Quote: Originally Posted by steaxauce Wait a minute, someone's confused. An optical output is a type of digital output, and the main purpose of a soundcard, at least as far as music is concerned, is to act as a DAC. Also, the Audigy 2 ZS' digital output is optical. To utilize it, you...

ok, so which of these two options would anyone recommend: 1. Xbox360 analog output --> Marantz2215B---> Sennheiser595's 2. Xbox360 optical output-->Creative Audigy 2 ZS platinum--->Sennheiser595's price for marantz, $135 shipped price for zs platinum, $100 + tax, local pickup, Frye's...

So I just picked up a Marantz 2215B for $135 shipped (hope thats a good deal) which I will be pairing with some Senn595's. Could i hook a xbox360 in to this receiver using analog and get good sound, or would I be better of buying a new receiver at a comprable price that has an optical input and...

not to sound like a broken record, but any receiver with an optical input and headphone output will have a built in dac?

I'm looking for a way to get great sound out of my 360 on a terrible budget. I was thinking of buying some senn595's and using them with a MARANTZ Model 2238. Could i run the 360 with the marantz using the analog cables, or is this a bad idea with the xbox?

Quote: Originally Posted by MisterX http://us.hifidiy.net/Article.asp?ArticleId=174# looks like it might be right up your alley. this takes an optical input right? what is the output? 3.5mm? could i hook my xbox360 up to this and output out to some senn595's?

ok, all this makes a lot of sense. Doing some furthur research, i think i figured out that dolby is transmitted at 96khz, meaning that i need a digital to analog conversion rate of atleast 96khz if i am going to use these headphones for mostly 360 gaming. can anyone recommend a cheap reciever...

so buying a receiver with a headphone output and optical input is the same as having a dac? why then are some dac's so much more than the receivers that can convert the signal?

what's a DAC?

Could I plug a pair of Senn 595hd's directly into the optical port of my xbox360 using a toslink to 3.5mm converter? If so, would the 360 be powerful enough to drive the headphones? I am not an audiophile, just looking for something that is better than the sound coming out of my tv. I am paying...