Using UMC-200 (or any Pre/Proc) as a DAC

[JAJancik]

I had an idea. Can I use a digital output (SPDIF or Optical) from my computer sound card output to my UMC-200 and have it act as the DAC? That's to say let it sense and decode  the signal?

I notice it does this with the signal from my Marantz 5005 (both the HDMI and SPDIF) but not sure if the Marantz is tell the USC or if it is auto sensing. I think the latter, hence the point of my question/post. The purpose would be to buy/download Multi-Channel files and have them decode.

Adding this, Can the UMC-200 play downloaded DSD files? Multi-Channel DSD files?

Thank you,

James

[brubacca]

This should work. I say should because computers can be difficult to be setup correctly.

[Ex_Vintage]

I use an HDMI connection from my PC to an MC-700. Works for all formats supported by my PC sound card and of course the MC-700. The PC sound set-up dialogue should tell you what is supported as well as your UMC -200 information.

[Gary Cook]

Dec 22, 2018 13:27:39 GMT -5 JAJancik said:

I had an idea. Can I use a digital output (SPDIF or Optical) from my computer sound card output to my UMC-200 and have it act as the DAC? That's to say let it sense and decode  the signal?

Yes, as long as the PC outputs in a format that the UMC-200 handles. eg; PCM.

I notice it does this with the signal from my Marantz 5005 (both the HDMI and SPDIF) but not sure if the Marantz is tell the USC or if it is auto sensing. I think the latter, hence the point of my question/post. The purpose would be to buy/download Multi-Channel files and have them decode.

Multi channel files commonly have HDCP so need a compliant connection, eg; HDMI. So your sound card needs to have a HDMI output. Plus the bandwidth of a coax or toslink is limited.

Adding this, Can the UMC-200 play downloaded DSD files? Multi-Channel DSD files?

Nope, UMC-200’s don’t handle DSD directly, you would have to have the sound card convert it to, say PCM.

Cheers
Gary

[JAJancik]

OK thanks. I have a video chip-on-board but have it disabled as I have a GX780 for my encoding chores. I will see if I need to enable it to use the HDMI for sound. I had the audio disabled as well; using an M-Audio Delta 44 (analog I/O only) for recording. But I see it is easy to have both enabled under Win7, so I will give it all a shot. I will post results.