Yep, pre-amp outputs are so you can put un-amplified signal to a seperate power amp, basically making your receiver a processor and preamp. Very usefull for driving difficult front speakers ...

Ebtech has an 8-channel "Hum Eliminator" that converts from unbalanced to XLR balanced signals, and it's about $200. And with a solution like this, you wouldn't have to worry at all about software ...

S-Series Denon Buy at Denon : $899, available later in 2022 7.2 channels 90 watts per channel HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3 Three 8K HDMI inputs, three 4K HDMI inputs, two HDMI outputs (one with ARC/eARC ...