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Xbox 360 Premium with HDMI port  (Source: Shacknews)

Xbox 360 documentation which notes HDMI port  (Source: Shacknews)
Shacknews reader finds an HDMI port on his new Xbox 360 Premium

Yesterday, Microsoft announced across-the-board price cuts for its Xbox 360 lineup. Prices for the $479 Elite, $399 Premium and $299 Core dropped to $449.99, $349.99 and $279.99 respectively.

It turns out that Microsoft's announcement of price cuts across the board for its Xbox 360 lineup wasn't the only thing the folks at Redmond had in store for consumers. A Shacknews reader purchased a $349.99 Xbox 360 Premium today from a Target store in Atlanta and was surprised to see an HDMI port on the console.

The manufacture date for the console was listed as July 4 and the documentation provided for the console made clear mention of the new HDMI port.

HDMI was first introduced on the Xbox 360 Elite in late April. That console came with a black finish and a 120GB HDD instead of the 20GB included on the Premium. Microsoft also announced that the upcoming Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console would feature an HDMI port -- albeit at a higher $399.99 price tag.

It is unknown whether the inclusion of the HDMI port will also extend to the Xbox 360 Core. It may be more cost effective for Microsoft to just produce a single motherboard for the entire Xbox 360 lineup instead of continuing its current HDMI/non-HDMI production. It is also unclear if this new batch of Xbox 360 consoles feature the new cooler-running 65 nanometer Falcon CPU and GPU.

Updated 08/08/07:
A Microsoft represenative confirmed to Kotaku that the Xbox 360 Premium is indeed now shipping with an HDMI port. "Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

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Finally
By daftrok on 8/8/2007 6:30:13 PM , Rating: 2
They finally caved. Its a shame that these HDMI ports are only 1.2 spec (no 7.1 sound) but a step in the right direction. It wont be long until games will be able to play at 1080p rather than upscaling from 720p.




RE: Finally
By exdeath on 8/8/2007 6:34:47 PM , Rating: 2
Why would someone with nice enough gear to have HDMI be using copper for audio anyway?

I've been using digital optical for years.


RE: Finally
By rninneman on 8/8/2007 6:53:03 PM , Rating: 3
Optical digital audio only sounds better in theory. Ask any audiophile or any knowledgeable engineer; it is much easier to implement a high quality copper digital link than a fiber link. The problem is syncing the clocks in the 2 devices. Most CE devices have horrible Toslink implementations. A Toslink circuit that has as little jitter as coaxial digital would cost more than the entire xbox.

BTW, HDMI has been able to carry 7.1 PCM audio since version 1. 1.3 added Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, xvYCC color, higher single link connections for resolutions and refresh rates, lip sync, and a mini connector.


RE: Finally
By aos007 on 8/8/2007 7:40:17 PM , Rating: 2
Optical cables are potentially more beneficial for crowded environment (lots of high frequency noise nearby) but the most often quoted drawback is higher jitter. Neither of these would likely be noticeable to vast majority of users.

However, optical - and coax! - S/PDIF are not able to carry anything better than 5.1 compressed audio (Dolby or DTS) by specification. While HDMI is able to carry 7.1 uncompressed or compressed in newer formats (TrueHD, Master HD etc.). And the fact that it's encrypted means that copyright owners are allowing all those high resolution high channel count formats to be actually deployed. So no, "copper" in this case is vastly superior - as long as you have equipment to accept it.


RE: Finally
By Goty on 8/8/07, Rating: -1
RE: Finally
By Desslok on 8/8/2007 9:15:24 PM , Rating: 4
How is that clapped out Monte Carlo working for you?


RE: Finally
By FITCamaro on 8/8/2007 11:36:05 PM , Rating: 4
Spinners cool your brakes too.


RE: Finally
By Samus on 8/10/2007 4:49:35 PM , Rating: 1
But they weigh a ton, adding to the weight of spun mass, increasing your stopping distances and decreasing accererating time and cornering ability.


RE: Finally
By S3anister on 8/10/2007 7:38:23 PM , Rating: 2
while increasing the vehicle's overall ballin'


RE: Finally
By PurdueRy on 8/8/2007 7:30:27 PM , Rating: 4
Because their is no audible difference between the two. Digital coax is superior in robustness. Optical is superior in noise rejection(minimally as quad shielded coax is very good) and over longer lengths(30+ feet).

For most users who run a 6 foot cable, there is no difference between the two quality wise. In fact, for digital coax, you can just use any old video cable you have laying around. They are the same.


RE: Finally
By doctat on 8/9/2007 3:46:14 AM , Rating: 3
eh, sorry i'm still not clear on the whole 'this digital cable is better than that digital cable' thing.

you either get the correct bits out the other end of a digital link, or you don't, right?


RE: Finally
By omnicronx on 8/9/2007 8:30:52 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
you either get the correct bits out the other end of a digital link, or you don't, right?

exactly, anyone who tells you otherwise, is making stuff up, probably to justify their current setup ;)
Although someone posted you can use any rca cable in place of a digital coax cable is not exactly true, digital coax runs at 75ohms where as normal rca is something like 55ohms. Although the normal user may not be able to tell the difference, some people can(some people say highs are not as warm)


RE: Finally
By shines on 8/9/2007 1:38:04 PM , Rating: 3
The waveforms that represent the sound are encoded in the bits sent across the cable. Bits don't have "warmth", and no property of an RCA cable can selectively alter the bitstream in such a was as to produce a warmer sound.


RE: Finally
By omnicronx on 8/9/2007 2:14:34 PM , Rating: 2
Digital coax is 75ohm cable (like your cable TV or FM radio cable) and is designed to work in the megahertz range. Audio interconnects are a different impedance and will degrade digital data since they are designed to work in the 0 - 20 kilohertz range (they are usually 50ohm). On the otherhand, the unshielded yellow video interconnects are 75ohm, and could be used as short a short range cable (6ft and under) with no degradation.

I am not saying you or most people can tell the difference, but with high end equipment you will, plain and simple.


RE: Finally
By Hare on 8/11/2007 7:49:16 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I am not saying you or most people can tell the difference, but with high end equipment you will, plain and simple.

BS. If the cable works it works. 01010 in, 01010 out. The quality of the cable doesn't matter as long as you get the bits out. If you don't get the bits out you get breaks or other digital problems but there's no way you could say that "hmm, that guitar doesn't sound very warm" etc. Anyone can hear digital transportation problems if there are any. What's next? MP3 files from a Samsung drive sound better than the same files out of WD? Or the color of the sata-cable matters?

The equipment excuse just doesn't work here.


RE: Finally
By sxr7171 on 8/13/2007 12:25:11 AM , Rating: 2
Read up on jitter and timing.


RE: Finally
By ToeCutter on 8/10/2007 11:29:00 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
you either get the correct bits out the other end of a digital link, or you don't, right?


Exactly.

This is the same verbal circle jerk I've been listening to since digital outputs became available in retail.

A poorly placed window will do more to "disrupt audio fidelity" than any digital cable you're using.

Consider the irony that most folks using the lossless, high bit rate streams must resort to discrete copper analog interconnects because gear manufacturers are slow to add the latest HDMI revisions into their products.

(Which is why I' still using a 3 year old Onkyo with Toslink and 5.1 audio via VLC)


RE: Finally
By Samus on 8/10/2007 4:51:10 PM , Rating: 2
right, but you can get dropped packets, resulting in a pop noise now and then, if digital coax has interference.


RE: Finally
By deeznuts on 8/9/2007 1:27:32 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Why would someone with nice enough gear to have HDMI be using copper for audio anyway?

I've been using digital optical for years.
Are you talking about HDMI when you say "copper?"

If so, as pointed out SPDIF only allows 2.1 LPCM (uncompressed) there is not enough bandwidth for more than 5.1 (maybe 7.1) DD and DTS spec.

HDMI allows for multichannel uncompressed signals, as well as DTS-MA and DD TrueHD.


RE: Finally
By TOAOCyrus on 8/8/07, Rating: 0