I just picked up a used Denon AVR-2800 not too long ago and there's "Analog" mode. Under the label "Input" there are 3 buttons: "Input mode" (this toggles between Auto, PCM and DTS), "Analog", and "Ext. In".
The main question I want to figure out is if I get a DAC like a uDac-2 and make the chain as so: Computer (Source) > uDac-2 > Analog port in the Receiver > Speakers... what is doing the Digital-to-analog conversion, the receiver's built-in DAC or the external DAC? My receiver has a built in DA and it says that it provides DA for all 5 channels and the LFE/subwoofer channel.
I am wondering if the "Analog" input button allows for the bypassing of the receiver DA conversion, allowing for analog inputs like CD player, DVD, computer to come in and go out to the speakers untouched? Or does it mean that it will turn ON the DA conversion within and spit out analog?
Then there's also the issue of "Ext In" vs "Analog" connections in the back of the receiver and I'm not clear on what this is. There are Analog ports in the back and also Ext. Ins. What are the differences? The manual said something about the Ext. In being inputs coming from devices with their own external amp or something so am I correct in thinking that when using my own external DAC like the uDac-2 for my computer, I should use the External In ports instead of analog connections?
So the chain being: Computer (Source) > uDac-2 > External In ports in the Receiver > Speakers
Can anyone help clarify this for me? Thanks.
