Toslink can't handle the bandwidth of a DD+, DTS-HD, or Dolby TrueHD bitstream - the signal's too big. TrueHD in particular involves a lot of data. You'd need to somehow process the bitstream first (perhaps decoding it to PCM as required with HDMI 1.1/1.2 and then passing it across three or four toslink connections), and that is just too ungainly to be widely accepted. Firewire could probably do it (haven't seen the numbers actually run to verify it), assuming anyone establishing the standards wanted to give it the chance to. I'll let others decide how likely that is.

Speaking of HDMI on surround processors, it's been interesting to see it start to happen - especially the manner in which it's happened. There's the Arcam DiVA AVP-700 (list price $2,200), which offers HDMI switching for video only (no support for audio over HDMI). There's the Audiocontrol Maestro M2 (list price $2,500 and just reviewed at Secrets), which also offers HDMI switching for video only (again, no audio of any sort over HDMI). Arcam's updated FMJ-AV9 offers HDMI, which I think includes support for audio. Integra Research's RDC-7.1 offers an HDMI card, if you can swing $5,500 for a well-equipped processor. So two of the four HDMI-equipped processors that I've seen this year don't offer HDMI audio support of any kind (making them functionally identical to the DVI switching on the $1,100 Model 990 and the $700 Model 970). Anthem should have the D2 out soon, which will add another option for HDMI with audio (although the prices I've seen batted around for the D2 have been way on up there). If the rumors I've seen about an AVM-40 and AVM-50 from Anthem pan out, there will be a couple more with HDMI audio as well, but even then the price of admission for HDMI audio in a processor will be far too close to $4,000 for my taste. It still goes without saying that HDMI 1.2 or higher will be a necessary feature on the Model 990's successor (barring something really unexpected, at least), but it's going to be a while longer before the 990's DVI switching stops making sense.

Let me echo Charlie's suggestions from March 1st.

* 0.5db level trim increments.
* Per-source level adjustments
* Per source default volume levels (When I switch to DVD, set volume to X)

My old Pioneer Elite receiver had 0.5dB trim increments and you can tell. It was particularly helpful fine tuning the center channel. The "per-source" level adjustments would be great pariculary with stereo/bypass/upsample versus 5.1 modes. Finally, having a source volume would be great given the difference in volume between my cable TV and universal player.

I really hope these items are included in the 990 update.

I will buy when at min. they offer.....
HD radio
Firewire

I will buy now if they had...
HD radio
Firewire
HDMI
Parametric EQ or automatic room EQ
Bluetooth

I'm afraid that FireWire (as often requested as it has been) is going to be killed off by HDMI, so you may never see that included - HDMI v1.2 offers all that FireWire could and is likely to be supported by far more source components than FireWire ever was.

HDMI will appear in the next generation, but Outlaw wisely chose to launch the 990 in May 2005 with DVI instead - for the simple reason that HDMI was too much of a moving target. DVI provides the ability to switch HDMI video (all you need is a DVI-HDMI cable) without the consumer confusion of changing versions. When the 990 launched, HDMI v1.1 was the latest version, but now HDMI v1.2 is out (with the ability to support SACD) and many people want to see HDMI v1.3 before they buy into an HDMI processor.

The 990 may yet get EQ capability - its cousin the P-965 has it (although the implementation used on the 965 apparently didn't appeal to the Outlaws and they've held off) and at least one person posted that he'd been told they were pursuing something that they liked and that could be provided with a firmware update.

I'm curious about Bluetooth - what devices would you use with Bluetooth in a processor? Hadn't ever thought of an application for that.

Well, besides my implementation of a Media Center PC, I do believe different source volumes would be a great addition. I am a little tired of turning the volume down to 25 for radio after watching a DVD at 45-50 and then going back down to 35 for TV/satellite watching. I don't think it would be that hard to implement a volume level per source selected.

Now, for those of you who do not believe that a PC implementation can be easily achieved, because of storage requirements. I predict by summer, or at least easily by year end you can get 2 TBs for under $500 and 3 TBs for not much more. So all of your storage requirements will be met to hold your exorbitant multiplicity within the 1000s of DVDs from the porn market you own. Oh, and I guess a few regular movies and CDs can be taken care of as well.

HD Radio is spreading all over the nation and it's free... I wonder why it's not included in more tuners?

You can check there's probably one in your area: http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/hdradio_hdstations.htm

It's too new to have made it into the development cycle for surround processors' tuners. You may see it in receivers in a year or so, but processors won't offer it for probably at least a few years.

There's at least a couple in my area, but (and this may be my own cynicism showing through) my biggest problem with radio these days isn't sound quality but content quality - and HD radio doesn't help with that.

There's more that many expect... here's a link for some of the products that have HD Radio now: http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/hdradio_hdproducts.htm

?, how do you get to be Desperado Member?
Or how did I get to be a Deputy Gunslinger Member?

User title is based on post count - you'll be a Gunslinger starting with your 16th post and a Desperado starting with your 501st post.