TR Forums

Is there anyway through hardware or software to make a 4.1 system act like a 5.1 system. Have the center channel split into the front right and left channels?

Reason is, I have the Klipsch Pro Media 4.1 system and would love to have 5.1 surround sound from my Xbox 360, but when I use Optical cable, I hear the surroundings, but no voice because it would be coming through the center channel

That won't be doable (without extra hardware) in your current situation, I think. The reason being that since it's optical, it's a digital connection. The Xbox 360 gives you 5.1 Dolby (IIRC) through that cable. In order to get 4.1 from that, you'd have to downmix the center channel into the L/R, which would require some form of software processing. And you can't just go and install some utility on the Xbox 360 like that. I don't own a console, but you might want to really dig into the sound output settings on the Xbox and see if you can set it to 4 or 4.1 speakers there.

If you have a small mixing desk, you might be able to do it via analog, by passing the signal through it first. So L = 50 % L + 50 % C, and R = 50% R + 50%C, or something like that. But even this would be a bit of a long shot.

Does the 360 allow you to set "phantom center" within its internal master control options?

No, the Xbox 360 is very limited on its sound outputs, its either 5.1 or just stereo. I'll search around and see if there is a way, though I am doubtful that it can easily be done.

There is another option . . . I just find the center and sub box for the 5.1 Klipsch setup and use the 4 speakers I already have, but alas, Klipsch quit doing the 5.1, all they do now is 2.1. Why? I have no idea.

Could just plug the system into my car with my Focal surround system and 1100 watts of sub power, lol

Have a thought last night (early this morning) . . . The soundcard I/O has separate channels for Center, Front, and Rear. So I was thinking, I already have the front and rear channels, why not just buy a simple center channel speaker and plug it in?

Another limitation of the XBOX 360.. what a **** product. Get a PS3..

shank15217 wrote:

Another limitation of the XBOX 360.. what a **** product. Get a PS3..

Gee, talk about off-topic...

ExoGeni wrote:

Have a thought last night (early this morning) . . . The soundcard I/O has separate channels for Center, Front, and Rear. So I was thinking, I already have the front and rear channels, why not just buy a simple center channel speaker and plug it in?

You mean the outputs on the Klipsch sub/amplifier? What are you referring to as the "soundcard"? If it's the former, I suppose you could buy a small center speaker and use it, just make sure that it's roughly the same power rating as the rest of them. It'll probably be louder/softer than the rest of your satellites, so I hope you can control the center channel's volume separately on the amp.

Referring to the center channel output coming from the Mobo I/O panel on the back of my tower

ExoGeni wrote:

Referring to the center channel output coming from the Mobo I/O panel on the back of my tower

Ah... so you're thinking of running the Xbox 360's digital out into the SPDIF in on your mobo? In that case, you can use your PC to downmix to 4.1 all by itself. But that doesn't scream "all that useful" to me, as you'll tie up the PC's sound section that way.

If this is the speaker set that we are talking about here, where do you get the optical input?

morphine wrote:

shank15217 wrote:

Another limitation of the XBOX 360.. what a **** product. Get a PS3..

Gee, talk about off-topic...

Not just off-topic, it is absurdly wrong as well. Goes to show how little (if any) he actually read this thread. I have just checked my PS3 settings, through optical you can only do 2-channel or 5.1, no 4.1. Besides, there is no multichannel analog coming out of the PS3 as well. It is comparable to the XBox 360 actually.

I can't help but think a real receiver seems necessary?