only crazy one trying to do something like this.
The way solved, was to pop the platic shell case of the component cable that came wth the xbox 360. It is glued togther, but wth a small flat screw driver it comes apart. This gave enough room to fit the hdmi with the component. Plus this way I also have the option for the fiber optic (digital) out in the future as well. Also, this didn’t cost anything.
Well, I gave in and bought Microsoft’s cable (link below).
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802758
This solved the problem but costed me $50, I’m furious in a way however playing Halo 3 in HD makes it all better. The wire that I bought above comes in two sets, an HDMI wire and a Audio wire that connects to the regular xbox port. They made it thin enough to fit both wires.
i just bought a third part video cable to try and do this. HDMI video output works great. When I try to plug the new AV cable in (only the sound plugs are plugged in) i lose video. What gives?
@Zack: The third party cable probably bridges the pins letting the Xbox know the type of cable connected. It could be confusing the console. You might be able to crack open the connection and desolder everything but the audio pins — pinouts can be found all over the place on the net.
[...] liquilife@unclegamer.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Anybody try HDMI from xbox to HDMI in on a surround-sound reciever, then HDMI out from the reciever to DVI on a computer monitor? Seems like that setup should get you the best of everything. I ask because I have the receiver but no HDTV monitor, just a sweet 22″ widescreen for my PC.
Thanks!
@dp: That method should work if the receiver passes the video through. I’ve never worked with a HDMI-capable receiver, but I would imagine it would do this for compatibility’s sake. It may well be documented in the manual, too.
You don’t need to buy a new cable that is a waste of money.
Just use a screwdriver and pop the lower plastic casing off of the connector on the cable that comes with xbox 360 pro and it will fit perfectly with hdmi plugged in at the same time.
when you pop off the plastic you will see that innards of the cable are still protected by an aluminum enclosure, so you are not damaging the cable or exposing it by poping off the bottom half of the plastic enclosure.
Xbox 360 Premium – HDMI Cable / Digital Optical Adapter Hack
You will see pictures on the work around here on this site. Much easier than buying all the cables and you get the best of both worlds, Digital Surround sound 5.1 and 1080p for your TV!
http://www.chadledford.com/?p=50
I sure was relieved not to pay $50.00 bucks for the extra cable!
Thanks Max, popped the casing works beautifully, using optical cable to my stereo system.
for those having trouble getting sound from DVI, it will not work. even if you use an HDMI to DVI cable. DVI is only a video source, you will have to use some other connection to get sound. that was the huge drawback when they started to put DVI inputs on HDTV’s. If you notice now almost no new HDTV has a DVI input.
I am currently running my 360 with a HDMI cable into a LCD monitor. For audio, all I did was plug in the Headset Output into my computer sub woofers and speakers. Games and CD works great but I get no audio with DVD. Why is that? Is there anyway to get around this without pluging both the HDMI output and the old AV output?
I am using an LCD monitor and an HDMI to DVI cable. I used the method of popping off the plastic covering of the regular composite plug for the XBOX. I get great picture on my monitor but I can not seem to get the sound to work anywhere while I use HDMI cable. I have the red and white audio cable plugged into the TV but it is not producing any sound. Help please
can HDMI be used to connect my XBOX to my monitor if my monitor isn’t HDCP compatible?
@David: Yes, you can connect your Xbox to a monitor that does not have HDCP. My Viewsonic VA712b accepted my 360’s HDMI-converted-to-DVI signal at the native resolution with no problem, without HDCP.
6/8/08 Update
Also, my new 24″ NEC 24WMCX LCD accepts DVI/HDMI/Component inputs just fine.
what chord was it that you bought? i’m having the same issue myself…did you say it was an A/V cable from an xbox 360 core?
I did the “pop the plastic” thing. I also put a few wraps around the exposed wire with electricians tape. Works GREAT! Thanks for the great idea.
Okay, I popped the plastic covering off of the AV cables, but the 360 seems to restart evertime I swich over from my desktop screen to my 360 (my monitor has two outputs on it HD and Regular) I have both the HDMI and AV cords plugged in and it doesn’t work. I’m not using the HD cords for my x-box does this matter?
Hdmi cables seem to be really expensive in retail stores. I had the same concern with the HDCP compadibility but it worked in the end
guys dont buy a cable to get audio. I simply trimmed down the xbox one. The connection is mostly plastic. I took a knife and slowly trimmid it down until both the hdmi to dvi and the regular rca cables would fit into it at one time….simpler fix imo
Where do you guys plug in the sound cables, because i dont understand how to get sound with this kind of setup.
I have hdmi out to my monitor,and for audio i have a third party vga cable plugged in to the normal video port so i can use the optical…does anyone now if the video would run at the same time on the vga while the hdmi is running?I ask this because i want to capture my gameplay,and i dont have an output on my monitor.
i had the problem, but have a core 360 up stares in my room, and the elite downstares… simply just swapped the cables round, and hooked my hdmi cable in, sorted :D
quick question: if i use an hdmi to dvi cable, then will the xbox 360 still be able to upconvert dvds? yes, right?
The screwdriver fix worked a treat for me. The Xbox 360 is connected via HDMI to my HP W2228h 22″ LCD and the red and white audio plugs are connected to my altec lansing amp. The xbox audio states I’m using dolby 5.1 and I can hear sound from all my 5.1 system.
With just HDMI connected all sound came thru the tinny monitor speakers and sounded quite dreadful.
Happy bunny now though and it didn’t cost a penny.
One quick thought, do I need to put some tape on the exposed aluminium AV cable?
Cheers
Hello,
I was in the same situation (wanting to connect the bulky AV cable aswell as a HDMI to cable into the XBOX)and came across a free, easy and fast fix. With the Original ‘bulky’ AV cable, simply get a screwdriver, jimmy it around the excess plastic bulk of the cable and it will break away. Dont worry, its completely hollow and is not live. It is only glued there and doesnt even snap. It can be replaced to normal if neccasary and does not void warrenty. They Now fit perfectly and work succesfully.
i just recieved my hdmi to dvi cable today after playing xbox on my 22″ samsung.
but both leads wont fit in together!!
i thought about mashing up the plug and ramming it in, but thought i would google back here and see if anyone else worked around this
AND i read the post above by dean, and i i got my flat head screwdriver and the end pretty much fell off in my hand.
now i have hdmi plugged in, and the standard xbox plug so i get 5.1 sound, and HD crisp gaming :D
i wonder if you can get dual cloned displays though!!
Does the AV Component cable hack work with the Arcade version of 360?
I’m using a HDMI-DVI monitor setup… but need the component cable for the audio…
Every time I have both Hdmi and Component plugged in, my monitor switches from digital (Hdmi) to analog.
The xbox does not like having both plugged in at the same time and it resets forcing my monitor to go to Analog mode…
Anyone know how to resolve this???
what monitor are you using? only have one input connected to the monitor.
it sounds to me like you have something plugged into the analog connector of the monitor and its auto selecting?
i have both plugged in mine no problems..
Having same problem as Erick. Xbox arcade won’t with having both HDMI and analog cables plugged in. System shuts down when this happens.
yanno another simple solution to this problem but a boit pricy but worth it would be to buy a reciver i have a yammaha i got for 300$ and it has several video and audio inputs and out puts them main reason i bought this was for powerfull suround sound my radio is unbeatible sounds great deep bass and i can plug in all my consules dvd player and lap top and display it on several diffrent tvs and monitor nobrainer
The cable you refer to from New Egg is capable of 720p but down scales anything higher than that; so you’re not getting 1080p. You can get certified 1080p HDMI to DVI cables for around $40 (US).
1080p dvi hdmi cables on ebay for $10
i was wondering if the people who are having problems with their setup is because may be theyre using the original xbox lead? i bought an aftermarket one without the switch on the side.. just thought i would mention that
I split the plastic cover of the original composite-stereo-cable from Arcade-kit and connected it at the same time as an ordinary HDMI->DVI-cable. It works like a charm.
Before I tried this, I bought a 3rd-party AV-cable that fit at the same time as the HDMI-cable without modification, but with that cable I got no analog or digital signal at all.
So the arcade version won’t do this thing with both cables plugged? I don’t want to break it open if it won’t work. Will there be a fix for the hdmi problem? it worked before i upgraded the system to nxe. or is there a way to downgrade the OS?
oh and i only got a stereo with analog video plug red white and yellow with my arcade but i’d rather have the hdmi working or maybe game sounds through the controller.
dangit forgot… post 38 I got a certified 1080p cable for 4 bucks shipped… aftermarket… I think all hdmi cables are the same except maybe certain CRAP ones, mine works with digital audio 1080p but the new xbox update screwed me with monitor that has no “verification”
Thanks for the screw driver method people it really works.i went to many shops asking how to output my audio and they all told me it cant be done.Thanks for the advice.
The reason I decided to buy the Elite version; it comes with the HDMI cable + audio adapter which retail for $50. So the 120GB HD (instead of 60) and black color (which I prefer over the white console) were actually free :)
oh, so lets all throw our xboxes away and go out and buy the elite console.
I was reluctant to buy any more cables, and being a cheapskate I tried the following bofore I gave in and parted with yet more cash. Using the audio from the HDMI from Xbox to TV I used a Jack to Phono lead I already had and plugged it in to the headphone out port on the tv, into the back of my surround amp. i am incredibly impressed with the sound and these leads can be purchased inexpensively… Hope this helps some of you guys out!!
Good stuff! It took me 1 minute to get it done.
Works as pictured.
Thanks a lot!
Xbox 360 arcade:
if you have a tv with an hdmi input you don’t need this.
just run a $5 HDMI cable (new egg) from the xbox 360 output to your tv hdmi input. The HD video AND digital audio will carry through to your tv in one cable.
however, if like the original poster, you plan on running the 360 to your computer monitor using a dvi/hdmi adapter, the AUDIO signal will be LOST in the adapter, not to mention computer monitors don’t have speakers, hack away
The component cable is purposely large and covers the hdmi port to prevent two video outputs being connected, not to MAKE you buy some accessory.
if your HD tv has only rgb component connections, you need the xbox hd component cable that fits in the component port, don’t bother with the hdmi port, or some adapter to go with hdmi
if you don’t have an hd tv why are you reading this, just plug original cable in.
you’re my hero.
thought I was doomed.
got the cable… now happy.
how do you pop off the plastic on the component cable to amke it fit?
you need to get a kitchen knife or a very thin screw driver, poke the straight edge in the crack / join and twist. it pops off with ease.
another way would be to take it out side and stamp on it a bit. but if you dont want to damage anything then use a screw driver!
has anyone tried dual displays yet??
Anyone tried just a HDMI cabel to an A/V receiver which outputs the video to the HDMI-out of the receiver and the sound to the speaker system, i.e just one HDMI cabel out of the Xbox for both sound and video?
Henrik: this should work as the 360 is designed to be connected directly to a TV, so i guess that there is an audio signal coming from the hdmi port. can someone confirm this?
Just checked, and I can confirm that both video AND audio come out of the Xbox 360 via HDMI.
fast and easy solution: take std av cable (arcade edition) take off xbox connector cover with a screwdriver. it’s easy.connector cover is only to trust you to buy ms cables.without cover hdmi cable can be connected without av cable too. use rca to 3.5mm adapter for audio connections.
taking the casing off the plug works really well. thanks to all who suggested it on here.
I really don’t like that Microsoft wants you to buy another cable to do this. I think it is silly. I also think it is silly the system does not come with wireless internet.
even if the xbox was not planned for wireless internet internally, this is a good reason, because wireless gaming is CRAP. 802.11a/b/g is no good for gaming since these protocols only suppport half duplex communication, secondly only ONE user can either send OR recieve data at any given time.
I can’t quite get the thing to pop off using a small screwdriver. Where exactly should I be putting it in? Whenever I get it in there and try and turn the plastic just starts bending, but doesn’t pop off…
For the audio, you can simply pry off the case for the component cable to be able to plug that in with the HDMI cable. Here is a video link of someone doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1hxuqkggrA&feature=channel_page
Hey, I have tried to do the same thing with this monitor: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19264010/19450159.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=&s=gen.
However it doesn’t work. I connected it through an HDMI-DVI cable and it should be working..but its not. The monitor is not reading the Xbox. My friend tried it with the PS3 and an LG Monitor and it is working perfectly. Any ideas as to why it isn’t working?
lol i had the same problem whit that the other cable was too big, i didnt bought a new cable, but i just removed the plastic of it and cuz my xbox always stands on the same place its not rly unsave +D
SOLUTION FOR THE XBOX 360 ARCADE:-
You most probably have all the cables required but have no audio when video is on the monitor or no video when the audio comes on.
When the 360’s AV cable is connected first and then the HDMI to DVI cable is connected second, we were first disappointed that video didnt come up. But it did, AFTER a couple of minutes. Patience, it did work for us on the arcade version too. I guess it just needed some time to figure out what was being done.
Hope this helps guys.
Ok. I tried snapping the plastic off and it does work! However, if you are like me and are going XBOX HDMI to monitor HDMI , you must unplug your DVI input from your computer. I had the same problem as a few others here, where the xbox would just restart and it would switch back to the DVI input. If you unplug your DVI from your monitor, it will work.
Thanks for helping me!
I’m closely to buy an xbox and I don’t have a tv in my room but a dvi monitor. This hack is great! I’ll leave my thoughts after doing this.
Is there a way to use my pc speakers with that rca outputs? Does the GoPro version comes with that audio/video connectors that you are mention to pop the plastic out?
PS: Sorry for my english, I’m from Argentina.
Ok, i need help
I have popped the outter casing off the xbox av cable.
but when i put the hdmi and av connectors in togeather.
The av connector pushes down on the hdmi cable resulting in the hdmi cable to not work.
how have you guys gotten around this?
I have noticed hdmi is very touchy, even the sag from the weight of the cable in the back of the tv can cause it to drop out.
sounds like your xbox is faulty tlux. my original xbox av cable also rests on the hdmi but it doesnt cause any issues. there seems to be more metal casing on the original xbox av cable. i bought a patent xbox to VGA cable, and when you remove the plastic on this one there is hardly any metal casing underneath. this means there is tons of room with this cable. however im using the vga cable for my other xbox that runs ubuntu.
tlux, if your going to a computer monitor, you could use a xbox VGA cable instead, but the signal is analogue so it wont be as good as hdmi / dvi
good luck
I accomplish this perfectly! I popped out the cover, and with that and a rca adapter I plugged the audio in the mic in of my pc to make it sound through the pc speakers and then I plugged the HDMI > DVI cable to my monitor. All work like a charm without losing any quality.
I’m running into a similar problem I brought a HDMI cable to know that my TV isn’t HDMI compatible but it is DVI I know it can play 1080p will this method work I dont wanna spend more money. one last question what connection are you talking bout for the audio to work can anyone send me a link on how it looks I would be very greatful if someone can answer me back
@Derrick,
if you have a TV, use the RCA for audio. In my situation I bought a RCA to Mini Plug adapter (for a few cents) and plugged that in thje mic in of my pc.
I think that in your case, you have to plug the DVI to your tv and use the other cable to plug the audio via RCA. Check the post above for a hack to make able to plug both cables in the back of the Xbox360. I can guarantee that this works like a charm.
If you have any more questions, just ask.
[...] Xbox 360 HDMI+Audio Output | Command-Tab Share and Enjoy: [...]
How do you trim down the av composite cable?
my husband has an xbox 360 elite, we have bought a HDMI to DVI cable for our tv, this obviously leaves us with no audio, Upon reading this forum i came to the conclusion that we could use the av lead if we popped the cover off the lead, for the audio. We have done this and still got no audio, so guys can someone help, we have hd pic but no audio even with av cable in also.
this is an even better solution!!!
its and hdmi to dvi, with audio cables attached! and only $12.99! i hope this helps some people
http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1408
sharon -> Just a thought, make sure the av cable is plugged in all the way in the back of the xbox. With mine, even when I popped the plastic casing off of the av/component cable, I still couldn’t fit the hdmi and av cable into the xbox at the same time. I had to cut away the metal casing to expose the small pcb board for the audio inside of it. Then I was able to plug it in all the way and was able to get audio.
Sharon and everyone.. I opted for an adapter from eBay. Here’s the listing.. http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIO-VIDEO-HDMI-AV-CABLEGaming-Cables-For-Xbox-360-new_W0QQitemZ300375706602QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?hash=item45efc98bea#ht_3075wt_1166
Ok so i ran into this issue today and I found another way to get use with both the HDMI and A/V for audio…
I took the huge xbox plug out to my shed and grinded it furiously with a grinder to make room for it and the hdmi plug. Lucky for me I didn’t cut any of the splicing in the plug and it works. It’s just abit to ghetto for my tastes.
Alright. Microsoft has offically pissed me off for the last time. I went out today thinking that I could get an HDMI cable and a DVI HDMI female adapter for my HP LCD computer monitior. Excited as hell I hooked everything up right and turned on my Xbox. I get great picture and resolution but the audio is non-existent. How much more money am I going to have to blow on adapters and plugins? Also is there a way to by-pass this? I thought HDMI coverd both Video and Audio.
I have the composite cable from an elite, but i don’t have an elite (from my friends old Xbox) and i was wondering if it will work with that, of have they done something to stop it from working?
@Tom B: As far as I know, it should work just fine. The Xbox AV connector has just about every video and audio option in one plug, except HDMI (which has its own special connector).