No Audio Signal from Xbox One Console - and stuck overseas with limited repair options

Hi all - I'm dealing with a three month old audio issue with my Xbox One console. In late October, one day
the Xbox One console just stopped putting out game audio. I tried everything I could think of on my own - swapping the HDMI cable, plugging in the headset, connecting the console to a different TV, etc... - with no results. It was not just
a particular game, but the whole 9 yards - set up and everything, there was no sound. If you've ever played a game entirely on mute, it's a totally different (terrible) experience. The only sounds I could get the Xbox to produce was beeping generated by
the console itself as a response to my hitting the buttons on the console and for the volume buttons on the headset, and bizarrely, chat sound traffic when on Live multiplayer games. The chat traffic makes me think that it's not an actual hardware issue,
so it must be some murky software bit.

I reached out to Xbox support via live chat, and we did a lot of troubleshooting - clearing the MAC addresses, performing an off-line system diagnosis, and finally a factory reset. None of this solved the problem after a full month of troubleshooting efforts,
and Xbox support live chat finally pointed me towards an actual repair. I'm located overseas on government assignment, and they first pointed me towards a local service provider where I'm stationed. No go: after
some language issues, the service provider said they would only handle consoles sold in region, and not U.S.-origin consoles.

But hallelujah, the Xbox live technicians found me a way to
use my U.S. government mailing address "APO/FPO/DPO" in their system to ship out a USPS Priority Mail (no FedEx/UPS for my address overseas) shipping label and a box for my Xbox One. I was thrilled to see the level of support offered, and did not mind
that the box came sized (and with foam padding) for an Xbox 360. Hey, they were committed to providing service - the mailing address was to something called "FedEx Trade Networks" and it seemed like someone was going to receive my USPS package, slap another
FedEx label on it, and get it to the service center. I packed the thing up tight and shipped it out. A month later, I got worried that I did not hear anything back (thought I might've just missed the email or something) so I called in and checked the tracking
number. Somehow, my Xbox One had made it across the Pacific once, to Chicago, but was being shipped back (!) across the Pacific again by USPS. I freaked out, ran down to the mail unit and asked the guys to check on the status - sure enough,
it was being shipped back. I got my console back last Friday with a big "REFUSED -> Return to Sender" label on the unopened box. My big hope for this repair was a huge failure.

[View:Esileht]

At this point, I've been without a working Xbox One for over three months, running out my warranty and Gold subscription, and I am not sure what to do. A long conversation with the Xbox Support technicians just now makes me think there's no point in mailing
it again, since they have no idea why the package was refused and have no way of researching or looking into it either. I'm basically looking at begging the next
friend who is headed back stateside to take my console with him and have the thing serviced and hand it off to another friend for the ride back. On top of having accidentally plugged the power supply directly into the local voltage outlet and smoked it when
I first arrived, I'm beginning to think bringing the Xbox One was a mistake. I'm turning to the community in my desperation -
has anyone heard of a similar problem with the audio from the Xbox One
and have a fix, or even something I can try?

:)

 

USB Speakers for Xbox One

Has anyone confirmed if the USB ports on the Xbox One will play audio through USB Speakers? Just currently stuck with Monitor with limited audio options and was curious if anyone could verify they work before I go out and pay extra money for work arounds.

 

Xbox not allowing surround sound via HDMI in

Setup is here:
support.xbox.com/.../connect-console-to-home-theater

Go here:
support.xbox.com/.../poor-audio-or-sound-quality

Audio settings are here:

support.xbox.com/.../configure-audio-settings

***surround sound may be limited to a set top cable box...as I tested my PC which does send a 5.1 signal and the Xbox one is not able to decide from my PC to hdmi out of the Xbox one to the stereo. My cable box does send surround sound depending on the
channel.