Quote Originally Posted by topspeed View Post
On Denon's, "Direct" bypasses room correction processing while "Pure Direct" will also shut down all video processing that is running in the back ground, this is why the display will go dark in PD mode. Some models also have programmable PD modes, which is what my SACD player does. PD is the closest you can get to turning your avr into a passive preamp and is arguably the cleanest signal, basically your source plus gain.

As I mentioned, you can bypass your avr's dacs by using analog inputs from the dac. Just make sure you choose "analog" on "input type" on your avr. The signal will reach whatever speakers you've chosen whether stereo or multi-channel.

BTW, the Modi 2 uses AK dacs. Before you to go to all of this trouble, you might call Marantz and see what dacs are on the avr you're considering as they have a penchant for using AK dacs.
RCA out from my DAC to Analog input on AVR. You're right, the Marantz uses a AK4458 chip and my DAC has the new AK4490 chip.