Reddit mentions of Digital Optical Coax to Analog Stereo Audio Converter, USB DAC Headphone Amplifier

I think you'd probably need a converter like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003XCHCLC) to go from optical to a headphone jack.

You can work the apple tv without a screen as long as you are air playing though. I've got mine in an AV receiver but rarely actually turn the tv on with it.

I just remember, I have this in my house somewhere, I used to connect it to an older TV via optical so I could use headphones with it. Which would work better, the dac or buying the adapter you linked?

What you're looking for is a headphone amplifier or a DAC, though I'm not seeing very many headphone amps with TOSLink (optical) built-in. You could use a converter to go from TOSLink to RCA and then use a headphone amp to go from RCA to your headphones. I found this guy on Amazon, but I don't know anything about it and cannot in any way vouch for its quality: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003XCHCLC

Alternatively, if you hook up a home theater system most receivers have a 1/4" jack on them (but that's a lot of expense if you're just trying to get a headphone connection).

EDIT: Ah! After a bit of searching, I think I found exactly what you need: https://www.amazon.com/PROZOR-Digital-Converter-Supports-control/dp/B06XDLCHY7/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1538502346&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=toslink+to+RCA&psc=1

At $22 it's not going to be all that great, but it will get you the connection you're looking for. This will probably sound about as good as the output from your iPod, but it won't compare to a proper headphone amp. If you want a high quality setup, you'll want a high quality DAC paired with a headphone amp.

What headphones are you using?

So the good news is that your soundcard has 4 inputs and outputs!


The bad news is that 2 of those inputs and outputs are S/PDIF. The S/PDIF inputs and outputs are the brown RCA connectors on the breakout cable. One connector does 2 channels of output, the other 2 input channels.


To use the S/PDIF, you'll have to get a DAC to convert the digital S/PDIF signal into an analog signal that you can use like you would the red and white RCA plugs on the card. You would then have to amplify that to use your headphones.


Something like this or this would work if you already have a way to drive your headphones. If not, this guy has a headphone output builtin. That last link also has USB, but from what I read, works as a stand alone converter.


I can't personally vouch for any of those products too, so do some googling to make sure they don't totally suck.

Yeah I grabbed an optical out, then ended up having to buy a DAC http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XCHCLC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .. definitely is the way to go. The only problem I really am having is, since I already know how to play there really isn't any thing for me. Its a neat tool but IMO getting a guitar and learning tab and some chords seems to be a better way to learn.

This is the cheapest one I could find (no idea if it's any good), otherwise the SMSL M3 which is slightly over your budget.

Would this work?
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003XCHCLC/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374230612&sr=1-2&keywords=digital+to+analog+audio+converter+usb

You need something with volume control, so grab this cheapo Dac/Amp.

Anything with the necessary inputs.
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003XCHCLC/

DAC technology has reached perfection 10 years ago. It doesn't matter anymore.