Optical audio and use of sound extractor for Xbox Series X

Hi Jakobey. My name is Kyle and I'm an independent advisor.

If your TV has an optical port, it's recommended to connect your sound system to your TV instead.

If your TV does not have an optical port, you'll need to use a 3rd party HDMI audio extractor to add an optical output to your Series X. The audio extractor you purchase will need to support HDMI 2.1 to ensure you get the best output from your console. You can find HDMI audio extractors on online stores such as Amazon, it will vary depending on region so I'm unable to recommend a specific extractor.

Please reach back if you have further questions.

Thanks,
Kyle

It’s not connected to my controller. Although I have tried that as well. But I have an Astro A40 connected to a Mixamp pro TR which is connected to a Astro Audio Extractor. ( Since the new consoles don’t have an optical port) and the Audio Extractor is connected to my series X and TV.

Everything worked fine with this setup until about 3 weeks ago. Around the time the Series X had a firmware update.

Below is an audio extractor that is a solution to the problem, however there is no stock available anywhere...

HDMI PCM Uncompressed sound is like a soaring eagle while, in comparison, optical sound is like that blind kid's budgie in the first Dumb and Dumber movie.

[table][tr][td]HDCVT HDMI 2.0 Audio Extractor with Dedicated HDMI Out Port for Audio Only × 1[/td][/tr][/table]

I wonder if an hdmi audio extractor will allow you to pull optical audio out of the hdmi signal to a soundbar or dac? Could be a cheap solution.

Yes, that will absolutely work. Something like an audio-extractor, an HDMI switch with separate audio outputs, or digital audio out of a TV or receiver are all potential workarounds to the lack of optical out on the new console. However, it would be nice
if the XBox would support these options natively since not everyone may have a TV with optical out or a receiver, and the only recourse is to buy additional hardware.

This is very disappointing to me and ALMOST a deal breaker. I still use optical output, I use a Turtle Beach Elite Pro T.A.C. for my gaming audio, which uses optical. This is not a smart decision.

I see mentions of just using an HDMI to optical audio extractor, this will work but....

Most extractors are HDMI 1.4 or 2.0 which means you'll only get 4k@60, no VRR, no 120hz and no HDR with 1.4.

If you have a TV (99% of today's TV's support this), there is a work around to get your optical audio devices to work on you headsets, soundbars etc. Your TV can extract audio from HDMI to optical. You'll have to go into your TV's setting and set it up but
it's very easy. This is how I have my Xbox set up in my living room.

For my main Xbox, this is set up on a desk and monitor with the TB Elite TAC. I have emailed Turtle Beach asking what their plans are, since Xbox did say "ALL" Xbox One accessories will work on the Series X. I can only imagine they'll do what Astro is going
to do, and that's pretty much just turning the mixamp into a USB sound card. This is not a smart move since these mixamps are not a decoder, hence the reason why you have to set the bitstream to Dolby Digital.

I get it thought, HDMI is the way to go to get your audio to an audio receiver because of the better bandwidth but for us hardcore, competitive gamers we would much rather have an optical output.

I really hope they rethink this and add it to the final product, but I don't think they will. I do see a SKU later down the road having an optical output though.