What is the larger port on the back of new xbox 360s above the smaller hdmi port?

[christiani]

Hey guys. I'm about to buy an xbox 360 elite, but first wanted to know what the port above the small hdmi port is on the console?
A picture is shown below:

http://digital-lifestyles.info/copy_...te-back-lg.jpg

Is it also a hdmi port?

[Lee H]

That is the Xbox AV connection for using the cables to connect to a TV without HDMI.

[christiani]

aah ok, cool. Wasn't quite sure lol
Thanks for that.
I have an XCM 1080p VGA box, which allows me to connect an xbox 360, PS3 or Wii to my PC monitor, via the dvi port on my monitor. The cable provided to plug into this unit would plug into the AV port. Do you think there would be that much difference in picture quality between this and getting a hdmi cable and plugging it into the VGA adaptor?

[vaughan]

not really much difference to be frank.. the AV port is HDTV output aswell anyway, so you'll be good to go.

[BlackKnight_UK]

Hey guys. I'm about to buy an xbox 360 elite, but first wanted to know what the port above the small hdmi port is on the console?
A picture is shown below:

http://digital-lifestyles.info/copy_...te-back-lg.jpg

Is it also a hdmi port?

Shame on you for not reading the owners manual

[hypnoticstate]

not really much difference to be frank.. the AV port is HDTV output aswell anyway, so you'll be good to go.

So what is the difference between using one over the other (if any)?

[vaughan]

not much difference that you would possibly notice at all unless you have a really expensive Audio Receiver & a very large HDTV (bigger than 50"), and then it's negligable whether you'd notice any difference in picture quality.

audio quality is dependant on the Audio Equipment & speakers you have.. and then depends on your hearing.. I have an Audio setup with 5.1 and the speakers are 750W RMS and of good quality. B&W, Wharfedale & Mission. and i can tell the difference in quality of different systems.. but i don't use the audio from the HDMI at all, i use the digital optical connection instead.

HDMI carries both the audio & video digitally from XBOX to TV/Receiver
the HDTV/Component carries the video as an analogue signal and then the TV converts it back to digital again.

it's a bit like the old saying.. Vinyl records sound better than CD. yes they do on good quality equipment but it's the opposite, with sound, sound is not digital, it's analogue, and vinyl is analogue medium.. so no conversion required. CD has to be converted to analogue 1st, and in poorer quality equipment the DAC process makes a difference in sound quality.