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Receiver as Headphone amp?
Nov 12, 2012 at 5:23 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 27
Thilly

Thilly

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can i use a receiver as a headphone and dac? if so, is it worth doin or should i just buy an amp and dac?
 
ive been checkin out these receivers
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60414&vpn=TX-SR309%28B%29&manufacture=ONKYO&promoid=1230
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/pioneer-pioneer-5-1-channel-receiver-vsx-522-k-vsx-522-k/10195813.aspx?path=a96eacc374a68541f9cff865c0d33b74en02
 
i want to use it to connect to my computer. also, im on the fence about buyin an xbox 360 to play halo 4. if i do, i think the receiver will allow me to connect my headphones to the xbox, right?
 
the equipment i plan to use are: HD 598, ATH-M50 and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1.
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 6:30 PM Post #2 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
Can I use a receiver as a headphone and DAC? if so, is it worth doin or should i just buy an amp and dac?
I've been checkin out these receivers
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60414&vpn=TX-SR309%28B%29&manufacture=ONKYO&promoid=1230
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/pioneer-pioneer-5-1-channel-receiver-vsx-522-k-vsx-522-k/10195813.aspx?path=a96eacc374a68541f9cff865c0d33b74en02
I want to use it to connect to my computer. also, im on the fence about buyin an xbox 360 to play halo 4. if i do, i think the receiver will allow me to connect my headphones to the xbox, right?
The equipment i plan to use are: HD 598, ATH-M50 and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1.
Click to expand...

I prefer Yamaha receivers, Almost all come with Yamaha's Headphone surround sound (Silent Cinema).
You could hook up you computer and xBox to a receiver.
HDMI would provide better audio quality over optical.
 
Also Creative Labs just came out with a new computer sound card (Z-series) which has optical input.
So you might be able to run optical from the xBox to the Creative Labs Z series sound card.
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 7:15 PM Post #3 of 27
Heya,
 
Yes, it works fine. It's what we had before "headphone amps" existed.
 
I've used Pioneer, Denon, Onyko and Yamaha and they're all great. Vintage ones are great too.
 
A lot of the newer AVR's have nice surround effects they can apply to headphones too. Great for gamers. Great for movies. Great for music too. Yamaha has a nice thing with silent cinema.
 
Examples:
 
  
 
  
 
 
Very best,
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 7:26 PM Post #4 of 27
awesome. thanks guys
 
isnt Yamaha's Headphone surround sound the same as DTS on Onkyo?
wouldnt i want an analogue signal for audio instead of digital from hdmi?
will i be able to use the sound stage of the HD 598 to its full potential?
also, i read that having low impendance headphones would have worst sound quality than higher impandance when connected to a receiver? is this myth true?
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 10:15 PM Post #5 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
 
 
Isn't Yamaha's Headphone surround sound the same as DTS on Onkyo?
Wouldn't I want an analogue signal for audio instead of digital from HDMI?
Will I be able to use the sound stage of the HD 598 to its full potential?
also, I read that having low impendance headphones would have worst sound quality than higher impendance when connected to a receiver? is this myth true?
Click to expand...

Yamaha's Silent Cinema, Dolby Headphone and DTS Surround are three separate headphone surround sound technologies.
 
Analog from your xBox is 2-channel of analog (PCM) audio
Optical from your xBox is up to 6-channels (5.1) of compressed digital audio, 24-bit/48KHz
HDMI digital from your xBox is up to 8-channels (7.1) of uncompressed (PCM) digital audio, 24-bit/192KHz
High Ohm (impedance) headphones do work better with a receiver's headphone jack.
My 50-Ohm HD558s sound fine with my Yamaha RX-V671 receiver.
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 11:03 PM Post #6 of 27
that makes sense. how do you have your receiver connected to your computer? 
do i need a high end sound card? im using onboard right now because my computer wont recognize my Xonar DG any more for some reason, but im tryin to get it resolved.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 12:30 AM Post #7 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
That makes sense. how do you have your receiver connected to your computer? 
Do I need a high end sound card? I'm using on-board audio right now because my computer wont recognize my Xonar DG any more for some reason, but I'm trying to get it resolved.
Click to expand...

I do not ever really hook my computer to my receiver, I think about doing it in the future.
If your motherboard comes with S/PDIF (optical or coaxial) output or you connect HDMI from your computer's graphics to the receiver,
you will not need to use an add-on sound card.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 7:31 AM Post #8 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
that makes sense. how do you have your receiver connected to your computer? 
do i need a high end sound card? im using onboard right now because my computer wont recognize my Xonar DG any more for some reason, but im tryin to get it resolved.
Click to expand...

 
Heya,
 
Simply output via optical or spdiff to the receiver. Your soundcard/computer will have nothing to do with the audio. It simply passes it on to the receiver via spdiff/optical. No sound card at all required if your motherboard has optical/spdiff on it already. Simply set it to default in windows in control panel.
 
Very best,
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:13 AM Post #9 of 27
purpleangel said:
I do not ever really hook my computer to my receiver, I think about doing it in the future.
If your motherboard comes with S/PDIF (optical or coaxial) output or you connect HDMI from your computer's graphics to the receiver,
you will not need to use an add-on sound card.
Click to expand...



malveaux said:
Heya,

Simply output via optical or spdiff to the receiver. Your soundcard/computer will have nothing to do with the audio. It simply passes it on to the receiver via spdiff/optical. No sound card at all required if your motherboard has optical/spdiff on it already. Simply set it to default in windows in control panel.

Very best,
Click to expand...


Seems like ill be using hdmi, then ill just need to set my audio output to hdmi? seems easy.

I came across the audyssey thread. Seems like it isnt available for receivers in my budget (~$200 CAD). Would it be necessary for a 2.1 setup? Is it something i have to get?

I had another question, but cant remember it. Ill come back with it when i remember.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:25 AM Post #10 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
Seems like ill be using HDMI, then I'll just need to set my audio output to HDMI? seems easy.
I came across the Audyssey thread. Seems like it isn't available for receivers in my budget (~$200 CAD). Would it be necessary for a 2.1 setup? Is it something i have to get?
I had another question, but cant remember it. I'll come back with it when I remember.
Click to expand...

Yes, you set your audio output to HDMI.
 
You can manually set your speakers in the receivers setup menu.
People were doing that long before Audyssey came out.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:33 AM Post #12 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
Manually set the treble, mid and bass? Thats just about all i know to do lol.
Click to expand...

Should be lots of audio websites out there that can inform you on what settings to use.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:55 AM Post #13 of 27
You sure can though none of my receivers has had headphone outs that I preferred over my dedicated headphone amplifiers I had at the time. most has been decent only one horrific which was the Yamaha RX-V663. That was such an awful receiver. Nothing ever sounded good from it. As for silent Cinema it does nothing for me though it don´t distort the sound as much as for example dolby headphone.
 
I don´t want to diss Yamaha to much because I found a used Yamaha RDS440 or something like that. Older, entry level no HDMI but it performs a lot better. Currently run an Onkyo 709 which is surely okay but still not up to par with my Audio GD C-2.1 and Trafomatic Head One. Can´t wait to try it out of the speaker terminals though.
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:09 PM Post #14 of 27
when it comes to gaming, are the dacs in the receivers on par with external dacs? some one might've answered this but im not very good with reading between the lines. a simple yes or no will be good with me.
 
i guess the last thing i need to find out is, which receiver would be the best bang for my buck for gaming? in my first post, i have links to two receiver that i am willing to buy. are those worthy of buying?
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 2:16 PM Post #15 of 27
Quote:
thilly said:
when it comes to gaming, are the dacs in the receivers on par with external dacs? some one might've answered this but im not very good with reading between the lines. a simple yes or no will be good with me.
 
i guess the last thing i need to find out is, which receiver would be the best bang for my buck for gaming? in my first post, i have links to two receiver that i am willing to buy. are those worthy of buying?
Click to expand...

 
Yes.
 
Best bang for the buck receiver. (based on cost)
 
Very best,
 
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