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Connect your Xbox 360 console to a sound system

Overview

Review the information below to learn how to connect your Xbox 360 E, Xbox 360 S, or Original Xbox 360 console to a sound system.

Note If you connect your console directly to your TV with an HDMI cable, you'll need the following to connect to a sound system:

  • Xbox 360 E console:
    A standard stereo audio cable that connects your TV directly to your sound system. Cable requirements can vary by manufacturer; see your TV manual for details about how to output audio to an external source.
  • Xbox 360 S console:
    • A digital audio (S/PDIF or TOSLINK) cable
      -or-
    • A standard stereo audio cable and an HDMI audio adapter
      Note The Xbox 360 S has a built-in S/PDIF (optical audio) port for the digital audio cable. An HDMI audio adapter is optional if needed for your system.
  • Original Xbox 360 console:
    • A digital audio (S/PDIF or TOSLINK) cable and an HDMI audio adapter
      -or-
    • A standard stereo audio cable and an HDMI audio adapter

Topics

On this page

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Xbox 360 E console
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Xbox 360 S console
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Original Xbox 360 console
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Connect to a sound system using a standard stereo audio cable.

Xbox 360 E console

To get stereo sound when using your Xbox 360 E console, you need to connect your TV to your sound system. Here's how:

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  1. Leave the HDMI cable connected to your TV for video.
  2. Using a standard stereo audio cable recommended by the manufacturer of your TV, connect one end of the cable to the output port on your TV.
  3. Connect the other end of the cable to the audio input port on your receiver.

Xbox 360 S console

  • To connect your console to a sound system using a digital audio when it's connected to your TV via an HDMI cable:
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  1. Leave the HDMI cable connected to your TV for video.
  2. Connect one end of the digital audio cable to the S/PDIF (optical audio) port on the console.
  3. Connect the other end of the digital audio cable to the digital audio input on your receiver.
  • To connect your console to a sound system when it's connected to your TV via an A/V cable:
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  1. Leave the A/V cable connected to your TV or monitor for video.
  2. Unplug the audio connectors from your TV or monitor.
  3. Connect one end of the digital audio cable to the S/PDIF (optical audio) port on the console.
  4. Connect the other end of the digital audio cable to the digital audio input on your receiver

Original Xbox 360 console

  • To connect your console to a sound system when it's connected to your TV via an HDMI cable:
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  1. Leave the HDMI cable connected to your TV or monitor for video.
  2. Connect the HDMI audio adapter to the A/V port on the console.
  3. Connect one end of the digital audio cable to the HDMI audio adapter.
  4. Connect the other end of the digital audio cable to the digital audio input in your receiver.
  • To connect your console to a sound system when it's connected to your TV via an A/V cable:
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  1. Leave the A/V cable connected to your TV or monitor for video.
  2. Unplug the audio connectors from your TV or monitor.
  3. Connect one end of the digital audio cable to the TOSLINK port on the A/V cable.
  4. Connect the other end of the digital audio cable to the digital audio input on your receiver.

Connect to a sound system using a standard stereo audio cable.

Connecting to a sound system using a standard stereo audio cable is the same no matter which Xbox console you use. Here's how:

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  1. Leave the HDMI cable connected to your TV for video.
  2. Connect the HDMI audio adapter to the A/V port on the console.
  3. Connect the white and red connectors on the stereo audio cable to the corresponding ports on the HDMI audio adapter.
  4. Connect the connectors on the other end of the stereo audio cable to the stereo input ports on your receiver.

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