I would like to know if any recent AV amps enable the headphones to use any of the Dolby/Atmos/DTS encoding methods to apply a virtual surround effect to the stereo output?
I am still using a near 10 year old Marantz Sr5004 av amp for Tv/Movie viewing as I am mainly using decent stereo headphones for late night use, and the default dolby headphone encoding effect the amp provides is very satisfying. I ran this unit for quite a few years with no speakers connected, just as a headphone output. But it is getting on a bit now & isnt 4k aware , so maybe time to replace.
I noted that windows 10 has a Dolby Atmos or headphones feature, so I expect a full avamp should provide something equivalent? The headphone barely rates a mention in any of the product info , so I am unable to work out if any amps would be suitable for upgrades,
thanks for any info,
I've tried a few of these "surround headphones". The better ones will have separate drivers to mimic different source position. Of these that have multiple source drivers, most of them are poorly executed.
The nature of headphones are that the drivers are very close to your ear. The soundstage will inevitably be small so regardless if the source is meant to be left, right, rear or forward, it will sound very similar.
Some DACs can create little tricks like muffling sounds supposedly coming from behind but if poorly executed can make a movie fairly unwatchable.
My last experience with these things are 4 years ago but I doubt much have changed.
Your headphone port of your PC/audio card/avamp will likely use the same DAC as all other outputs but AV Amps and audio cards have a completely different amplifier circuitry to boost signal from the DAC to the specific headphone out.