2. pc-audio
  3. 132329-5880

Incorporating headphones into my pc audio system

  I already have a good computer audio setup for playback through my speakers but would like the option of using a high quality headphone when I need to keep things quiet.

    My current system consists of a laptop running JRiver, a Synology 2 TB NAS and an Oppo 105 as a preamp and DAC.  Even though I managed to construct a fairly solid system for ripped CDs and downloaded 24/96 flac files recorded direct to digital, I still consider myself somewhat of a newcomer to computer audio that  still has a lot to learn. 
   My current need is to learn how to best incorporate a yet to be purchased pair of high quality headphones into my system.  My confusion centers around the way my system is currently setup;  my Synology storage device is hard wired into my Comcast wi-fi router. My laptop running JRiver and my Oppo 105 serving as my DAC are both connected to my wi-fi and operating wirelessly.  The Synology, router and Oppo are all located between my speakers in my rack along the 14' short wall of my 23' x14' room.  My listening chair is along the opposite short wall where I also have my laptop.
     I know I could plug headphones into the 1/4" headphone jack of the Oppo but the chord would need to run the entire length of the room.  I was hoping someone had a better solution.  I also know wired is generally considered better than wireless for sound quality but I'm open to a wireless solution since I haven't noticed any sound degragation using wireless connectivity in other areas of my system.
     Just curious what solutions others here use and  would also appreciate any good over-ear headphone  recommendations in the $200-600 range.  
Thanks,
 Tim
noble100
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
     I think the ideal product for my purposes would be a unit that takes the output signals from my Oppo 105's 1/4" headphone jack and then accurately and wirelessly transmits them to headphones I would wear at my listening chair about 12-14' away, or to a module (with a headphone jack) I could place on the end table next to my chair .  Does anyone know of such a product?

Tim
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Noble100, that would be the easiest for you but you will get two extra conversions: A/D + D/A, three conversions total when you play digital:  D/A + A/D + D/A
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
Hi Kijanki,

   It's my understanding that the Oppo's internal DAC would have already converted the digital music file's signal stream from digital to analog so that the signal outputted from its 1/4" headphone jack would be purely analog. There would be no further conversions required from this point onward.  Do you agree or am I missing something?
  Thanks,
     Tim
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Yes, Oppo converted signal from digital to analog, but you wan't to send it over WiFi to the headphones.  Such transmission is digital hence signal will have to be converted again to digital and back to analog.
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
Kijanki,

   Ah, your comments make more sense to me now.  I definitely agree that  D/A and A/D conversions are best kept to a minimum.  I was assuming an analog headphone signal could be transmitted wirelessly like those wireless sound bars, subs and surround channel systems function.  But I still need to research available products.  I think Audioengine makes something like this for under $200.  

 Thanks,
  Tim
More to discover