The 1050 lacks DTS-ES, although if your DVD player has a DTS decoder you can use that decoder to the 6-channel analog input and use the Surround 6.1 processing to generate a surround back channel. That works with any DTS soundtrack, of course. Surround 6.1 isn't the same as DTS-ES discrete (in which the surround back channel is separately encoded), but functions similarly to DTS-ES matrix and Dolby EX.

Dolby Digital is the standard format for DVD, of course, so it is the predominant format. In the last couple of years, DTS has become more common (I probably have a little over 20 discs with DTS soundtracks, out of around 140 titles). DTS-ES is still pretty rare indeed -- I only have a could DTS-ES discs (Gladiator and the extended edition of Fellowship of the Ring).

VHS, of course, is all stereo or Dolby Pro-Logic...

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Here's another surround related issue. If I have a DVD player with Dolby Digital & DTS digital outputs, which is a 5.1 signal, how do I get 6.1 channel sound out of my speakers? Does the receiver extract the sixth channel from the 5.1 signal? (I think so, but I'm not sure).

If your DVD player has DD and DTS digital outputs, that means it does not have an onboard DD or DTS decoder -- it passes the digital audio information directly from the DVD to the 1050, which then decodes the signal. The 1050 has a separate bit of processing (developed by a company called Zoran, as I recall) that works similarly to Dolby Pro-Logic to take the left and right surround signals decoded by the 1050 and extract a surround back channel from them. The 1050 can only use the Surround 6.1 mode with Dolby Digital soundtracks (DTS apparently takes too much processing overhead to also use the Surround 6.1 at the same time) or with six-channel analog inputs.

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Gonk has the technical part covered, so I'll offer a subjective view. I struggled with very similar issues for quite a while before finally ordering a 1050 a couple of weeks ago. The 1050 works perfectly for my small, simple room, and sounds excellent. I'm very happy with it, and it's NOT going back!

As for DPL2, I have it on another system, and must admit I'm not a big fan of it.

I'm confident I made the right decision by going with the 1050 - probalbly should have done it sooner. Just my .02.

Well, after much more research, I figure I may end up going with the Denon. I finally realized all the reviews of the 1050 were from over 2 years ago. Technology has moved on in that time. Even the original Stereophile review was not the deciding factor I thought it would be. Still, there's hope yet. I may be about to undergo a relocation that may mean the whole HT thing will be on hold for a while. Maybe Outlaw will have a successor to the 1050 with DPL II, DTS ES and "kosher" DD EX by then...