Processor DACs


I am shopping for a new Processor. I’ll probably get an Integra DHC 80.3, so I am curious if anyone has ever compared the onboard DAC of their processor to an established benchmark DAC such as a W4S DAC-2. Since my music server has USB outs, it would require purchasing a USB to S/PDIF converter (such as the Anedio U2) to hook up the processor to the server. Before spending the money on a converter, I am wondering if people have tried this out, and what their experience with it is. It seems that most mainstream processors have solid DACs to do all the Dolby Digital conversion, so wouldn’t it make sense that they should perform excellent as a standalone DAC? I would appreciate your thoughts and experience.
hifiguy5
Edorr is correct in suggesting this option but some people have a bias against incurring the additional A/D/A conversions, regardless of how well they are accomplished.

Kal
Kal, there is no A/D/A conversion when I play stereo mode in 2.2 setup. I run digital straight into the Trinnov, and digital out to an outboard DAC for mains, and trinnov analog out for the subs.

To integrate this with MCH you can use the Trinnov analog inputs and do A/D/A on the analog ooutputs of your processor (which is what I do).

Alternatively, if you have a processor with its own room correction, you could use this intead of the Trinnov for MCH sources. The problem is you would need an input switch for your mains and subs - one input comes from the processor in MCH mode, and the other from the Trinnov (or the outboard DAC if that is what you use) when you play in stereo mode.

Lot's of boxes, cables and expensive - much easier to do 2 channel and MCH room correction in a single processor.
Kal/Edorr,
Is it possible to output from a music server to an Audyssey equipped Processor to a DAC (somewhat similar to what Edorr describes) to take the Processor’s DAC out of the loop? If so, then it would be interesting to compare the Processor’s DAC (with and without room correction) to a standalone DAC (with and without room correction).
Dunno if any processor passes EQ-ed digital from its digital outputs. Never tried but, somehow, I doubt it.