Can Dolby Atmos for headphones work with a DAC?
Aug 12, 2018 at 6:44 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 2

jdanzphd

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Hello,

I have been searching around and have yet to find any definitive answer.
Can you use dolby atmos for headphones with an external dac? I have an old Fiio Alpen and it doesn't really seem to work. I can turn atmos on, but attempting to hear sample content through the atmos app nothing comes out and it tells me to check my set up. I am using the SPIDF input.

I finally have a desktop set up and was planning on getting a Schiit stack, but as I enjoy atmos for overwatch and I really don't want to have to switch back and forth.
 
Aug 14, 2018 at 1:55 AM Post #2 of 2
I have been searching around and have yet to find any definitive answer.
Can you use dolby atmos for headphones with an external dac? I have an old Fiio Alpen and it doesn't really seem to work. I can turn atmos on, but attempting to hear sample content through the atmos app nothing comes out and it tells me to check my set up. I am using the SPIDF input.

Is it Atmos for headphones? Because Atmos is ATMOSphere, ie, a surround speaker that doubles the FL-C-FR if not all speakers that are set higher, that way when some sounds are meant to come from above - like the Quinn Jet and Iron Man take on Loki in Germany, or when a Blackhawk hovering overhead gets shot and comes down - you'd hear more of some SFX (and dialogue, as when Black Widow threatens Loki with an autocannon) coming from above.

If that isn't Atmos for headphones the E17K is receiving a surround signal which is why it won't work on it or any other 2ch DAC. If that's a laptop, double check with the manufacturer because in some cases headphone processing only works when you're driving headphones from its headphone out port. Alternately try a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable into the E17Ks analogue input and see if anything happens (although height on headphones is just about as problematic for reproduction as rear channels).
 

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