Chris,
Funny you should ask this!! I've been trying to devise a totally digital hirez multichannel setup (in theory) and have been having some issues, especially for the MAC. It seems both VLC and Quicktime players will support lossless 5.1 (i.e 2L stuff or ripped multichannel DVD-Audio, for example). I would want to send this to my firewire output for use into a mch firewire DAC (like Metric Halo LIO-8, Sonic Model 4, Prism Orpheus, Steinberg MR816X, etc.).
In the PC world foobar will manage multichannel files. I've ping'd a fellow, Jonathan, who has written a bit on it. He goes HDMI from his pc to a Denon AVP...so his DLNA and HDMi issues are not that relevant to me (I want to use a hi-end mch DAC) bu they may be to you or other readers.
http://avppoaowners.wetpaint.com/page/How-to%3A+HTPC+multichannel+high-rez+audio+feedhttp://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showpost.php?p=124229&postcount=7I get a Steinberg DAC in here today and will try some things in 5.1 (once I find a few more TRS-to-XLR or RCA adapters). The DACs (mostly pro-pedigree like MH and Steinberg) typically have channel trims and delays in their software consoles so that part shouldn't be tough. I've no idea about bass management software though.
Anyway.....I am continuing to investigate. The possibility of using computer files and hi-end DACs for multichannel playback is a huge issue with me....we've solved the 2 channel side, now let's go after multichannel.
