Connection to AV Receiver

[Lukas_Metzler]

Dear all
I would like to draw on the broad knowledge of this group.
I am finally getting the new Onkyo TX-NR7100 AV receiver (https://static.digitecgalaxus.ch/Files/5/6/4/2/4/4/5/3/TX-NR7100_EUEX.pdf), which I ordered in April 2020 (!) to replace the B&O system in the living room. The adjoining rooms are all equipped with SONOS.
Now I’m unsure whether I should use the main room with ROON as the source:

• with the SONOS Connect (modified by Dr. Gert Volk, G-SONOS), or
• with a DAC connected directly to the ROCK NUC (https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/roon-optimized-core-kit#So_what_is_Roon_Optimized_Core_Kit_ROCK_then).
  Which will lead to a better sound result?
  If a DAC should be used: what would be a reasonable product with a good price/performance ratio?
  Or are there AV Receiver with a direct input possibility from the NUC.
  Thank you very much.

[Hans3d (Hans)]

Heya Lukas!

So many options…
If You have the Roon Nuc running in your living room, the easiest way would be just a HDMI connection to the receiver (thus using the internal Dac of your receiver)

Using an external Dac(via USB to the Nuc and then Analog Out to the Receiver) on the other hand might not be beneficial, since the Receiver might digitize the analog inputs anway (at least when some kind of room correction is applied)

you could also use the Sonos Connect as a transport, using its digital Outs

I have my Nuc connected over HDMI and be happy with it…

cheers

[John_Kaster]

+1 on the HDMI connection. I’m sending the Roon signal from my Win 11 computer to the HT (Denon x6300 into the Media Player Port). Roon UI appears on the monitor and I use a wireless mouse as a controller. Works very well, sounds great.

[Lukas_Metzler]

Thanks Hans and John.
So just for my understanding: does a NUC deliver losless information through HDMI?

[John_Kaster]

Yes, you get lossless file information for anything of CD quality or higher. When you click on the light to the left of the back button it will show you the signal path and quality of the file.

[Jose-Manuel_Anguita (José-Manuel Anguita)]

What about multichannel DSDs? Are natively transfered to the Denon?