Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Bose Staff Advice (Read 6757 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Bose Staff Advice

Hi,

Im in the market for a new digital amplifier for the following devices - XBOX 360, Virgin + HD, PS3, PC (via HDMI), so yesterday I went to the Bose shop in Brentwood (England!) to see what they had...

The main 'audio device' on display was an amp with no buttons/display, that had 3 HDMI connections (1 out, 2 in) plus about 3 component inputs and optical inputs...

After realising there would not be enough HDMI inputs, I spoke to the sales rep, who I quote said 'plug the xbox 360 in via component and optical for BETTER sound than with HDMI as HDMI carries 3 signals for video and 2 for sound'...

Im not claiming to be technical, but that kinda goes against everything I ahve learnt so far...or am I missing something??

thanks,
Matt

Bose Staff Advice

Reply #1 –
Retail salespeople are not to be trusted on technical matters.

Component is analog video, HDMI is digital video. Component video is sometimes easier to work with than HDMI but it is not better.

HDMI carries up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio. Optical supports only two channels.

Bose Staff Advice

Reply #3 –
Thanks for the replies, I did actually mutter something like 'oh and I bet you recommend monster cable', not sure if he heard me though...

ta,
Matt

Bose Staff Advice

Reply #6 –
As far as the Xbox 360 goes, you really have no benefit in transmitting audio via HDMI over digital optical audio unless you are playing back an HD-DVD movie.  Games are still limited to either PCM stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1 and that can all be transmitted just fine over digital optical.  The only benefit that HDMI has with the Xbox 360 is that the console can transmit Dolby Digital Plus only with that connection (you also need a receiver that can decode said audio through HDMI).  Digital optical audio won't be any better than HDMI but, unless you have an HD-DVD drive, it will provide the same results.  The use of component video is highly questionable though.  The Xbox 360 has the ability to upscale DVDs only if either VGA or HDMI are used, otherwise DVDs will playback at a maximum of 480p.  That and spare official Xbox 360 component cables are rather expensive.  You can pick up a 3-5ft HDMI cable for less than $5.

Bose Staff Advice

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Notat on
Retail salespeople are not to be trusted on technical matters.

Component is analog video, HDMI is digital video. Component video is sometimes easier to work with than HDMI but it is not better.

HDMI carries up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio. Optical supports only two channels.


Toslink optical supports 5.1 compressed channels via dolby digital and 8 uncompresed channels record/play via ADAT format.
 

Bose Staff Advice

Reply #8 –
Don't Bose only sell overpriced home-theaters-in-a-box though, if you want a receiver? I mean, you can't buy only the receiver. In any case, Bose is always behind the curve regarding the latest (and even relatively old) features. You can get much cheaper, better and MUCH more feature-packed receivers from the likes of Pioneer (my first choice), Onkyo, Denon, etc.