Playback Guide
What type of audio listener are you?
Headphones & Stereo
I listen on headphones, earbuds, or a regular stereo setup
Surround Sound & Atmos
I have a 5.1 surround system or Dolby Atmos soundbar
Reference Quality
I want the absolute best lossless Atmos experience
🎧 Headphones & Stereo Guide
Select these formats:
- Hi-Res Stereo (up to 24-bit/96kHz FLAC) — Crystal clear, studio-quality two-channel audio
- Binaural 'Headphone Dust' Mix — A specially crafted stereo mix that creates an immersive 3D soundstage using just your regular headphones
Choose Your Playback Device
iPhone / iPad:
- Use the built-in Files app to play FLAC files directly
- Or download VLC from the App Store for MKV support
Android:
- VLC — Free, plays everything
- Poweramp — Great interface, excellent EQ
- USB Audio Player Pro — For bit-perfect playback with external DACs
Windows:
- VLC Media Player — Free, plays everything (recommended)
- foobar2000 — Lightweight, audiophile favourite
- MusicBee — Great library management
Mac:
- VLC Media Player — Free, reliable
- Infuse — Beautiful native Mac experience
Simply open the MKV file and select the "Hi-Res Stereo" or "Binaural 'Headphone Dust' Mix" audio track from the audio menu.
Most Digital Audio Players support FLAC natively:
- Astell&Kern
- FiiO
- Sony Walkman
- iBasso
- HiBy
Download the standalone FLAC files from your purchase and transfer them to your device.
When listening to Binaural mixes, make sure to DISABLE any 'Spatial Audio' or '3D Audio' processing on your device.
On iPhone/AirPods: Open Control Center → Long press the volume slider → Turn Spatial Audio OFF (not 'Fixed' — completely OFF).
The Binaural effect is already 'baked in' to the recording — adding extra processing will degrade the 3D effect. Additionally, the Binaural mixes are unmastered for greater dynamic range, which means they are quieter than the standard Hi-Res Stereo tracks. Because of this, you can hear the fine details (the "air" around the instruments) much more clearly. Use your volume knob!
Hardware Suggestions
- Budget: Any headphones you already own work perfectly!
- Upgrade: Consider a USB DAC (like AudioQuest DragonFly or FiiO E10K) for improved sound quality from your computer
- Premium: High-impedance headphones (Sennheiser HD600, Beyerdynamic DT880) paired with a dedicated headphone amplifier
🔊 Surround Sound & Atmos Guide
Select these formats:
- Hi-Res 5.1 Surround (up to 24-bit/96kHz FLAC) — Six discrete channels of lossless audio
- Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC — Immersive 3D audio with height information, compatible with most Atmos systems
What's your setup?
Dolby Atmos Soundbar Setup
The easiest way to enjoy spatial audio at home.
Recommended Players:
- Apple TV 4K with Infuse Pro app (easiest setup)
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro with Kodi or Plex
- Amazon Fire TV Cube (ensure audio set to "Dolby Digital Plus")
Connection:
Player → HDMI → TV → eARC/ARC → Soundbar
5.1/7.1 AV Receiver Setup
Maximum flexibility and audio quality.
Recommended Players:
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro — Connect directly to receiver via HDMI
- Apple TV 4K with Infuse Pro
- Zidoo Z9X Pro, Dune HD, or Homatics Box R 4K Plus
Connection (Best):
Player → HDMI IN on Receiver → TV
Connection (Alternative):
Player → TV → eARC → Receiver
Playback Software:
- Kodi — Best for Hi-Res FLAC multichannel
- Plex — Great library management
- Infuse — Beautiful interface (Apple TV)
Apple Devices Setup
Seamless integration with your Apple devices.
- Use Apple TV 4K with Infuse app (requires Infuse Pro subscription to enable Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC support)
- AirPods Pro/Max users: Spatial Audio with head tracking works beautifully with Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC
- HomePod: Supports Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC playback (AirPlay casting)
- Mac users can play directly via Infuse and use Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC with Spatial Audio devices like Airpods Pro/Max (requires Infuse Pro subscription)
- Soundbar/Receiver display shows "Dolby Atmos" or "DD+ Atmos"
- For 5.1 FLAC: Display shows "PCM" or "Multi-Ch In" (this is correct — it means lossless!)
- You hear sound from height/rear channels
✨ Reference Quality Guide
TrueHD Atmos requires specific hardware that supports 'bitstream passthrough'. Without this, your system will play high-quality 7.1 surround but lose the 3D height/object effects.
If you're unsure, the Dolby Atmos E-AC3 JOC track in your MKV is a good alternative that works with far more devices!
📋 Technical Requirements
TrueHD is a very high-bandwidth format. It requires:
Compatible Hardware
✅ Media Players with TrueHD Passthrough
- Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019) — Use Kodi with passthrough enabled
- Zidoo Z9X Pro / Z3000 Pro — Use native player
- Dune HD Premier 4K
- Homatics Box R 4K Plus
- Oppo UDP-203/205 (discontinued but excellent)
- Windows PC with MPC-BE + LAV Filters (advanced setup)
❌ Incompatible Devices
- Apple TV 4K — Decodes to 7.1 PCM, loses Atmos metadata
- Amazon Fire TV devices
- Roku devices
- Built-in Smart TV apps
- Optical/TOSLINK connections — Bandwidth too low
What is the MKV file that I downloaded with my Headphone Dust purchase? How does it work?
MKV (Matroska Video) files are versatile, open-standard multimedia containers that can encapsulate video, multiple audio tracks, subtitles, and metadata in a single file. They support advanced audio formats, making them ideal for high-quality playback. We believe the MKV transcends the physical Blu-ray disc. No longer limited by the constraints of a physical product, we are able to revisit original releases to add new immersive layers and unreleased content, ensuring your digital edition is truly definitive.
Our Definitive Digital Edition (MKV) releases may include:
-
Up to 96kHz/24-bit Stereo. Detailed, nuanced two-channel sound with significantly greater dynamic range and clarity than standard streaming services. (Includes Hi-Res Instrumentals on select releases). -
Up to 96kHz/24-bit Surround. Enhances the experience by providing a 360-degree soundstage, placing you in the centre of the music. -
Dolby Atmos (E-AC3 JOC). Lossy (compressed) immersive audio utilizing object-based 3D metadata. Compatible with Apple (iPhone/iPad/Mac) and Windows PC. If you have AirPods Pro/Max with Apple Silicon (M1,M2,M3 etc) you can also experience Spatial Audio "head tracking", so the audio stays in place as you turn your head! -
Dolby Atmos (TrueHD). Lossless (uncompressed) 3D audio for the ultimate level of height and immersion. (Requires very specific hardware, see below). -
Binaural 'Headphone Dust' Mix. A stereo render of the Atmos mix designed specifically for headphones. Provides a 3D audio experience on any pair of headphones, requiring no specialised hardware or software. (Select releases only). -
Ultra HD Video. 4K music videos, live performances, visualisers and animated artwork/stills. (Select releases only).
Why are some releases "FLAC/Apple Lossless" download only?
Not every release in our catalogue is available as an MKV with Dolby Atmos, Binaural or 4K visuals. This is usually because the original multi-track stems required to mix in Dolby Atmos do not exist or are not available for that specific title.
For these releases, we provide the highest quality FLAC/Apple Lossless files available for our Standard Digital Editions (most of our releases are available in 24-bit 96kHz). If Hi-Res 5.1 Surround is available for the release, we include it too. FLAC/Apple Lossless files are widely supported across the vast majority of audio players.
How To Play Your Digital Definitive Edition MKV Files
After downloading your Headphone Dust MKV, the best way to enjoy it is through a dedicated media server or player app rather than a basic desktop video player like VLC. For Apple TV, Mac, and iOS users, we highly recommend Infuse, which offers a premium, native interface for high-resolution playback (and we strongly recommend subscribing to Infuse Pro as it unlocks Dolby Atmos support!). For Windows PC and Android-based streaming devices (such as the Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, or Google Chromecast), Plex and Kodi are the industry standards. These platforms are engineered to handle the high bitrates and complex metadata of MKV files optimally, allowing you to stream your library seamlessly across your home network or even via cloud storage. We love the cloud storage method as it essentially allows you build your very own home Headphone Dust streaming platform!
⚠️ CRITICAL: Dolby TrueHD Atmos
To hear the Dolby TrueHD Atmos track as intended, the raw audio data must be passed ("bitstreamed") directly to your AVR for decoding. If your hardware decodes the audio internally (like an Apple TV 4K), you will still hear high-quality surround sound, but the 3D height effects will be lost.
Hardware Requirements for TrueHD Passthrough:
- A player supporting HDMI Bitstream Passthrough (see some suggestions below!).
- A direct HDMI connection to an Atmos-capable Receiver or Soundbar.
- If connecting through a TV first, the TV must support eARC (Standard ARC is not enough).
Recommended Hardware and Software Combinations
Nvidia Shield / Zidoo Z9X Pro / Dune HD Premier / Neumi Atom 4K / Homatics 4K Plus / Oppo 203/205
The gold standard. These devices have full HDMI bitstream support required for Dolby Atmos TrueHD. We recommend using Kodi with our MKV files for optimal playback. (Use the internal video players on Nuemi / Oppo 203/205).
Apple TV 4K
On your Apple TV 4K, download the Infuse app from the App Store and load your MKV file. Make sure you have an active subscription for Infuse Pro which enables Dolby Atmos support. Apple TV 4K decodes TrueHD to 7.1 LPCM (which sadly removes the Atmos metadata). Infuse Pro does however let you use the standard Dolby Atmos (E-AC3 JOC) track instead, with all the Atmos height/object effects intact!
Windows PC
You must use a player that supports HDMI Passthrough (Kodi, Plex, MPC-HC) and send the signal to an external Atmos-capable receiver or soundbar. The Binaural 'Headphone Dust' Mix plays back on any media player that supports MKV and FLAC audio playback, headphones are required.
Common Fixes
Video Stuttering? 4K MKV bitrates are very high (60-80Mbps). If playing from a USB drive, ensure it is a USB 3.0 drive. Built-in TV USB ports are often too slow. We really recommend to use a dedicated player like Nvidia Shield Pro with Kodi/Plex or Apple TV 4K with Infuse Pro.
File Won't Copy to USB? If your file is over 4GB (these are 15GB+), your USB drive is likely formatted as FAT32. Reformat to exFAT or NTFS.
No Sound? You may have the wrong audio track selected. If you hear silence on TrueHD, switch to Dolby Atmos (E-AC3 JOC) or 5.1 Surround.
Receiver says "PCM" or "Multi-Ch"? This is correct for FLAC tracks. It means the audio is lossless but decoded by the player rather than the receiver.