First off I've gotta say that on paper the 990 looks like yet another incredible deal from the Outlaws. But its not enough to make me want to trade in my 950.

Here's a few things that the 990 would give me that start to make it attractive:
- one more component video input
- some extra processing modes
- headphone jack
- phono input

But I can live comfortably without all of that for now since I have perfectly acceptable alternatives for all of them, except for the newer processing modes.

Here is the key feature that the 990 is missing:
- full-blown speaker set-up including state-of-the-art EQ.

I've previously posted on the Forum that such a capability was a definite need. Too bad the 990 does not have it. HOWEVER I will be keen to learn if a firmware upgrade in future can correct this ommission or not.

The other is HDMI switching. Sorry but DVI just ain't going to cut it. I want a unit that will last four years or so, and without HDMI the 990 is just not in the cards. This is not a simple firmware fix but perhaps future versions (the 990b perhaps?) will have it. It should have had the capability to start with.

I guess the bottom line is that I need to know a lot more about future upgradeability of the 990. Is it a platform for years to come - or just a stop-gap between now and then. If it's the latter then I can wait.

Jeff Mackwood

Not that this one thing makes a huge difference, but the 990 does have phono inputs. Although 950 owners who have a TT all bought phono preamps long ago.

As the Outlaws mentioned, HDMI specs are still not finalized, and probably won't be until after the HiDef DVD format war is over. And even then, who knows?

Balanced outs are a non-issue for me as I've already purchased all the required cables and tranformers to connect my pro audio electronic xovers. They would have been nice 3 years ago on the 950 though. That would have saved me $600 or so...

Personally, I also see it as a step up from the 950, but not a huge one. More of a stopgap to cover the next 4 years or so until some of these other issues are straightened out.

Jeff: I'm new to this but I read that there is a means presently out there for making DVI switch HDMI. I think it had to do with a cable for conversion of the format. Maybe you and gonk know if what I'm alluding to is correct. You do, however make good points in the following:

- one more component video input
- some extra processing modes
- headphone jack
- phono input

My response:
(1) Phono input mostly irrelevant nowadays
(2) Headdphone jack is nice...but...using outputs and keeping the amps off can do the same thing. Just parallel feed to a headphone amp (got plenty, including dynamic and electrostatic)
(3) One more component video input is no problem. I can take my very old Sony 5 x 1 matrix switcher get five more component inputs. Heck: if I used another matrix I could get S-video as well and it will do the conversion. So: all these points are well taken and I agree.

Now to the "MEAT"
(1) Some extra processing modes: Being a newbie I don't know the relative importance of this. I don't know what's going to shake out, so maybe the extra dollars is really important for this function.
(2) The switching HDMI vs. DVI: I just don't have a clue as to what's important here. I read your view...but I dunno. Maybe gonk will comment.
Maybe Scott will comment

I know that everyone seems to like the HDMI, but to me, it just seems better to keep my audio and video signals seperate. Just my thoughts. It is not really a big deal for me anyway. I WANT the DVI, as the denon 2910 has it and I only have 1 DVI input on my tv so.....For me it is a good thing.

One of the main reasons that I am stepping up to the 990 is that I have a 6 year old Denon 2400 that does not even have digital inputs (coax or fiber...) so....the 990 is a huge step up for me..

I am looking foward to seeing how this HDMI shakes out...

First, I think that many 950 owners will stay with what they have, and I don't blame them for it - the 950 is still a nice unit.

If you don't already have a headphone amp lying around (I've had my 950 for over 3 years now and never got around to picking one up), the inclusion of a headphone jack - especially with Dolby Headphone tossed in - is a nice incentive, but I agree that it's not enough to warrant upgrading your system. The phono input is similar - in both cases, if you are considering an upgrade they serve as "bonuses" that add value to the 990.

Pro Logic IIx is as "hot button" a feature today as Pro Logic II was when the 950 came out - it's a feature that people will demand be on a new product. If you plan to run your system in 5.1, it is completely useless, but 7.1 system users will expect it and there may even be a few folks who upgrade specifically to get it.

What we are hearing from Outlaw (and I've done a little web research that has consistently supported their information, although specifics are rather unsettlingly sparse) is that while HDMI video is pretty well established as a format, HDMI audio is still evolving. The current generation of HDMI is 1.1. I think that 1.2 will support SACD, and if HDMI is anything like USB was, the change from 1.1 to 1.2 will likely not be a purely software adjustment. Even worse, nobody seems to have hammered out the real details on the audio formats and encryption schemes for either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. HD-DVD was supposed to have that determined in March of this year, but what I've found suggests that this will not be done until potentially as late as near the end of summer. HD disc audio is perhaps the most important piece of the HDMI audio puzzle, and with no format to design to, Outlaw has apparently chosen to avoid alienating customers by stranding them with an incompatible HDMI switching section. As nfaguys points out, it is possible to get HDMI-to-DVI and DVI-to-HDMI adapters, since the video signals are pin-to-pin compatible. There are a lot of folks (like myself) with DVI-equipped displays who will need HDMI-to-DVI adapters to use HDMI sources anyway, and after the very active sales of DVI-equipped displays over the last couple years, there is a large installed base of DVI users who will be using DVI inputs for many years to come. I agree that the DVI switching is not the ideal solution, but we are in the position of having to wait at least another six to twelve months before we can expect manufacturers to even begin designing hardware with HDMI inputs that we know will work with HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, which means a smaller company like Outlaw (or Rotel, or Anthem, or ...) would be lucky to get an HD HDMI unit in production by the end of 2006. By then, the 950 would be pretty long in the tooth, so it seems like a pretty well thought out decision to give the 990 DVI switching.

The 990 doesn't make the 950 obsolete, and I'm sure most 950 owners will keep what they have for a while longer. Others will see some of the 990's features as sufficiently compelling reasons for them to make an upgrade. It's all about what's right for you, folks.

GONK is right there and now !!! Thanks gonk.
My newbie status is obvious, isn't it?

(1) Regarding "Some extra processing modes. You discussed PLII vs. PLIIx. I surmise (just learning) that PLIIx will do 7.1 and PLII just 5.1. Am I correctly understanding? If so, is the reason for 990 in this regard "OPTIONS"?

(2) Did I miss something in reviewing 990 specs or are there any other audio processing "upgrades"?

(3) HDMI vs. DVI: You referenced me in your discussion of this. My question and confusion, recognizing that I read about cable conversions is this: "if a unit pre/pro has DVI and your TV is HDMI can your cable do for you what HDMI switching would do....and properly, including audio and video.

(4) Since my living room is probably not big enough to adequately accomodate 7.1 would I be missing out on anything other than (a) what's been discussed above and (b) auto-speaker setup.
I'm not worried about room eq now. You pointed out to me the Alesis 830, about which I had forgotten. Also there are other inexpensive Alesis or other eq's.

Thanks.
Your learned comments appreciated

(1) You are correct. PLIIx is an extension of PLII that adds surround back channels. Where the Model 950 used Cirrus's Extra Surround to generate a mono surround back signal from 5.1 sources (including PLII, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1), the Model 990 will use PLIIx to generate discrete left and right surround back channel signals from 5.1 sources (again including PLII, DD 5.1, and DTS 5.1). If you have surround back speakers, this can be pretty cool. If you don't, you'll never use it.

(2) The 990 includes a few new surround modes: Pro Logic IIx, DTS 96/24, Dolby Virtual Speaker, and Dolby Headphone.

(3) HDMI's video format is borrowed from DVI. You can use HDMI-to-DVI and DVI-to-HDMI adapters to connect between HDMI and DVI components. This means that the 990's DVI switching will allow you to use DVI or HDMI sources and connect them to a DVI or HDMI display.

(4) A 5.1 system will not make use of some of the 990's processing modes (PLIIx, Dolby EX, and DTS ES), this is true. However, there's more to a processor than the surround modes. We still haven't gotten to hear one, and that will be perhaps the most telling test.

GONK: You da man !!!!
You have cleared up a good deal of my confusion. Thanks. I'll opt for the 990.

(1) I want the options and for sure dts, as we are doing some archiving, tring to put material of our own acquisition (big bands etc) on dts. I think we'll be successful. (hopefully)

(2) To be able to process at 96KHz/24 bit sounds like a good idea if one can produce one's own material and play it. I can, though I would need another player in the liv room to do it. I can now make 96/24 on my Alesis ML9600. They refer to CDs in that format as "CD24's"
You've shown me that HDMI-DVI is a non issue.

(3) Since you can contrl HDMI from DVI and vice-versa I guess I don't see what the problem is. Is there one?

(1) Best of luck on the DTS software. Any processor today should offer DTS, of course - DTS ES is the 6.1 extension, comparable to Dolby EX.

(2) DTS 96/24 only works for material encoded for DTS 96/24. The 990's upsampling does sound like it allows upsampling to 192/24 of stereo sources.

(3) The problem people are having with DVI in place of HDMI is a result of HDMI's ability to carry audio as well as video, whereas DVI can only carry video. If you acknowledge that HDMI's audio support is still evolving and the final form may not be hardware compatible with existing HDMI hardware, then DVI instead of HDMI isn't really a problem.

gonk, I understand the reason for not implementing HDMI at this time, but my concern is when the standard is settled, will we be able to send the 990 for an upgrade. I know Anthem and others have provisions to do that but I don't even see a place on the rear panel for an additional output.