[Rav]

i want to use logitech z-680 speakers with spdif from the xbox.  i wanted to know if the xbmp or xbmc can output 5.1 from ogg /acc/mp4.

otherwise i would leave my movies as divx + ac3 for sound since i know ac3 support with 5.1 will be coming out soon.

thanks,
rav

[jmarshall]

the xbox can output 5.1 from any source, assuming that xbmc can decode the source file. unfortunately, in order to out 5.1, it must be ac3 or dts. anything else has to be decoded to 6 channels of pcm data, then reencoded to ac3 by the xbox audio processor. this will reduce the quality of the sound considerably.

i suggest leaving everything as ac3 if you can help it. if you have to save space, you can always downsample the ac3 track to 224 kbit/s using something like besweet.

btw: ac3 direct pass-thru is working now - it just needs to be tweaked a bit for av sync etc.

[oblivian]

a stupid q from me here (again), how can xbox output 5.1 surround. i have nowhere to connect the outputs? is this something i have to buy besides the xbox and remote?

[Nickman]

a stupid q from me here (again), how can xbox output 5.1 surround. i have nowhere to connect the outputs? is this something i have to buy besides the xbox and remote?

yes you have to buy an "abox advanced scart".
or you could check a tutorial at http://www.xbox-scene.com on how to build your own.

[Metalmyth]

just thought i would let you know that if you enable ac3 passthru thru xbmc that it will pass dts-es signals (true 6.1 unlike dolby's ex format) to your reciever if it is able to decode (currently using a harmon kardon avr8000) the dts stream, ihave tried this with a backed up movie to dvd+r (american werewolve in london) and from a relax share lotr two towers extended edition in both cases i cut out the ac3 so that only the dts-es tracks were available (haven't tried having both tracks available and switching between the two) great work guys on the passthru truly makes the xbox the center of my home theater!!!! have been waiting for this feature for a long time in answer to the question about how to pass the ac3 signal (5.1) out to your amp...if your amp accepts coaxial inputs (looks like an rca input normally color coded orange and labeled as coaxial in) i followed this tutorial:

http://www.xbox-scene.com/articles/digital-output.php

it works flawlessly just make sure you have a steady hand when soldering as the contact points are small and when you drill out the small hole to mount the connector you will need a vacum cleaner hooked up in reverse (mount the hose on the opposite end) to blow out the small metal particles that are produced when you drill thru the metal shield on the inside. it may sound like a lot of work but it only takes about 20-30 minutes from start to finish and requires only 5.00 (cad) in parts from radio shack whereas up here in canada the correct box from ms costs about 69.00 + tax (cad) hope this helps

[net83it]

i'm very happy that xbmc can output dts-es signals