Perhaps I'm dense (some have already opined as much) but are you saying the P9K to 950 analog in?

I'm looking for a 5.1 DVD-A solution with no (zip, nada) bass management. Is it possible?

Charlie: Nope. The 950s 5.1 preouts go through the P9K's 5.1 bypass inputs. The P9Ks bypass inputs pass straight through the P9K without even going through the volume control and work without turning the P9K on.
Sure, that's easy. Just eliminate the ICBM in my setup and you are good to go. Your DVD-A analog output will only pass through the analog volume control of the P9K and nothing else.

Wow. That's the first workable (for me) solution I've heard - thanks!

To clarify something about the 950's bass management and DVD-A, I had asked Outlaw how the 950 and the ICBM handle the "subwoofer" channel. Since there is no standard for DVD-A, it's a little inaccurate to say it's 5.1, rather, it's 6.0 or it's whatever the mix engineer decides it to be. I have a couple of DVD-As that have some rather high frequency information in the "subwoofer" channel, even some vocals, I think (e.g. a few tracks on Toy Matinee). I normally bypass the crossover on the subwoofer but, when playing DVD-As, I engage the crossover on the subwoofer to filter out the high frequencies to prevent the resultant distortion. Whatever the engineer intended for me to hear in this channel is lost.

When I asked Outlaw about the 950 and the ICBM regarding the sub woofer channel, Scott's reply was that the ICBM filters out anything over 150 hz and the 950 filters out anything over 120 hz.

When I get my 950, the built in LPF will save me the step of engaging my sub's crossover, but for anyone who likes to play the 6.0 discs and really looks for that full range info in the "subwoofer" or "6th" channel, you'll have to find a workaround.

Any idea spatially 'where' the 6th DVD-A channel is supposed to be?

I have a 6.1 system with the center rear being full range (dedicated sub on that channel) so I could send the 6th DVD-A there in theory. It would work just as good for bass as LFE, but if it's not supposed to be behind you.....

I'm moving to theory, BTW - everything works there.

I may need the ICBM, but I'm going to try and find a DVD-A with internal bass management in the digital domain. My center front is 'small'.

[This message has been edited by charlie (edited September 04, 2002).]

Charlie,

There isn't really a specification for the "6th" channel for DVD-A, hence the problem. My understanding is that it's used as a subwoofer channel or a center height channel, meaning it's placed over your center channel. I think center height is what the Chesky (sp?) offerings want it to be.

If you rear center is full range and can handle the LFE, why not give it a try? Unless and until a spec is agreed upon, anything goes for the recordings so why not for our setups.