Can anyone point me in the right direction or give me a starting point as to how to get the audio on my laptop routed over USB to my 990? Or do I have to buy accessories to do that? I know about the various devices like the Soundbridge. But what about just a direct cable connection?
Or is another option just a mini-jack to RCA connector? I'm assuming this is of less quality.

Thanks.

If you've got a USB cable (such as the one you may have just moved for a firmware update), all you have to do is pick an input (I used Aux for some tinkering last year), set it's audio input to "USB" in the setup menu (USB is an alternative to analog, optical 1 thru 5, and coaxial 1 or 2), connect the laptop to the 990 with the USB cable, and making some sound on the laptop (Windows Media Player, WinAmp, iTunes, game, whatever). The 990 will be recognized by the laptop when you connect the two and treat it similarly to a USB sound card. A mini-jack to RCA connector would work, but would be of lesser quality (I doubt the laptop sound card's DAC is on par with the 990's DAC).

With Windows XP, plug and play will automatically install a driver in Windows. Then the 990 will look like sound device in Windows. Just connect a USB cable between your laptop and 990 and plug and play will take it from there. I was suprised at how easy it all was.

that sounds great. thanks for the info! i didn't realize xp would just see it as a usb sound card. pretty sweet.

stupid me, i'm moving this weekend and i posted this question, left for a little while and moved my stereo to my new apartment, came back and read your post. so, now i can't try it until i hook up the stereo at the new apartment. i hate moving.

that was pretty retarded though maybe i just need to drink a beer. gotta be able to laugh at yourself i guess.

thanks again and i'll try it asap.

I know the USB on the 990 only accepts PCM but does anyone know if XP puts out bit perfect output over USB or is it resampled?