Xbox has one major flaw in my eyes, and that is in order to actually USE all the best features, you have to buy something EXTRA. In this case, in order to utilize the digital audio feature you need either this Advanced A/V Pack or the HD A/V Pack.

So what IS the Advanced A/V Pack? The Xbox comes with composite audio/video connections. this consists of three cables colored yellow, red, and white. The yellow for video, the red and white for stereo audio output. Most TVs made in recent history have these connections. The Advanced A/V allows you to take the next step up in audio/video connections. Instead of composite video, the advanced pack features s-video output, which seperates the video signal a little better, and results in a higher quality image. Most newer TVs have an s-video connection. It's a circular connection with 4 pins and looks a little like the PS/2 connector you might find on the end of your computer keyboard or mouse. The advanced pack also features composite stereo outs like the standard A/V cable, but also a TosLink digital bitstream out. This allows an optical cable to be run between the advanced pack and a receiver with a TosLink digital in.

Why would someone need an Advanced A/V Pack? The two advantages of the advanced pack are the s-video out and the TosLink out. If a person were interested in better picture quality, they would want to get the advanced pack for the s-video out. From my experience, after making that transition, the picture is brighter, a little sharper, and colors are little more vivid. With DVD movies, the change to s-video wielded a noticibly sharper image.

The second reason to get the Advanced A/V Pack is for the TosLink connection. Xbox features Dolby Digital 5.1 in-game sound capabilities as well as the ability to output in Dolby Digital and DTS in DVD movies. The capability is only possible using the TosLink, it can not be transmitted through the standard A/V cable that comes with the Xbox. It needs to be mentioned that, in addition, these features can only be unlocked using a Dolby Digital 5.1 enabled receiver. This is common in most new receivers, but my not be present in older ones. If considering utilizing digital sound, check your receiver's capabilities first. Dolby Digital 5.1 in game is going to let you realize the sounds in the game in 5 channel surround sound rather than the standard 2-channel stereo. This means if someone is walking behind you in the game, you can actually hear it behind you. Same is true for the entire 360 degrees range. The benefits of this are enormous, it enables a player to then not only play a game with their eyes and hands, but their ears as well, adding a whole new dimension. The same surround sound can be accomplished in DVD movies as well. In addition to Dolby Digital 5.1, Xbox also supports DTS surround for movies. The receiver you are using must be enabled for this as well before it can be utilized.

Setup is nearly self explanatory, simply plug the pack into the Xbox, then plug the appropriate cables into the pack, and their corresponding plugs on either your TV or receiver. Instructions are included, and are concise, but hardly needed.

The negative here is that Xbox hardware features this surround sound hardware, but this extra must be purchased to actually utilize it. In comparison, Sony's Playstation 2 has it's digital video out built into the console.

While that is the case, you get your money's worth. The package comes with the A/V connector as well as s-video and composite audio cables. The A/V connector is a short cable with the Xbox proprietary connection on one end and a small black pod on the other. The pod feature four outputs. One TosLink connection for digital audio, one s-video out, one left analog audio and one right analog audio combined to produce stereo sound. The A/V connector and the included A/V cables combined are about 7 feet long, or equal to the length of the standard connector.

If what you're looking for is just better video quality and do not have a digital surround sound enabled receiver, a better alternative is the Interact s-video cable because it's much cheaper and serves basically the same function without the TosLink connection. However, if you want to use both s-video and digital surround, the Advanced A/V pack is a good choice, and currently the only one at a reasonable price. Also the inclusion of both analog and digital audio output provides a nice avenue for upgrading to digital audio later for those who do not currently have it.

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