Using HT receiver as a DAC/headphone amp

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
I have one of these receivers.
I tried hooking it up via coaxial digital S/PDIF connection.
I can't figure out how to get sound of it.

It detects my headphones when I plug it in and I can hear something switching inside.
I chose CD or DVD on as the input mode as the manual states that the coaxial input is available to both CD and DVD modes.
I check playback devices in windows. The sound gauge shows that there is sound for realtek's digital output.

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/htr/htr-5840_black__u/?mode=model
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
5,852
146
Make sure you also select the specific digital input, some receivers have multiple ones and you have to have the right coax or SPDIF input selected.

Also, make sure that whatever you're playing on the computer is outputting. Some programs have to be told to do digital output.

Do you have any speakers or anything plugged into any of the analog ports of the computer?
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
In windows right click the speaker icon and select playback devices . Select the digital output and click properties, Select the enhancements tab and click disable all enhancements, then click the supported formats tab, under encoded formats uncheck all of them and under sample rates check the 44.1 box and leave the others unchecked and click test to see if you get sound.

If not then it is either the cable or the receiver settings. If 44.1 works then you can try enabling others but 44.1 should work with any receiver . That is the most plain digital signal the realtek chips can output and should work with anything.