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[CreziB]

Fiber optic cable(also known as toslink cable or optical audio cable) OR, if you do the coax audio mod for the box you could get a digital coax cable, but I'd stick with the fiber optic cable.  You'll need the advanced a-v xbox pack or high-def pack for the fiber optic connection from the xbox.  Monster Video offers a coax option, but I would overlook it for price reasons and I favor Fiber optic anyhow as it has no worries of interfernece from lots of cables behind tvs/receivers.  I wouldn't spend more than $30-35 on a fiber optic cable and not less than $20.  Personal preference.

[CreziB]

Here's a 4 foot fiber optic from circuit city
http://www.circuitci...&qp=0&oid=58768

Here's an 8 foot
http://www.circuitci...&qp=0&oid=58769

I got the 4 foot and it's all I need, but it depends on where you place your box and where your receiver is located.

Also, it's important to know if your new audio receiver has an optical input on it.  Most every 5.1 receiver within the last 2-3 years has one...so you're probably good to go.

Ok, as for getting 5.1 from your xbox games, it depends on having your xbox connected via Fiber Optic cable to your new audio receiver.  Then once it's connected you select the fiber optic input from your receiver's remote or the front panel.  Also, in settings of the original MS Dashboard you need to select "audio" and enable 5.1 or DTS...either or, or both, it won't matter since the games are all in Dolby Digital 5.1.

[scream360]

Mate this is a very cheap surround sound system, not that it's a problem though you need a receiver so you can plug in your fiber optical cable.

This system seems like it has a amplifier built into the sub, generally most people have a receiver/amplifier seperate from there speakers.

Capish!

Scream

[shamo316]

QUOTE (scream360 @ Mar 31 2004, 05:12 AM)

Mate this is a very cheap surround sound system, not that it's a problem though you need a receiver so you can plug in your fiber optical cable. This system seems like it has a amplifier built into the sub, generally most people have a receiver/amplifier seperate from there speakers. Capish! Scream

what kind do u think i should get?

[CreziB]

2 things,

scream 360 is right, but also there are systems that run without an audio receiver, but they are almost non-existent these days as you'd need a dvd player that has all the outputs for 5.1 channels(also a rarity, if they still are made)  The last time I saw a setup that did not require a receiver of some kind was about 2 years ago.  In this case you couldn't get 5.1 from the xbox.  And you could only get it from a dvd player with 5.1 outputs and built in Dolby Digital Decoding.  

I doubt/hope, this is your situation.  As for this day in age for a system to not use a receiver is rare, and I'd bet you bought a speaker package that requires the receiver to be complete.  I'd like a picture of the back of the sub to make sure, but I'd say you need a receiver just to hook all your speakers up to get audio anyhow.  I understand your sub has inputs for each channel, but what type of wires do these require?  Are the speakers connecting to the sub with normal speaker wire or an rca plug of somekind?  Or even a bananna plug.  If it's speaker wire you can easily get a receiver for your problem, but if it's rca plugs or bananna plugs, then the receiver will probably be a little more pricey.  Also, make sure the subwoofer has an rca output that says something like "Line In", this is where a single sub cable will connect from the receiver to the sub.  

http://www.emil-berl..._sacd_setup.gif

all these speakers need to connected to a receiver via speaker wire, except the sub gets a sub cable(or standard rca cable for price)

http://www.circuitci...lts.jsp&c=1&b=g

these will do fine as will any 5.1 receiver for your speaker package.

[CreziB]

Alright, after seeing the back, your fine; however, you do need a receiver like one of the ones in that link I posted.  Ok, most subwoofers have a built-in amplifier that will power external speakers, but they are almost obsolete these days.  The AC3 inputs on that sub are also obsolete now.  It's not a bad thing, it doesn't mean your package is out of date, just that it supports old ways of connecting audio.  This package will work fine with a Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound receiver.  Sorry to say that cause it means more money, but you'll forget about it when it turns on the first time.  You'll need to make sure the receiver you buy has an optical input(most all do now).  Looks like you have speaker wire, but you'll need a subwoofer cable(with the price range we're talking, you could just use a nice rca cable).  

You connect the speakers to the speaker outputs on the back of the receiver, then the sub cable goes from the receiver's sub output or preout and into the sub's ac3 input(looks to be the red input to the right of "sub" in your picture)  After this, you connect the fiber optic cable to the xbox video pack and to the receiver's optical input.

That will get you going.  For the speakers you have and my price range guess, you should probably be looking at Sony, Yamaha, Onkyo receivers.  All 3 are excellent choices that will suit your needs.  You'll probably be good to go with the $199-299 amps.  As the main difference between them in this range is output wattage.