Query about using a DAC amp to connect headphones to a TV that's connected to Sky Q

[Ben.C]

I'm getting a new pair headphones, primarily for watching TV with. I've read that to get the most out of good quality headphones, you should use a DAC amp...

I have a Sky 2TB UHD box which is connected to my LG OLED A1 TV. 

With my current headphones, I plug them into the headphone jack on the TV. I watch Sky Q on my TV but I also use the native apps on the TV to watch content on Netflix, Prime etc. so if I were to get a DAC amp, I'd want to connect it to the optical digital audio port on the TV instead of connecting it directly to the Sky Q box.

I just want to check that this set up would work with Sky Q before I buy a DAC amp. Does anyone have any experience with connecting a DAC amp to a TV that's connected to Sky Q?

[nigea99]

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@Ben.C wrote:

I'm getting a new pair headphones, primarily for watching TV with. I've read that to get the most out of good quality headphones, you should use a DAC amp...

I have a Sky 2TB UHD box which is connected to my LG OLED A1 TV. 

With my current headphones, I plug them into the headphone jack on the TV. I watch Sky Q on my TV but I also use the native apps on the TV to watch content on Netflix, Prime etc. so if I were to get a DAC amp, I'd want to connect it to the optical digital audio port on the TV instead of connecting it directly to the Sky Q box.

I just want to check that this set up would work with Sky Q before I buy a DAC amp. Does anyone have any experience with connecting a DAC amp to a TV that's connected to Sky Q?

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hi @Ben.C 

I cannot say with 100% certaintly as I have not specifically tried such a set up (or at least don't remember doing so)  but I wouldn't think this would be a problem.

I am guessing the DAC amp you are thinking of is more an Audiophile amp rather than an AV Amp and thus may not have an ARC HDMI input.

My (Yamaha RX-3060) Amp which uses DACs is  an AV Amp so has multiple inputs and I normally use SKY directly as input yo the amp but also use the TV output via ARC for its inbuilt apps (& have routed SKY through the TV as a test as well as other inputs but don't usually route them that way)    

I have not used the optical from my TV to my amp in earnest but there is a chance I may have done a test.

I have a Pansonic OLED TV not LG - if you really are concerned and don't get any other replies then if you really want I could try playing around with my set up to test (i.e. SKY to TV via HDMI & then optical from TV to AMP)  but it would take me a little bit of faffing and thus can't promise when I would do it.   

[Chodley]

You can get them with HDMI inputs

https://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/hdacc-ii-4k-hdmi-dac-preamp-headphone-amp-for-4k-source...

but at those kinds of prices, I'd just buy an AV amp.

[Ben.C]

Thanks.

I'm thinking of getting a DAC headphone amp with a remote control and the Topping DX3 Pro seems like the best option. I'm not an audiophile but in doing some research into a new pair headpones, I read that connecting a DAC to the optical output is the best way to get sound out of a TV for headhpones.

My new headphones will arrive this week. I'll try them out for a bit before I decide if I wanna spend £200 to make them sound better.

[Chodley]

Are the headphones bluetooth, if you need a remote?

[Ben.C]

No. I read that if you're buying headphones that you'll use to connect to a TV, it's much better to get wired headphones than bluetooth. I'd need a DAC amp with a remote becuase otherwise when I wanna change the volume, I'd have to get off the sofa and use the volume dial on the DAC amp. When you use the optical output, the TV remote won't change the volume.

[Chodley]

Correct

So just a long cable. That's what I use.

[Ben.C]

But I wonder if the Sky Q remote would still be able to change the volume when you use the optical output on your TV... 🤔

Does anyone know?

[Chodley]

Nope. Just controls the TV the same way its own remote does.