Hooking up Rotel RSX-1055 as a DAC source for Schiit Valhalla 2 for headphones

[HSSIDHU]

Hello all

I am new here, this is my first post.

I need your help to sort out the problem I have which is set out below.

I have a Rotel-1055 AVR which I am now only using in a 2.0 setup with 2 Mirage M490 bookshelf speakers, the source is a blu-ray player, and Dune Smart H1 (media player) both of which are connected to the Panasonic TH-L42E6K via HDMI cables (the Rotel RSX 1055 is not equipped with HDMI in/out). The blu-ray player is also connected to the Rotel by co-axial cable. The TV is connected to the Rotel avr via an optical cable. By the way, this set up is in my study; and my main setup is in the living room where I have a 5.1 setup.

Recently I purchased Sennheisser headphones model HD650 and a headphone amp, Schiit Valhalla 2. I am able to connect the Schiit amp to the Dune media player as these both have RCA in/out sockets for analogue output. I feel the Rotel RSX 1055 has a better DAC and I want to use the Rotel as a source for the Schiit amp.

I have tried connecting the Schiit amp via RCA cables to the analogue tape output on the Rotel, as well as the analogue Zone 2 output, both without any success. I would very like to use the Rotel as a DAC for the Schiit amp.
Have I failed because I have not reconfigured correctly in the Rotel settings? If so how should I remedy this problem? My Video 1 on the Rotel is configured for 2 large speakers as I am not using a sub.

[Kevin D]

Unfortunately the DAC's in the Rotel are only available for the the main zone. The only thing available from the analog tape outputs or Zone 2 outputs are analog in sources.

Kevin D.

[HSSIDHU]

Unfortunately the DAC's in the Rotel are only available for the the main zone. The only thing available from the analog tape outputs or Zone 2 outputs are analog in sources.

Kevin D.

Thank you for your response, but I am not clear as to what you actually meant to convey. The Schiit (headphone amp) needs an analogue input from the Rotel AVR. The question is how to obtain this analogue output from the Rotel.

[Kevin D]

If you want to use the tape out, video out, or zone 2 out, you must run analog cables to the Rotel from your sources.

The only analog outputs available with digital sources would be from the multichannel preouts. You could use those, but you would need to use the Rotel volume knob and disconnect the bookshelf speakers. Not very user friendly for headphone use.

Kevin D.

[HSSIDHU]

Thank you for your response, Kevin. Connecting to 2 of the 5 multi-channel pre-outs would not be feasible. If there is no useful way to connect my Schiit headphone amp to any of the analogue outputs of the Rotel AVR I might have to buy a DAC to provide an analogue source for the Schiit amp. I was hoping that I would not need to do that.