Hi Guys,
I'm considering the 990, but have a question.
I don't use a center speaker. Can I steer the signal to my left and right channels?
Thanks

Dean,

Most receivers and processors automatically downmix to however many speakers you have. During initial set up, you simply configure the 990 for whichever speakers you'll be using. Even if you're using only two speakers, none of the audio from 5.1/6.1 soundtracks will be lost.

I note that the 990 does not let me specify no center channel. However, for Dolby Pro Logic II and IIx, it allows mixing 0 to 100% of the center channel to the left and right channels. I consider this a bug: it should be possible to specify no center channel and have that signal mixed with left and right.

Not sure about the other modes.

Of course, the Tape/Out, Aux/Out, and Video1 Rec/Out always receive a two channel downmix.

Rene,

In the 990's speaker set up menu, can't you set the centre speaker to Large, Small or None?

I've noticed erratic behavior in the speaker setup menu. Often it won't let me specify "none" for surrounds, for example.

Seems to me it should always allow "None" as an option for any of the speakers and downmix as appropriate.

sdurani (and Prefect): No, I can't set center to None. I am stuck with Small if left and right are Small and Small or Large if left and right are Large. I even had a hard time disabling the surround speakers (I'm starting out with a 2.1 system -- my old strictly audio preamp died so I purchased my 990 sooner than I otherwise would have), though I succeeded by futzing around.

Navigating the speaker configuration menu is like a maze: the options for some speakers depend on the options set for others, and it's not clear what affects what.

Weird... I'm going to poke around a bit at this tonight, if my schedule permits (work's a bit crazy and the wife's a bit under the weather, though, so I've been keeping extra busy the last couple days). Maybe we can get a bit of a roadmap for the maze, and perhaps even suggest a few "shortcuts" through it that Outlaw might include in a software revision at some point.

Good idea, gonk.

I find it odd that one can't specify None for the center channel: the 990 is quite capable of mixing center with left and right: in Dolby Pro Logic II and IIx modes, one can even specify the degree of the blend. I'm not sure why this is not available in other modes. The blend of center to left and right should be 100% if the center speaker could be set to None.

Rene, When processing 2-channel material, the centre channel is derived by steering certain information out of the front L/R channels. It makes sense then that Dolby allows the end user to control the steering (i.e., how much is sent to the centre output).

With 5.1-channel material, there is no need for centre channel steering control. Think about it: 3 channels, 3 speakers; what's there to steer? Each front channel simply gets routed to its respective speaker.

With 5.1-channel material, there is no need for centre channel steering control. Think about it: 3 channels, 3 speakers; what's there to steer? Each front channel simply gets routed to its respective speaker.

Well, there is a need with digital matrix modes: what if there are less speakers than chanels? In particular, what if there is no center channel speaker?

I suppose that it might be the case that the analog matrix modes allow fine-grained control wheras the digital modes do not. But, I can't see it being that hard to mix 1/2 of center into each of left and right if there is no center speaker, regardless of mode.