[rc10mike]

The current $250 Yamaha RX-V377 comes with Silent Cinema, which is supposed to be like Dolby Headphone

 

[NickLondon]

I don't see how optical could match HDMI given that (i) you can't have 7.1 (ii) you can't have lossless 5.1 let alone lossless 7.1. Having said that I'd be cautious about using an AVR because it might add input lag - you'd have to pass the video signal through the AVR, unlike with optical.

 

[John_M]

I own a Marantz NR1601 and can confirm that Dolby Headphone with a lossless 7.1 source significantly outperforms any of the Turtle Beach or Astro DSS/ Mixamp products. Night and day isn't too strong a description. No issues with lag - it is a pass through.
 
However, I'm selling my NR1601 as I've just bought a Smyth Realiser - see http://www.head-fi.org/t/718249/marantz-nr1601.

 

[Stillhart]

  I own a Marantz NR1601 and can confirm that Dolby Headphone with a lossless 7.1 source significantly outperforms any of the Turtle Beach or Astro DSS/ Mixamp products. Night and day isn't too strong a description. No issues with lag - it is a pass through.
 
However, I'm selling my NR1601 as I've just bought a Smyth Realiser - see http://www.head-fi.org/t/718249/marantz-nr1601.

Sucks you're on the wrong continent...

 

[John_M]

 
Sucks you're on the wrong continent...

Don't mind shipping to the US (in the original box) but you'd have to take the risk of damage when in transit (hence my preference is for someone to pick it up...)

 

[Stillhart]

 
Don't mind shipping to the US (in the original box) but you'd have to take the risk of damage when in transit (hence my preference is for someone to pick it up...)

 
Yeah, I'm not prepared to pay international shipping prices for 30+ lbs of AVR.  :-/