I've had my 990 since the beginning and always use its full digital processing with all sources, at least to split and balance with my sub properly. That and none of my sources are so great that the 990 is ever the weakest link. I do find it very amusing that I have read a couple of "professional" reviews of the 990 where the reviewers preferred the clean transparent sound of BYPASS mode compared with STEREO or even UPSAMPLE. Now we find out that BYPASS doesn't bypass! So much for their fancy review equipment and experienced golden ears!