Amp with built-in Dolby Heaphone?

[Rimbaud]

I was planning to purchase a new Denon home theater receiver, but they've dropped Dolby Headphone from their latest models. I'd like to implement DH for my system, and was wondering if there is a headphone amp on the market with built-in DH?

I'm familiar with the Pioneer wireless DH system, but I don't feel the need to go wireless.

 

[deadie]

Not exactly what you wanted, but here's a little JVC processor that does Dolby Headphone and DTS from optical. It runs on batteries and outputs 1/4" mini plug. I have one and it works great if you like the processing effects that it adds.

 

[IPodPJ]

I believe Sennheiser has one, too. It's called the DSP Pro. I'm not sure if it has "Dolby Headphone" but it has Dolby stuff.

It looks amazingly like the first Dolby surround unit I ever had for headphones, made by a company called Aura. The Sennheiser unit has more buttons though.

 

[vulc4n]

Anyone know how the sound quality of these is in head fi terms?

I want something I can use to get more positional sound when I'm games with headphones.

 

[DDF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vulc4n /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone know how the sound quality of these is in head fi terms? I want something I can use to get more positional sound when I'm games with headphones.

Fobar supports a DH plugin (search the forums), if you want to give it a spin.

 

[Kahuna]

I have a DSP Pro, it sits on the shelf collecting dust...

 

[vulc4n]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDF /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fobar supports a DH plugin (search the forums), if you want to give it a spin.

I'm talking more about the devices themselves. I have experience with dolby headphone thanks to my AVR 435.

I'm at school right now, and while I have the AVR 435 with me, its just way too bulky. I was hoping to find something smaller that wold be similarly effective.

 

[jellojoe]

I think some of the newer Marantz integrated receivers have a Dolby headphone out.

 

[vulc4n]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jellojoe /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think some of the newer Marantz integrated receivers have a Dolby headphone out.

Harman Kardon also has support, but I must say that the heapdhone amp in my AVR 435 is pretty disappointing.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif I believe Sennheiser has one, too. It's called the DSP Pro. I'm not sure if it has "Dolby Headphone" but it has Dolby stuff. It looks amazingly like the first Dolby surround unit I ever had for headphones, made by a company called Aura. The Sennheiser unit has more buttons though.

The DSP Pro/LUCAS is long out of production and is a Pro-Logic II processor, not a dolby headphone processor. The JVC unit will be the far better choice unless you intend to partner the DSP Pro with a Surrounder.

 

[Rimbaud]

Thanks for the ideas, but they aren't what I was hoping for. I may end up getting a Pioneer SE-DIR800C, and plan on linking the headphone jack to an external amp once I tire of the wireless headphones.

 

[PaulK]

There another one that works very very nice for me: the Philips headphone amp HD1500 (not sure about the exact type number, but somethng like this). It comes with a (high quality!!) digital wireless headphone ( I never heard a better wireless), but also has a second output for a wired headphone. It has Dolby PLII, which you can link into the DB Headphone module, or use the DB Headphone only. Also supports DTS (over DB HP). I could write another page about why this is such a great product, and I will if you like. But in short: It has just all the right features that I need, and to me it sounds awesome!!
Note: not a portable device!! You can hook it up to your amp/receiver.

 

[Rimbaud]

Paul- I discovered the HD1500 since my last post above, and that unit would suit my needs perfectly. Unfortunately, it's no longer available! It's baffling that such a great product would be yanked from production with no successor model at all from Philips.

 

[jellojoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimbaud /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the ideas, but they aren't what I was hoping for. I may end up getting a Pioneer SE-DIR800C, and plan on linking the headphone jack to an external amp once I tire of the wireless headphones.

I think you're suppose to hook your headphone amp to the line out of your receiver rather than the headphone out.

 

[Rimbaud]

jello,

Yes, but at that point I wouldn't be using the Pioneer unit with the Dolby Headphone processing! The Pioneer has no other output with a processed signal. Not ideal, but I see no other alternative at the moment (assuming the receiver doesn't have DH, like the new Denon's).