gonk answered my question about SACD-HDMI-DISPLAY thus:

It depends on all of the components in the signal path and exactly how they handle HDCP. I know of circumstances in which you can get audio via HDMI from CD's and SACD's without the display being turned on, although you may need to do a few things in just the right order.

Since playing SACDs via one cable (HDMI) would be extremely convenient (wiring simplified) perhaps you could either elaborate or point me in the right direction. I plan to be ready when 997 with HDMI inputs comes out.
TIA
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Living Room:
5.1 Surround and 4channel inline room
990/7700/6-KEF-107s/LFM1 x 2/ SMS Awaiting Trinnov
Millenium dts decoder;Digital Director
Players: Tascam CD01U/SonyCX455 x 3/DV955/BDP83
Old Sony 60" SXRD TV
Zone 2 (also liv-Room: listening to music while Mrs watches TV): Crown SL2 preamp/D40 Amp/Stax Headphones



My "Man-cave":
4 channel-only inline room. No TV (thank heaven)!!!
990/755/4-KEF 107s
Tascam CD01U/dts decoder/digital director
Alesis 16x4x2 mixer
Recorders Alesis HD24/ML9600/Crown CX844s/SonyDAT/Tascam DA38
Ham Radio Shack (KB1STH) ICOM/Yaesu/Drakes x 3