Affordable multichannel setup

[olds1959special]

I think the best choice is simply getting a used good quality AVR.
A MiniDSP HT will be more expensive and only supports PCM passthrough, which can be annoying especially if you're using a phantom center.

I'm running a 4.0 setup through MacOS, by combining two DACs into one output device. The first DAC feeds a Fosi Amp for my mains and a sub and the second DAC some cheap surround speakers.
This has the limitation that it can only play Atmos content from Apple Music/ TV but it's basically free if you have a Mac and want to try it out.

If you can only play Atmos content, how is that useful? I’m using stereo or mono content to feed the various speakers.

 

[juliangst]

If you can only play Atmos content, how is that useful? I’m using stereo or mono content to feed the various speakers.

If your source content is just stereo or mono and you simply want to feed different speakers, then I would just use multiple cheap DACs combined into one device and use CamillaDSP to distribute the signal

 

[olds1959special]

If your source content is just stereo or mono and you simply want to feed different speakers, then I would just use multiple cheap DACs combined into one device and use CamillaDSP to distribute the signal

I am not simply feeding different speakers, I’m using the MiniDSP to create the rear ambience recovery channel.

This involves inverting the input and also the same output on one channel, and then combing the two channels to create the rear channel. For the center channel I simply split my output from a stereo to mono adaptor to feed my center speakers.

 

[juliangst]

I am not simply feeding different speakers, I’m using the MiniDSP to create the rear ambience recovery channel.

If it's possible with a miniDSP then it should also be possible through camillaDSP

 

[olds1959special]

If it's possible with a miniDSP then it should also be possible through camillaDSP

What about the delay and sync issues with using different dacs together? Does CamillaDSP have some sort of delay compensation?

 

[juliangst]

What about the delay and sync issues with using different dacs together?

I didn't encounter any sync issues so far. With MacOS midi-setup you can select whose DAC clock will be used for the combined device. Delay has to be adjusted anyway to deal with speaker distance.
I had to put some delay on my surround speakers because i'm using Dirac Live Stereo with my mains which introduced some latency though

 

[olds1959special]

I didn't encounter any sync issues so far. With MacOS midi-setup you can select whose DAC clock will be used for the combined device. Delay has to be adjusted anyway to deal with speaker distance.
I had to put some delay on my surround speakers because i'm using Dirac Live Stereo with my mains which introduced some latency though

I tried this before (using a multi-output device). I encountered latency but it was okay if it was in the rear speakers, because they were further away anyway.