Gonk,
I may not have found all the resources that you know of. Could you list a few regarding what to do in the analog realm?

As I have said, the main thing I am worried about is that, since the output level varies with the volume control, rather than staying at a fixed level, the equalizer will be operating over a very wide range of signal levels. To me, this sounds like it will introduce noise, and therefore might be an inappropriate application. So, I have two questions about analog:

1. Without divulging any trade secrets, would it be possible for me to (voiding my warranty, of course) tap into an analog signal before the volume control? For this to work, I assume the path would be 7.1 analog to the volume control and then directly to the output jacks.

2. If I had the volume control maxed, is there a musical, balanced and affordable 7.1 infrared controllable volume control that you know of?

The digital solution is interesting, but certainly not possible with the current model. HDMI would be cool, but there would certainly be DRM issues complicating matters. FireWire would be good too, after you paid your royalties to Apple.

The professional stuff from Beheringer and others uses AES/EBU for digital, but I don't know much about it. I think it is only two channels. The voltage levels are different. The connector is bulky, but a high density connector with a conversion cable would do the trick.

Equalization seems to be the only major piece missing from the 990. It would make much more sense to integrate the capability than provide a connection for outside processing. It would be a heck of a selling point to have the features I need for the Behringer incorporated. It has a 1/3 octave graphic equalizer, plus 10 parametric channels. It has a real time analyzer and pink noise generator to automatically or manually EQ the room.

I would certainly pay twice the price for the 990EQ.