Splitting the channels of a single optical cable

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I was wondering if there was any way to isolate the channels in an optical audio cable.

I was going to be connecting my Xbox 360 to two (or three) separate sets of high performance PC speakers, the logitech Z-2300.

They are 2.1 speakers, gettting two of these sets would make then 4.1 (4.2 if you count the additional sub) and then after that I can get a third center channel speaker maing it 5.1 or 5.2 in effect.

Each set only has a left/right input, so I would need to split the channels from the single optical cable and direct them to each appropriate speaker set.

So any ideas on how to split the channels on an optical cable?

Not without really expensive equipment...but I run into optical mainly in networks.

Haven't seen optical sound cables before, but I spent many a decade with electrical versions. I think that as you increase the number of outputs (in any medium) the strength of the signal per channel goes down. As far as I know, optical is basically on/off signals, so below a certain threshold, you'd get nothing.

Are there any audio outputs on the back of the Xbox (don't have one myself..? You could probably get a 'copper' version of it for less than optical controls cost.

stay tuned for up-to-date answers.

The Xbox 360 has an optical out, and the basic L/R coax.

If the xbox360 has surround sound capability (which I haven't been able to verify) then anything that decodes surround sound from optical input should have outputs for all the speakers.

I'm assuming xbox360 does not have surround sound capability, so all you have to do is forget about the optical outputs and buy a bunch of adaptor cables for those 2 left-right outputs from Tandy Radio Shack or someplace, so that you can connect the 3 "soundcard plugs" on each speakers system. It would cost around $50USD but if you can solder, all you'd need is 2 plugs and 3 stereo jacks and some wire in a small box, all for less than $10.

Using the optical is pointlessly more expensive for those speakers if there aren't really 6 channels of sound plus the subwoofer channel coming out of the xbox. It would make more sense to get more speakers and cables... why not have 20 speakers and 10 subwoofers while you are at it? In theory there is no limit to how many speakers can make the same sounds at the same time.

This is from Dolby:
"For game play, the Xbox 360 features interactive Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, allowing next-generation games on this platform to deliver a highly realistic sound field that places gamers in the middle of the action. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound gives gamers a competitive advantage by allowing them to hear enemies that may not be visible on the screen."

I have even heard this my self, if someone shoot at me from my front left, I hear the initial shot in my FL speaker, and then I hear it make contact with a wall behind me in the RL speaker. And yes it can give you an advantage, on Xbox Live I might not know where another player is, but if they are behind me and open fire at me, I know which direction to turn because of what speaker it came out of.

Also as a test, there was some sort of a power generator in a game making a humming sound, if I faced directly at it, I would her it in the center speaker, and as I turned the stick it would start spinning around all the speakers.

Now, to get back to the point, from what I know I cannot split the channels from an optical cable because they are all encoded together in one signal, I would have to get something like a digital sound board to decode the signal then separate it which costs more than me just getting the 5.1 (Z-5500) version of my 2.1 (Z-2300) system. So never mind I suppose. I wish the 360 supported 5.1 analog, ohwell.

ok...I grok it now...

You need to be careful. Make sure not to cut any bit of the wire. Do you have splicing tools.