RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim

by eforcity

Product Features

• Output: RCA Red / White (L / R) channel; Toslink Optical Audio
• Allows HDMI video to be routed to the HDTV with the audio routed separately to the home theater system
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound output
• Compatible With Xbox 360 / Xbox 360 Slim
• Please note: This is not manufactured by Microsoft

Product Details

• ASIN: B002P35JMO
• Item Weight: 3 pounds
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #3 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Hardware > Cables & Adapters
  • #12 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > Connectors & Adapters

Product Description

This RCA adapter cable allows HDMI video to be routed to the HDTV with the audio routed separately to the home theater system. This is a generic / aftermarket product.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works, If you aren't afraid to solder, October 1, 2010

By 

S. Malachowsky "I prefer smilies old school :-)" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim (Video Game)

I have a perfectly functional cable, which works great when used with an HDMI cable, but it took about 5 minutes of soldering. If you aren't comfortable with this, don't buy this product, as it likely won't work correctly out of the box. If you do purchase, you can fix it by following the steps below.

NOTE: If you break your Xbox, it's your fault and only your fault. If you burn your house down or your finger with a soldering iron, it's your fault and only your fault. Proceed at your own risk.

1) Check the cable... there is a chance it will be wired correctly when you get it. If so, lucky you :-) Make sure you try changing the TV HDMI input to another input, then back to the XBOX. If the XBOX resets, sorry, you need to plug in your soldering gun.

2) Open the plastic on the end of the plug that goes into the Xbox. You might need to tape it closed later, as it tends to break. Not a huge deal, as this won't kill the plug, just make it a little less attractive. Set it aside.

3) Remove the copper outer casing on the plug. This is the trapezoid thin metal outer part of the plug, with no wires connected to it. Slide it off the end of the plug by inserting a blade to release the two plastic tabs in the rectangular holes. Try not to damage this part if possible. Set it aside.

4) Get lined up to which pin is which. You need to focus on pins of even numbers 18 - 30. I have added a customer image to the product for reference. The easiest way to find these is to look at the wire side of the plug, find the three wires in a row (the optical wires) on the wide side and look at the 7 on the narrow side on the same end.

5) Remove the hot glue from these pins gently using a razor.

6) Make sure there are no connections between or to the last three: 26, 28, and 30. If there is a connection, desolder it. Mine didn't have any, but it is important you check this.

7) Jump (place a blob of solder) pins 22 and 24.

8) Jump pins 18 and 20.

9) Check your connections. This can be done with a continuity meter. 18 and 20 should be connected, 22 and 24 should be connected, and also check for lack of connections between the two groups and 26, 28, and 30.

10) Time to check your work. Your Xbox should not reset when changing HDMI inputs away from and back to your Xbox, and the optical plug on your adapter should be glowing red. You should get sound through the cable. I did this to get 5.1 optical so that I can hear someone behind me just before they shoot me in the head in Halo: Reach.

11) If there are still problems, recheck your work and use Google. You're on your own.

12) Did you remember to unplug your soldering iron? Are the curtains on fire? Why did you think a windowsill was a good place to put a hot soldering iron?

13) If it works, time to put everything back together. Replace the hot glue if you have some to keep things from touching, slide the copper cover back in place, and replace the plastic casing. You may need some tape or glue here. Easiest thing to do is wrap it a few times with electrical tape, stretching it to keep things nice and tight.

14) Game on. Please leave a comment if this worked for you. Sorry about those curtains dude, but things could have gotten much worse. Good thing you had that fire extinguisher handy. Some Halo will take that off your mind. It's hard to think about burnt curtains when a Covenant Mothership has you pinned down.

EDIT: Looks like the seller might have removed the reference picture...

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Cable causes xbox reboot when switching video inputs on your tv, July 20, 2010

By 

T. Jones "random guy" (NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim (Video Game)

This cable does the trick with one major flaw. It is not wired correctly and the xbox360 will reboot if you switch inputs on your display.

For example, if you have a cable/satellite box in tv hdmi input 1, and the xbox is on tv hdmi 2, then if you switch from the xbox to watch tv and return to the xbox the xbox will reboot.

This is a known problem on lower quality cables because they are missing a ground. This cable can be modified, but you have to crack open the casing, and solder in an additional wire. This is not a tv or setup problem. Its a known issue and you can easily find more info on it on the net.

This problem makes it very difficult to pause a game for long periods and return to it. So i have to give this a low review, because a cable either completely works, or it doesn't work at all...

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Option If You Use HDMI For Video But Need Optical For Audio, April 10, 2010

By 

L. M. Cooney Jr. "Born 1974 - Gamer Since 1979" (Middlesex, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim (Video Game)

I actually use this in conjunction with a pair of Turtle Beach X4's. I am fortunate to own an Onkyo 7.1 Surround Sound system (can be found for a great price if you dig a little online) however there are certain times, usually at night when she is asleep on the couch, that my wife just prefers I use headphones will gaming. So since my Onkyo receiver is capable of doing both HDMI Audio and Video, I use the optical connection on this adapter to go straight into the Turtle Beach receiver. So for that purpose, it works like a champ.

It will of course also work if you have a receiver that only does HDMI video but not audio as well.

The only thing I will say is when I purchased this a few months ago, I recall paying no more than $15 for it, and that included shipping, so buyer beware, it appears that some people are taking advantage of the fact that this is a somewhat hard to find item. However shop around if need be, as a $34 asking price is just absolutely uncalled for.

I've also recommended this to two people who had various different home theater setups that required the optical audio connection but they used HDMI for the video, and they both had no issues with this adapter and it worked flawlessly for them.