So I've been chatting back and forth with
@noneshallknow and it looks like some things are possible that I already had done or was just too blind to see and he helped me realize
1. Rooting - I've already rooted using Kingoroot. Anyone can do this as it's an app that you can sideload and root by pressing a button. That said, this app may contain ads, and other junk you may not want. I ended up installed Chainfire SuperUser SU over it and then removing all traces of Kingoroot from my device.
2. Fastboot - fastboot is actually available. I just didnt have drivers installed correctly in my Windows 10 setup. I used fastboot oem unlock and unlocked my bootloader.
3. I made backups of my Recovery and Boot files here, along with backups of my rooted system image, and QCN files from QPST (qualcomm's emergency download interface):
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1diqQ8LE-yG4b-WZFB_OPcQp2rDUp9BbV
4. Recovery (TWRP) from Onkyo DP-X1/Pioneer XDP-100R can be loaded but we are unable to mount system, data, or SDcard #2 on it. Only one SDCARD can be mounted. Not sure why. We may try to compile a new TWRP file.
UPDATE: GOT IT WORKING!
5. As I stated before, Xposed Framework works fine. I've been using it for 8 months now without any issues.
6. Magisk does not work (yet). I patched the stock bootloader but the boot image does not boot up and I get stuck at the Android screen. I'm able to restore my boot.img using fastboot and it'll work again though. (thank goodness!)
7. Using my rooted system, I have been able to modify the build.prop file to use the DAC on other android apps (or so I think I am anyway). Same method as LG and other devices.
8. more to come?
