[Paul @ Aug 24th 2007 2:41PM]

One dirty little secret about this: the HDMI connetion on the XBOX 360 does NOT support 5.1 audio - it only supports stereo.

Apparently Microsoft saves a few pennies on each unit by only supporting stereo audio - wow, real forward thinking!

[BEN! @ Aug 24th 2007 3:26PM]

I believe it does. I'm debating getting one with HDMI, and from what I've been reading on the internets, there are two issues people are having with 5.1 audio over HDMI. One is that in the XBOX settings, you have to select HDMI as the video output AND select 5.1 as the audio output format. The other is that some (or maybe all) TV's will not pass through 5.1 audio from HDMI to a receiver (via optical). It's supposed to work if you run HDMI directly from XBOX to your receiver.

[Matt @ Aug 24th 2007 3:26PM]

I don't know about the Premiums, but at least on the Elite, it's got a connector that you put into the normal port as well as the HDMI cord that gives you optical out for your 5.1. I don't think MS is counting on many people having HDMI-switching 5.1 receivers, so I can see why they wouldn't see it entirely necessary to put more than stereo in - if it's feeding straight to your TV, how many TVs have 5.1?

[Luther @ Aug 24th 2007 5:06PM]

Most HDTVs do NOT support outputting surround sound from an HDMI source and out through the optical output. This optical output is generally only of use for over-the-air HDTV. For all other sources, the TV will pass through stereo. This is not a fault of the 360, but rather a misconception that many people have about the optical output on their televisions.

[Blah @ Aug 26th 2007 8:08PM]

"Paul @ Aug 24th 2007 2:41PM
One dirty little secret about this: the HDMI connetion on the XBOX 360 does NOT support 5.1 audio - it only supports stereo.

Apparently Microsoft saves a few pennies on each unit by only supporting stereo audio - wow, real forward thinking!"

The problem with the internet is the fact that it is filled with LIARS!!! This is coming from someone who has hooked up an Elite to a 5.1 HDMI switching receiver and had FULL SURROUND SOUND.

[moshb @ Sep 18th 2007 2:24AM]

I have a Samsung 52" LCD TV that supports 1080p.

it is now ongoing issue in Korea that Samsung's LCD/PDP HDMI does not support 5.1 channel audio passthrough. (with optical out from the TV)

which means,

If you make HDMI connection from your peripherals(PS3,DVD,XBOX,etc) to Samsung's TV, and optical audio output form Samsung TV to amps and receivers, you won't be able to hear the sound in 5.1 mode, it will only support stereo channels.

In Korea (where Samsung is orginated from) users of Samsung's PDP/LCD TV are asking Samsung for recalls.

ps - btw, LG models will support 5.1 HDMI audio passthrough without any problem at all.