Who currently makes multichannel DACS? Are they hi-rez capable and, if so, to what degree (e.g., 24/192, DSD, etc.)? Anyone have personal experience with any such DAC? In what manner is the connection made from the DAC to the pre?
Same questions for any multichannel DACS coming down the pipeline.
Bruce? Gary? Amir?
Consumer or Pro? Pro units have their own ergonomic issues. For example I have used a Metric Halo LIO8...nice sounding unit but requires set up using a Mac and grappling with the complex (and I'm sure very powerful) mixing console software. Also does not have any muting during switch on / off so expect some nasty transients. After living with a pro interface it's not something I'd recommend to most people. Consumer wise I can only think of three units: ExaSound E28 (8 channel), a cobbled together system using three Myteks and one 6 channel unit made by Meitner/EMM Labs (which I think is discontinued).
What application? Music, movies?
I'm not sure what you mean 'connection made from DAC to pre'? I presume you are feeding it a multichannel signal? From what? A music server or a disc player? You can get a digital output board for the Oppos that puts out multiple SPDIF (two channel) streams. But I don't know of any DACs with multiple SPDIF inputs. There are a few DACs with multichannel AES inputs, again all Pro units, most of which use a DB25 connector, just for fun! For music server there are more options...you can use USB into an ExaSound or pro interface such as a Lynx Aurora, or you can use an internal soundcard such as a Lynx AES16e to spit out multiple AES to a pro dac like the aforementioned Metric Halo, or you could use a Weiss AF1 and then a lot of 2 channel DACs.
FWIW I have a multichannel system up and running. Music server running JRiver via a Lynx AES16e to a couple of DACs. This feeds a 12 channel system..I created this monster as a side project,
HTPC as pre-pro. I also have a demo ExaSound E28 unit or can give you an explanation in
my showroom in Fairfax, Marin County (SF Bay Area).