Spdif Out for use with DACs

[jahjahwarrior]

I was thinking in a future revision of the Mixamp a SPDIF out could be included so as to stream the Dolby Headphone encoded bitstream to a high quality DAC with a headphone amp. Only because the Mixamp has to be near max volume to effectively drive high impedance headphones and because I consider myself an audiophile (lol). I realize you could run a cable out and use the Mixamp as a preamp but an all digital path would provide a cleaner signal.

This might not even have to be a part of the Mixamp. It could be an entirely different encoder device marketed at a different market segment. I frequent many AV forums and know that people want just a Dolby Headphone encoder. It could just be a box for all I care but the main thing is to keep the digital path and not insert any analog components. I have a feeling and I may have read that the reason this device doesn't exist is because that Dolby will not allow a digital out with their encoding tech used in this manner. Anybody care to comment?

[DHASS]

nice idea, but probably would cost too much to make large quanities

[jahjahwarrior]

Not really. The current Mixamp already has the DSP chip that handles the encoding. It's just a matter of whether the DSP chip has more pin outs to go to a SPDIF out port (and the associated mechanism to convert it to optical). Top cost to Astro is about $25 and they can sell for $50 more. I'd pay for it. :)

[DHASS]

well if you put it that way, i wouldn't mind buying 1