Specific use case – HTPC upgrade for 4k and Dolby Atmos through Headphones?



Hi all
It’s been a while since I posted in these forums. My trusty HTPC build has been running for over 10 years now (see signature). Unfortunately however, it’s come to an end. I get random bluscreens. In addition, the Intel GPU doesn’t support 4k, but I updated my whole setup and would like to be able to get 4k Kodi running.
I come to these forums because of a hardware advice to replace my current HTPC as well as general advice for my system. I’m sure there are plenty of people that might have ran into similar use cases.

Current Setup:

  • Samsung QE77S90C TV
  • Denon X4800H
  • Apple TV 4k
  • PS5
  • Slowly dying old HTPC to be replaced

Goals:

  • I want to replace my HTPC with either an upgraded HTPC or an nvidia shield TV pro (depending on the further goals below)
  • I want to be able to watch 4k content in Kodi
  • Now comes the kicker: I want to be able to listen to Dolby Atmos with the Audeze Maxwell when I watch Netflix with those headphones (haven’t bought them yet)

Things I already checked:

  • The Denon is not capable to output Dolby Atmos through the headphone jack and also not through Blutooth, only Stereo is possible
  • Not possible to connect the Audeze Maxwell to the Samsung directly, same restriction as with the Denon, Blutooth cannot output Dolby Atmos
  • Cannot connect the headphones to the Apple TV directly, same story.
  • Wouldn’t be able to connect to Nvidia shield pro either, same story with blutooth

Question/Solution?
So, since the Audeze Maxwell X-Box variant would work with Dolby Atmos on a PC, I was wondering whether it is smarter to NOT buy a nvidia shield pro, but to build a new HTPC? Would I than be able to pull it off getting Dolby Atmos through the HTPC? Likely this will also only be possible with a wired connection, right?

I hope somebody had a similar undertaking and can provide some guidance if my use case can be achieved somehow.
Let me know if you need more details Smile