When you pair the 997 with the BDP-83, you will use the Trinnov setup to calibrate things and you will use the HDMI connection from the BDP-83 to the 997. The BDP-83's settings for bass management, channel trims, and distances only apply to the multichannel analog output, which you will likely not be using, so their settings are completely irrelevant when using the HDMI output.

Yes, you probably will want your speakers set to small in the 997 and to large in the BDP-83, though as gonk noted, as long as you aren't using the 7.1 connections, the BDP-83's speaker size settings won't matter.

I've just now set up my oppo and I certainly agree with your statement. Even to my untrained ears, the sound is so much fuller when watching blu-rays. but then again, you are the expert. my only question is again to the whole small, large fiasco. I printed out the 83 settings checklist from the AVS oppo thread and they are recommending setting all the speakers to small and you have told me to set them to large when using the multichannel outs. This is why I'm confused at what would be best. I have been using them set to large with my now moved Sony 550. I'm going to do a complete trim, distance re-do with my meter on thursday so was wondering what you think. thanks.

When you set the speakers to small in the DVD player, you are instructing it to apply bass management. Your DVD player probably won't do as good a job of that as your pre/pro will. That is why we suggest setting the speakers to large in the DVD player thus instructing it to pass a full range signal for each channel to the pre/pro, then set the speakers to small in the prepro, allowing it to manage the bass.
The only times it would make sense to set the speakers to small in the DVD player would be when the pre/pro doesn't have the ability to apply bass management to the analog signal or if you are not using a pre/pro but going straight from the analog outs of the DVD player to your amp.
As gonk mentioned earlier in the thread, if your only using the digial outs on the DVD player, the speaker setting doesn't come into play anyway.

The AVS recommendations are for the typical receiver, and since the typical receiver has no bass management for the multichannel analog input the standard advise is to set speakers to small so the BDP-83 provides bass management. The Model 950's analog bass management is very unusual. It is going to be better to use its bass management, which means disabling the BDP-83's bass management. You may want to take a look at the Model 950 link under my Outlaw/BDP-83 Setup Guides .

well after continued searching and reading posts by many of you I think I finally understand. (your last post helped clear away the bass management fog). So I've set my speakers to large in the BDP-83 and set the trims to zero, except for +10 for the sub, which is on and will redo the distances in the 83 and I have the bass management switch in the up position. I didn't understand the nature of what the 950 did as far as applying bass management with the multichannel analogs. hopefully, I've seen the light, if not I'm sure you all will set me straight. but boy does this thing sound great. played the opening scene of Quantum of Solace and wow.

Be aware that there are TWO BR versions out there of the "Fifth Element". The first version, as reviewed by all publications, said the video was inferior to DVD. Maybe you have that verson. The remastered version can be bought here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Element-Rema...51914390&sr=1-1

was just curious what volume level on the 950 people are using when watching blu-rays? II'm using the multichannel analogs and 've got my unit set up according to gonk's very helpful info page and find I'm running around -12 to -14 on discs with HD soundtracks. I know it depends on the room, etc. but was just curious.

I had my 950 calibrated at -10 and would watch most BRs around -25 to -30. So, very similar to your settings.

I just received my HSU VTF-2 sub today (boy is it big and looks beautiful) and wanted to ask for some advice. I am running it into my Outlaw 950 and I am using the OPPO BDP-83 analog outs into the Outlaw and I am using the settings in the OPPO that the experts over here at the Saloon have recommended i.e: my speakers are set to large in the OPPO, with the sub on and all trims set to 0. My question would be what would be the recommended settings on the VTF-2 as far as crossover, phase switch etc. I am 99.9% movies so I was going to turn off the Maximum Output. Waiting for my new set of Mythos speakers to arrive before doing a new calibration with my SPL meter. Thanks so much for your time.