non-usb dac (Receiver)

[ionbasa]

Ok. So we updated our living room with new A/V equipment, and as a result I now get too keep a Technics receiver.

 

The only digital inputs it has are optical(spidf) and coax.

 

So,I can use the optical out from my motherboard to the receiver? Will this be bit perfect playback? Anyway for me to find out exactly what audio formats are available for the receiver to decode?

 

So far my idea is to setup 5.1 surround with the speakers I have.

 

The receiver also has a 1/4" TRS headphone jack, but I'n not sure if plugging in IEMs is a good idea.

 

Thoughts?

[EmoRarity]

Plug and play and don't worry. The receiver will be able to decode anything that you throw at it. 

[Sors]

Plug the optical output and test what modes are supported, or If you search online for the model of the receiver you can find all the info about what modes it supports.  I would think most if not all receivers would support 5.1 at least.  

 

Should be fine plugging the IEMs in the 1/4" jack, it's not going to burn them or anything.

[ionbasa]

Ok, found out a little bit more information on the receiver.

 

It has the DTS logo on it along with Dolby digital. It does 5.1

 

It apparently can do 24bit 48000Hz. 

 

My understanding is that if I want bit-streaming I have to configure that manually in my media software?

[EmoRarity]

16/48k is about as high as you will ever see. 
And most modern software, all you have to do is set everything to the max and be happy. 

[ShearMe]

You need a special mobo or soundcard to encode a multichannel signal on-the-fly for S/PDIF. Pre-encoded media will work just fine, but for surround sound in games you'll be out of luck with standard onboard optical.

[ionbasa]

You need a special mobo or soundcard to encode a multichannel signal on-the-fly for S/PDIF. Pre-encoded media will work just fine, but for surround sound in games you'll be out of luck with standard onboard optical.

I was actually reading about this earlier. Blu-rays/media with 5.1 surround will play in surround. Otherwise I can enable Dolby Digital on the receiver to 'matrix' the sound. With DD the receiver fills in the rear channel center and low frequency.

[ShearMe]

I was actually reading about this earlier. Blu-rays/media with 5.1 surround will play in surround. Otherwise I can enable Dolby Digital on the receiver to 'matrix' the sound. With DD the receiver fills in the rear channel center and low frequency.

Yeah, but it won't be "true" surround sound. Kno'm saiyan mayne?

Dolby has tech which'll derive derive a surround signal from a stereo source (not sure if your receiver has this), but I wouldn't trust it for positional data for gaming. As far as I know that's mostly meant for music.

[ionbasa]

Yeah, but it won't be "true" surround sound. Kno'm saiyan mayne?

Dolby has tech which'll derive derive a surround signal from a stereo source (not sure if your receiver has this), but I wouldn't trust it for positional data for gaming. As far as I know that's mostly meant for music.

Yes I realize it won't be true surround, but I don't plan on using the receiver for gaming, only for watching movies and listening to music.I know the receiver has DD as I tried it out today, but I don't like the way it makes things sound.

 

So for music I'll just play my flacs and wavepacks though Foobar2k and WASAPI. For watching movies I got XBMC to bitstream 5.1 DTS. For gaming Ill just use my headphones.