PS3 and Xbox 360 into Zero DAC via TOSLink swith ok?

[chum_2000_uk]

Hi guys,

Just ordered a set of Sennheiser HD650 and probably looking at also purchasing a Zero DAC to drive them. For music I will likely connect the Zero DAC via coaxial from onboard soundcard on my PC.

For games and movies will it be ok to connect the PS3 and XBOX Elite to the DAC via a TOSLink switch? If so is there anything I should know, for example perhaps having to turn off DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 when listening to the headphones through the DAC? I heard DTS or Dolby 5.1 could damage speakers/headphones when run through the DAC?

Thanks for any advice, I'm pretty new to all this - will be my first foray into decent headphones and headphone amps, so have no idea what I'm talking about in truth!

[alexs2]

Unless your DAC will process DTS or DD(and very few if any will outside of an AV processor)then you must ensure you do not run these signals through to your DAC.

At best you'll get a very nasty burst of digital hash....to be honest,unless you select the wrong source material,this won't be a problem.

[chum_2000_uk]

Originally Posted by alexs2

Unless your DAC will process DTS or DD(and very few if any will outside of an AV processor)then you must ensure you do not run these signals through to your DAC.

At best you'll get a very nasty burst of digital hash....to be honest,unless you select the wrong source material,this won't be a problem.

Thanks! One thing though, you say as long as I dont select the wrong source material... what do you mean by that? Surely games and movies could both potentially have DD or DTS, so wont I have to disable these in the sound menus on the PS3 and 360 when using the DAC?

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by chum_2000_uk

Thanks! One thing though, you say as long as I dont select the wrong source material... what do you mean by that? Surely games and movies could both potentially have DD or DTS, so wont I have to disable these in the sound menus on the PS3 and 360 when using the DAC?

What I mean is exactly that...if you use or select source material containing DTS or DD content,then you will have problems.

If you're going to use the DAC for music only,then you'll be fine....if you attempt to use the DAC for either gaming or movies,it will not be a good idea.

[chum_2000_uk]

Originally Posted by alexs2

What I mean is exactly that...if you use or select source material containing DTS or DD content,then you will have problems.

If you're going to use the DAC for music only,then you'll be fine....if you attempt to use the DAC for either gaming or movies,it will not be a good idea.

So not even disabling DD or DTS will allow me to use the headphone amp of a Zero DAC for games and movies? If this is the case would I be better off getting a separate DAC and Amp, and for movies and games run it through my AV receiver --> headphone amp --> HD650s?

[alexs2]

I'm not sure how to make this more clear.....as long as you do not put DD or DTS through the DAC you will be fine.
You can disable them,and thus force 2 channel digital output,but you would be best advised to remember to do this every time you use a game or movie through the DAC.

A far simpler solution is,as you've said,to use the receiver for games and movies.

[chum_2000_uk]

Originally Posted by alexs2

I'm not sure how to make this more clear.....as long as you do not put DD or DTS through the DAC you will be fine.
You can disable them,and thus force 2 channel digital output,but you would be best advised to remember to do this every time you use a game or movie through the DAC.

A far simpler solution is,as you've said,to use the receiver for games and movies.

Thanks, thats what I wanted to know! You have now actually made it clear, whereas before you were basically saying I would have problems using any source apart from music, you have now confirmed to me that as long as only 2 channel is used and DTS and DD disabled then it should be ok.

At least now I know that using the DAC with these sources is possible, even though making sure DD and DTS are turned off will be a PITA. However, I intend to use the headphones quite a lot anyway, so the majority of the time I wont be switching DD and DTS back on anyway.

[alexs2]

One other thing I thought of was to ask if the DAC has a digital pass-through,and if so,it may pass-through DD and/or DTS,but you would need to be sure the DAC itself doesn't output anything with those signals.

[chum_2000_uk]

Originally Posted by alexs2

One other thing I thought of was to ask if the DAC has a digital pass-through,and if so,it may pass-through DD and/or DTS,but you would need to be sure the DAC itself doesn't output anything with those signals.

I'm not entirely sure tbh! I don't really know much about this subject. I am probably wrong in saying this, but wouldn't digital pass-through be digital source input to digital output?