Can I use the HDMI connection to my receiver for audio?

[cranaing]

I'm new to this so pardon me if that is obvious.

I would like to give RuneAudio a spin on a Raspberry Pi. I have a Denon receiver with HDMI inputs so I was planning on connecting it this way.

Buying a DAC feels redundant in that situation: would I be able to send the audio through HDMI and have the receiver do the work? My other RasPi running Kodi already sends digital sound to the speakers through the receiver this way.

[eea123]

I am running v0.4, but it has "Raspberry PI HDMI" output as an "Audio output interface" selection under the MPD settings tab. I have not tried or used it since my stereo does not have an HDMI interface. I am using a generic I^2S DAC with RCA analogue outs and trouble tested my way through the initial setup with the PI's headphone outputs.