JVC's SU-DH1 brings surround sound to any headphones, almost
Late
night frag-fests blasting over your 5.1 system are fine if you’re a neighborless, backwoods livin’ troll.
However, anyone with even a modicum of social skills understands the need to roll-left on the volume when the lights
dim and your little snugglepoo hits the sheets. Now, JVC announces the SU-DH1 headphone surround adapter which pumps a
“pseudo” 5.1 surround signal out ordinary headphones. It features an optical mini-jack in and standard
mini-jack out with support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, MPEG-2 AAC, PCM and contains Dolby Pro Logic II
Auto/Movie/Music for extending any non-5.1 stereo audio signal into a virtual 5.1. Hey, the specs are great and all,
and this is JVC who know a thing or two about audio quality, but why don’t they bundle this with 5.1 headphones
like Thrustmaster or LTB Audio does for that "true" 5.1 surround sound we crave? Afterall, there are many, many ways to get simulated surround
into headphones for less money than the estimated $90 green this will demand in March when it drops. [Via Tech Japan]
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DAKH @ Feb 28th 2006 9:00AM
Why? Because this would provide a hardware HRTF (http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone_story.html) feed for any headphones, so I can use my Senns or ATs rather than one of the limited selection of multi-speaker 'phones. Not only that, but the optical in means that it's a relatively cheap offboard DAC, too.
Blair @ Feb 28th 2006 10:53AM
This is pretty nice for a home theatre setup, but I'm pretty sure most dvd software for computers have Dolby Headphone plugins. And for me Laptop=headphones, and home theatre = speakers, but I guess this is nice if you want to watch something at home while not disturbing the neighbors.
ntimid8 @ Feb 28th 2006 10:57AM
Here's an inexpensive USB/optical alternative - sounds pretty good too: http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/audioadv/micro/
Adam Lindsay @ Feb 28th 2006 2:56PM
The big reason is that this supports the new Dolby Headphone. DiggNation demo'd it a while ago and Dolby's site has some examples. It is one of the best sounding virtual surround I have heard to date. The fact that this has DTS as well, that is huge. At $90 this is a steal, it was anticipated at $130 a while back at CES.
Personally I look forward to using them with my RS-1s or Ety's. If it has LineLevel out, then headphone amp will make this perfect.
Mark @ Mar 20th 2006 5:12PM
I think the big win here could be portable music (MP3 et. al.) players. While an Ipod with Stax earbuds, Etys or Shures sound good, they don't sound home theatre good.
I wonder if this little device will improve sound quality while still letting me operate my 'listening room' from my windbreaker pocket.
David Echelberger @ Jul 18th 2006 12:08AM
What a waste. I own several types of 6-speaker, 3 plug headphones for surround sound, and this box would rock, but they have a digital in, but a stupid virtualized dolby 2.0 stereo out. Why have all that mobile processing power and waste it on downshifting to 2.0?
Dave