My new 990 is on its way! Also got new amp and Axiom M80 speakers are on the way. I plan to hook it up as follows, and any suggestions would be appreciated:

Amp to 990:
B&W 200.7 hooked up with seven XLR cables to the 990; speakers obviously from amp

Second Room amp to 990:
Apt Holman 2 channel amp hooked up with two RCA cables to second room output of 990 (this is my outside setup); speakers obviously from amp

DVD to 990;
I plan three different hookups as follows:
5.1 audio inputs to direct input with RCA cables;
Digital Coax for movies, etc; and
Separate RCA pair from DVD to CD input for use with second room set up;
VIDEO is HDMI direct to new plasma monitor;

DirecTIVO;
Optical cable to 990 for sound;
HDMI direct to plasma monitor;
Additional RCA Pair to another audio input to use XM radio for second room outputs;

I may also hook up a little 7" LCD monitor for the menu set up, but unsure about that one.

Looking forward to moving up from a Sony 6.1 receiver.

It sounds like you've got a good plan, bruce61. Have you considered using HDMI/DVI cables to switch both the DVD and the DirecTIVO through the 990 to a single input on the plasma? That would save you having to switch inputs on the TV manually? I'd also suggest a composite or s-video cable from the 990 to the plasma if you don't do the little 7" LCD, since you need some way to get to the OSD and a composite or s-video cable will be the least costly.

Thanks for the reply Gonk. While my wall was open, I installed two high-quality 5 meter HDMI cables, another "back-up" HDMI cable one(that came with my HDtivo), a SVIDEO wire,, a component video set, as well as RCA wires and five separate sets of speaker wire for the future. I have a total of 15 wires going from the rack area to behind the plasma, just to be safe. I even had a dedicated hospital grade surge supressor plug installed in the wall just for the Plasma.

As to switching, I use a universal remote with macros so I would rather have a direct connection. Also, the HDMI transmits sound which my wife may use when she merely is watching the news or a soap opera.

When everything arrives, I should be all set (though I will have to install the upgrade in the 990).

This forum is very informative.