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Toder
08-21-2002, 11:11 PM
All right i have the monster svideo hook ups along with the optical cable ,and when i play my xbox games the sound doesn't work. But when i play dvds or i'm in the dash board it works. So if anyone can help me figure out why i can't here the sounds with games but can with the dvds, please help.

GokuX
08-22-2002, 12:30 AM
Wierd, have you gone to the audio options in the dashboard and set the sound mode for Dolby Digital?

Zion
08-22-2002, 07:11 AM
Throw the Monster junk in the trash and go buy the real deal Microsoft Advanced a/v pack. The Microsoft brand is the only one that really works right.

Dre
08-22-2002, 08:26 AM
Originally posted by Zion
Throw the Monster junk in the trash and go buy the real deal Microsoft Advanced a/v pack. The Microsoft brand is the only one that really works right.

Don't listen to this... I use the MadCatz one and it works great. I think the only thing you need to do is go to the dashboard and change your audio settings to enable dolby surround and dolby digital (and dts if your decoder supports it).

Highlite23
08-22-2002, 10:17 AM
I have the same cables you have and they work fine, go with the dashboard suggestions and see what happens.

Also, make sure the toggle end of your Optical cable is all the way in. Good Luck.

Fred Gasman
08-22-2002, 12:56 PM
The Madcatz Ultra AV Kit is the best.
It cost me 30$, and the cables alone are worth more than 40$ (you do the math)

Toder
08-22-2002, 03:59 PM
Yes I have tried changing the audio settings in the dash board. andc the only one that works with the games is stereo mode. The dolby surround only works with dvds, same with dts and digital. And the receiver is a JVC 8010. and it supports all modes.

Toder
08-22-2002, 04:28 PM
Sucess i finally got the digital sound to work. I left the audio mode on stereo mode and enabled the DTS and i just have the optical cable (not the RCAs) running to my receiver and i'm finally getting digital sound

Jaiyan
08-23-2002, 06:05 AM
Hey Guys, I've gotta question (which seeing as this thread was relevant to it I thought I'd post here instead of creating a new thread).

I'm great with computers, but cack when it comes to home entertainment sound systems.

Basically I got my new telly and want a 5.1 sound system to use with it - primarily for my Xbox. I've been looking at various systems, yet I've seen a couple (sound systems by Soundstation and other console-orientated 2.1 and 5.1 speaker systems) saying "cables for Xbox included" on the sides of their boxes.

I looked at my Xbox and the only free slot I can see is the network port. I've asked two people where the sound system would plug into - one said the TV, one said a DVD player (I don't have one as I use my Xbox for DVDs, thus where would I plug it into my Xbox if this is the case).

So...

a) If the sound system plugs directly into the TV, I guess that when I'm playing on my Xbox the sounds will automatically come out of the speakers as 5 channels without any extra cables needed to be linked to the Xbox (just changing the audio option to Dolby on the dashboard). I think this is correct as the Xbox is (obviously) connected to the TV - but I just wanna check.

and b) What is this supposed "Xbox cable" and where on earth would it plug into the Xbox? Why is it included if it's not necessary?

Thanks for your time.
Jaiyan

BCan
08-23-2002, 08:17 AM
Let me answer two posts at once:

Toder, I assume you are only getting Stereo from your XBOX, since the XBOX only pumps out Dolby Digital 5.1 for games, and not DTS....

Does your receiver for your optical cable only do DTS? From what I have read from your posts, this is what I can deduct.

This is why you are probably getting sound from DVD's, as this is where it could be able to pump out the raw DTS signal to the receiver.

Jaiyan:

a) Sound systems will never plug directly into the TV, unless you don't have a VCR or DVD. In most cases it will have a central area that ALL things will plug into it. IE Your TV/VCR/DVD/XBOX should have some room to connect to a central receiver.
I think you are unsure of what constitutes a 5.1 system. The signal needs to go to a receiver, that maybe a standalone piece, or integrated into one speaker.
Dolby Digital 5.1 is basically only enabled by the use of an optical cable to a Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver. So, no, it will not automatically come out as 5.1 sound....

A decent setup will have the following things:
-Dolby Digital receiver, IE the unit that has the chip that will enable 5.1 sound.

This will usually have an optical input that will handle the Dolby Digital signal. It will also have multiple inputs that will have single output. So connect your VCR/DVD/XBOX directly to the receiver, and have a single output to your TV. This will then have the receiver handling all the sound all the time.

-5 speakers, 4 can be the same, and a central. In most cases the front are better than the rear, even though the signal to the Front Left, Front Right, Rear Left and Rear Right are all of the same strength.
-1 Subwoofer - this will give the system some low level grunt. Whilst not specifically there to handle the .1 - LFE (Low Frequency Effects) - in genral, they are the sounds sent to a subwoofer.

As for b) - It is most likely to be connections to connect to the Advanced AV pack, that has an optical output, which will then carry the Dolby Digital 5.1 signal. So, I would assume a composite TV signal cable, and a cheap optical cable....

If this confuses you, or you need more clarification, go to a place where they will tell you everything clearly, and don't try to sell you equipment that maybe sub-par, or a lot more than you need.

Highlite23
08-23-2002, 08:34 AM
Well done BCan;)

Jaiyan
08-23-2002, 11:03 AM
Cheers, I understand now.
I've seen the receivers before, but didn't realise exactly what they were/did.

Thanks for your help!

Toder
08-23-2002, 04:12 PM
Bcan the reciever i'm using decodes dolby digital and DTS and i could only get the dolbly to work with my dvds using 5.1 sound. Honstly i don't know why the games work of the optical cable with the stereo and dts enables. or why dvds are able to use the dolby digital 5.1. It works for now, but if you are able to help me get the full dolby digital 5.1 for the games i would really like that.

Toder
08-24-2002, 03:44 AM
alright i think i got it figured out why my dolby digital isn't working. Mind you this is not my reciever its my roommates. the reason why i think its not working is because you cannot enable dolby digital because my friend does not have a woofer hooked up to his reciever thus you can't enable the dolby digital. i have i a ten inch bass amp i think i can buy an rca adapter and hook it up. i'll try tommorrow upfully it'll work. /me keeps fingers crossed.

Zion
08-24-2002, 10:00 AM
Originally posted by Dre


Don't listen to this... I use the MadCatz one and it works great. I think the only thing you need to do is go to the dashboard and change your audio settings to enable dolby surround and dolby digital (and dts if your decoder supports it).


Cripes, people. It's COMMON KNOWLEDGE that the Monster does not work right and the Mad Catz is a pile of junk. You're lucky if you can get the Mad Catz to work at all. Don't you people do any research before buying this overpriced stuff???

BCan
08-26-2002, 06:07 AM
Originally posted by Toder
alright i think i got it figured out why my dolby digital isn't working. Mind you this is not my reciever its my roommates. the reason why i think its not working is because you cannot enable dolby digital because my friend does not have a woofer hooked up to his reciever thus you can't enable the dolby digital. i have i a ten inch bass amp i think i can buy an rca adapter and hook it up. i'll try tommorrow upfully it'll work. /me keeps fingers crossed.

Cheat and enable the subwoofer channel, even without the subwoofer connected. Most receivers will not ask for what speakers are connected, you will need to tell it what you have connected. I have an Akai, and it asks if I have rears, centre and subwoofer, and if all are on, I can use DD 5.1

I will soon replace it anyway, want one with DTS as well. A few too many good DVD's are coming out with that as their only surround sound option, and I want them........

Zion
08-26-2002, 07:39 AM
Yeah, the receiver will never know whether you have a subwoofer hooked up anyway. It's just a preamp level signal.

BCan
08-26-2002, 08:10 AM
But he'll miss the very nice rumble you get when you blow something up with a grenade in Halo!!

As for what sound he gets, I assume that it is spitting out Dolby Pro Logic from the receiver, and not Dolby Digital......

Dre
08-26-2002, 08:54 AM
Originally posted by Zion



Cripes, people. It's COMMON KNOWLEDGE that the Monster does not work right and the Mad Catz is a pile of junk. You're lucky if you can get the Mad Catz to work at all. Don't you people do any research before buying this overpriced stuff???

Once again I'll say it in case you don't understand it the 2nd time... I use the Mad Catz and it works great. Whats all the huff-puff about anyways, its just an AV pack. They all work the same way.. its not like one has this amazing superiority to it or anything. Plus, the Mad Catz one comes with an optical cable already so that saves you alot of $$ too. And last I checked, the Mad Catz and the MS where the same price even though you still have to go buy an optical cable with the MS one. Maybe you should do some research?

Dre
08-26-2002, 08:55 AM
no deletes

BCan
08-26-2002, 09:00 AM
Dr Dre....

If you read what the problem was, is that his friends DD receiver doesn't have the subwoofer turned on in it's options, therefore it can't enable the .1 channel to deal with the 5.1 channels, it can only do Pro Logic.....

Dre
08-26-2002, 09:04 AM
Originally posted by BCan
Dr Dre....

If you read what the problem was, is that his friends DD receiver doesn't have the subwoofer turned on in it's options, therefore it can't enable the .1 channel to deal with the 5.1 channels, it can only do Pro Logic.....

If you read the thread, you'll see I was replying to Zion... had absolutely nothing to do with the guys 5.1 problem.

Zion
08-26-2002, 09:43 AM
Originally posted by Dre


Once again I'll say it in case you don't understand it the 2nd time... I use the Mad Catz and it works great. Whats all the huff-puff about anyways, its just an AV pack. They all work the same way.. its not like one has this amazing superiority to it or anything. Plus, the Mad Catz one comes with an optical cable already so that saves you alot of $$ too. And last I checked, the Mad Catz and the MS where the same price even though you still have to go buy an optical cable with the MS one. Maybe you should do some research?


You obviously DIDN'T do any research. If you did you would have found out that they all DON'T work the same and the Mad Catz DOES NOT work correctly.

Here's what a grand total of 15 seconds of research turned up for me:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=xbox+mad+catz+dolby+digital+problem&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wg

Over 100 messages saying "the Mad Catz does not work right, the Monster does not work right, buying the Microsoft cable fixed my problem."


If it works for you, great. Just be happy with an inferior product.

Zion
08-26-2002, 09:46 AM
Originally posted by BCan
Dr Dre....

If you read what the problem was, is that his friends DD receiver doesn't have the subwoofer turned on in it's options, therefore it can't enable the .1 channel to deal with the 5.1 channels, it can only do Pro Logic.....

Well, why not turn on the subwoofer? You don't HAVE to hook a line up to it's output. Sure, he won't have any of the LFE but he obvioulsy hasn't missed it yet since he doesn't even have a subwoofer. Even 5.0 is 10000 times better than Pro Logic.

Dre
08-26-2002, 10:24 AM
Originally posted by Zion
If it works for you, great. Just be happy with an inferior product.

Ok, thank you so much for enlightening me. I'll remember my place next time I'm discussing AV packs....

I'm off to play on my sub-par visual and audio xbox.. oh woe is me.

BCan
08-26-2002, 10:35 AM
IMHO, I think that there are a lot of people who think they know how to setup their stereo, surround sound and the all, but they wouldn't know if it was turned or not.

Want to know what is most likely to be the real problem - the optic cable maybe fairly sub-par as to what people may buy - I have a relatively mid-range cost optic cable, and a fairly expensive composite cable for my images ( directional cable - only allows signal in one direction).
People are more likely than not bending the cable too far and breaking the optic cable, or similar things to do with maltreatment of stereo connections.

Toder
08-26-2002, 03:33 PM
Ok guys thanks the info but i watched my friends reciever turn from LINEAR PCM mode to dolby digital when playing a dvd through my xbox. So from what i've figured that his reciever automatical turns to the type of audio it is decoding. Weather it be DTS, dolby digital 5.1, or stereo (linear pcm). So my conclusion is that my xbox is not decoding the dolby digital audio when playing games. Why? I don't really know, i probally won't know until i can get ahold of another xbox and try it out. I thought it might have been because he didn't have a sub hooked up but it worked fine with DVDs.

Zion
08-26-2002, 05:10 PM
Originally posted by Toder
Ok guys thanks the info but i watched my friends reciever turn from LINEAR PCM mode to dolby digital when playing a dvd through my xbox. So from what i've figured that his reciever automatical turns to the type of audio it is decoding. Weather it be DTS, dolby digital 5.1, or stereo (linear pcm). So my conclusion is that my xbox is not decoding the dolby digital audio when playing games. Why? I don't really know, i probally won't know until i can get ahold of another xbox and try it out. I thought it might have been because he didn't have a sub hooked up but it worked fine with DVDs.


Are you using the REAL a/v pack (Microsoft brand)?

Dre
08-26-2002, 06:56 PM
Originally posted by Zion



Are you using the REAL a/v pack (Microsoft brand)?

As opposed to my FAKE a/v pack? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Frostberg
08-26-2002, 07:42 PM
Originally posted by Zion
Throw the Monster junk in the trash and go buy the real deal Microsoft Advanced a/v pack. The Microsoft brand is the only one that really works right.

HA! The Monster Cable GameLink 400X is farrr superior to the MS HD pack...

Zion
08-26-2002, 10:43 PM
Originally posted by Dre


As opposed to my FAKE a/v pack? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

...yes... a cheap, 3rd party knock off...Mad Catz, Monster, Interact....:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

duh

Zion
08-26-2002, 10:44 PM
Originally posted by Frostberg-XBA


HA! The Monster Cable GameLink 400X is farrr superior to the MS HD pack...

..obviously not.....just becuase something costs more does not mean it's better.

Toder
08-27-2002, 12:18 AM
Zion obviously you don't know much about monster products. They may be third party, but they make far superior products. Basicly their top of the line when it comes to AV cables. Even though i may have a problem getting games to work with dolby digital doesn't mean its my monster cables.

BCan
08-27-2002, 04:17 AM
I think the point Zion is trying to get across that if you want 100% compatibility, then buy the MS connection pack to work with the MS XBOX.....

Basically he is suggesting that by sticking to the company that makes the console, and it's connection kits, I would be severely surprised if there was a problem......

Zion
08-27-2002, 07:11 AM
Originally posted by Toder
Zion obviously you don't know much about monster products. They may be third party, but they make far superior products. Basicly their top of the line when it comes to AV cables. Even though i may have a problem getting games to work with dolby digital doesn't mean its my monster cables.


LOL!!! THAT'S F'ING HILARIOUS!!!! I guess in my 15 years of home audio experience I never encountered Monster cable :rolleyes:

Monster is far from 'top of the line'. If you want top of the line, look at Kimber, MIT, Cardas, Straight Wire, Tributaries...etc....

In fact, I'll put money on the fact that my MIT interconnect cables cost more than your entire system!

Just because monster puts a thick layer of plastic and cool graphics on the package does not make them a better cable. You've fallen for the Monster Cable marketing BS, you paid $50 for a $10 cable....AND YOU STILL CAN'T GET IT TO WORK. All this time you've been wasting you could have went and bought a real Microsoft A/V pack just to see if that would fix the problem.

Zion
08-27-2002, 07:14 AM
Originally posted by BCan
I think the point Zion is trying to get across that if you want 100% compatibility, then buy the MS connection pack to work with the MS XBOX.....

Basically he is suggesting that by sticking to the company that makes the console, and it's connection kits, I would be severely surprised if there was a problem......

Yes, the Microsoft A/V pack is the only one that works 100%.

Now I've not used a Monster personally (why would I? I'm not stupid), I'm just going by all the problems that have been reported with the Monster and Mad Catz A/V packs.

And notice one more thing...he still can't get it working.

xboxspecialist
08-27-2002, 09:26 AM
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Toder
08-27-2002, 11:14 AM
Honstly Zion the only reason why i said that is because you are an @ss. Not just in this thread, but in others. So I think i'm going to add you to my ignore list. you don't offer any help, all you do is critisize other people. So good bye.

Zion
08-27-2002, 12:03 PM
Originally posted by Toder
Honstly Zion the only reason why i said that is because you are an @ss. Not just in this thread, but in others. So I think i'm going to add you to my ignore list. you don't offer any help, all you do is critisize other people. So good bye.

Wow. That really hurts coming from someone who can't even get a simple Dolby Digital system to work :rolleyes:


Your problem is you think you know everything, when in reality you know nothing. Then when people who know about this stuff give you suggestions on how to fix it you don't want to hear it even though you are the one asking for help.

Fine. I'm sick of trying to help you. If you're so smart, fix it yourself. :eek:

Toder
08-27-2002, 12:10 PM
Actually my Dolby Digital works just fine. The problem is that it doesn't work when i play games. Noone here, 18004MYXBOX, or monster know what is wrong. So as i said earlier i'm going to try a different xbox and if that doesn't work I will try different cables.

Ohh and I know i don't know everything and from what i've seen it seems that you are the one who has know-it-all complex.

Zion
08-27-2002, 12:18 PM
Originally posted by Toder
Actually my Dolby Digital works just fine. The problem is that it doesn't work when i play games. Noone here, 18004MYXBOX, or monster know what is wrong. So as i said earlier i'm going to try a different xbox and if that doesn't work I will try different cables.

Ohh and I know i don't know everything and from what i've seen it seems that you are the one who has know-it-all complex.

Go buy a Microsoft advanced A/V pack. Try it. Keep us posted.

Fred Gasman
08-27-2002, 12:24 PM
Hell no!
Get a Madcatz Ultra AV Kit and save 10$

Zion
08-27-2002, 02:33 PM
Originally posted by Fred Gasman
Hell no!
Get a Madcatz Ultra AV Kit and save 10$

Yes, get the ONE thing that we ALL know WILL NOT work! :p

Toder
08-27-2002, 02:38 PM
Here is the reply i got from Monster.

Hi Tod,

I have a sneaking suspicion that if you were to try the Microsoft cable it would do the same thing. I took an optical cable home and tried it with mybrother's Xbox and my Sony receiver. There were no problems. It worked great!

Basically the fiber optic audio line acts as a pipeline, it doesn't regulate what comes in and out of it. The fact that you are getting audio from one and not the other, makes me think it is not the Monster Cable. To be safe you can, if possible, take the cable back to the retailer and see if they can exchange it.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Monstrously,

Steve Hamilton
Warranty Administrator
Monster Cable
455 Valley Drive
Brisbane, CA 94005
877-800-8989
www.monstercable.com

All I can say is wow. This guy took his work home with him just to help me. Now what better support could you ask for.

Fred Gasman
08-27-2002, 02:44 PM
I got the Madcatz av kit when the xbox launched. I could not get 5.1 on my sound system, so I called Madcatz.
They said the first batch of av kits shiped, were defective. They sent me a new one (free of charge) and it works great. That was the first month of xbox, so I think they would have that problem worked out by now.
Don't be such an ignorant turd smelling fool.

If you have an s-video input on the back of your tv, the Madcatz Ultra Av Kit is the one to get!

Zion
08-27-2002, 03:07 PM
Originally posted by Toder
Here is the reply i got from Monster.


All I can say is wow. This guy took his work home with him just to help me. Now what better support could you ask for.


Wow....and you actually believe him, too!

What did you expect from someone WHO WORKS AT MONSTER?

"Yes sir, our products are crappy and nobody should buy them. Of course it won't work."

Of course he's going to tell you the Monster is the best thing out there..he works there.

Have you tried the Microsoft Advanced A/V kit yet?

Zion
08-27-2002, 03:10 PM
Originally posted by Fred Gasman
I got the Madcatz av kit when the xbox launched. I could not get 5.1 on my sound system, so I called Madcatz.
They said the first batch of av kits shiped, were defective. They sent me a new one (free of charge) and it works great. That was the first month of xbox, so I think they would have that problem worked out by now.
Don't be such an ignorant turd smelling fool.

If you have an s-video input on the back of your tv, the Madcatz Ultra Av Kit is the one to get!


Uh huh. Yeah. Whatever :rolleyes:

Nevermind the widespread reports on how crappy the Mad Catz AV kit is. Those thousands of Xbox owners must be stupid. :eek:

Fred Gasman
08-27-2002, 04:57 PM
You just quoted my explanation of why those people (including me) complained about the defective product. Wake up, and get your head out of your a s s. If your going to quote me, at least read what your quoting.

Toder
08-28-2002, 03:43 PM
Well guys i finally know what is wrong with my dolby digital. It wasn't my MONSTER cables as some of you were suggesting, but it was in fact my xbox. Today I went and borrowed my cousin's xbox and the dolby works fine with every thing else that i got.

jschelm
08-28-2002, 04:20 PM
Originally posted by Zion



Wow....and you actually believe him, too!

What did you expect from someone WHO WORKS AT MONSTER?

"Yes sir, our products are crappy and nobody should buy them. Of course it won't work."

Of course he's going to tell you the Monster is the best thing out there..he works there.

Have you tried the Microsoft Advanced A/V kit yet?

I would think that if you have 15 years of experience in audio equipment you would realize that what the monster guy said was 100% correct. If the light is going through the cable on one type of output (ie DVDs) and it isn't working on another then it isn't a cable issue.
Also, there is no reason to believe that this guy is lying about taking things home to work on them. I work for a company that the design engineers regularly go the extra mile to help our customers out with problems.

Toder, I am glad to hear that you know what your problem is, but sorry to hear that it is your XBox. Good luck on getting it fixed because Halo and Morrowind in Dolby Digital are AMAZING.