Hello,
I am considering building an HTPC system. I would really like DVD-A support in it. Two questions: 1. Are there PC DVD players that support DVD-A?

2. Assume that I can play a DVD-A (via mounting an .iso?) will it play correctly throught the USB port of the 990? (I read that Gonk said the 990 can be used as a soundcard (am I reading that too literly?))

Thanks
John

The biggest problem with DVD-Audio is the copy protection associated with the format. Digital output is prohibited unless you use IEEE-1394 (FireWire), HDMI v1.1+, or a couple of manufacturer-specific proprietary connections (Denon Link being one example). As a result, you can't output a DVD-A bitstream over USB.

Also, the 990's USB input will work with PCM stereo but not with Dolby Digital or DTS bitstreams. When building your HTPC, you'll want to find a sound card with a digital output and driver support for digital bypass.