I have been reviewing the various digital format discussions to see how best to manage digital formats on the 990. I admit that I am still at a loss as to what to do. One problem is that there are so many formats and so many automatic (rather than progamed) defaults that I really do not know what to anticipate (or rather I cannot remember what to do) from one session to another. Another problem is that my 990 is out of site in a cabinet and thus it is inconvenient and impracticable to have to open the cabinet each time to know what mode the 990 is currently in; and there are no discrete modes to select on the remote--only scroll-through menues that need the benefit of the front panel display.

Therefore, I have to open the cabinet each time to make sure the correct mode is selected.

In any event, I noted with interest Gonk's observation that "the 990 will remember separate settings for each input for each input format - including separate settings for Dolby 2.0 and Dolby 5.1 (so you could use PLII/IIx with Dolby 2.0 without doing so on Dolby 5.1)." If this is indeed the case, I have the following questions:

1. Are there any good cheat sheets for applicable digital modes setting forth options, preferred settings, as well as mandatory defaults modes?

2. Are there any discrete remote codes for each digital mode that I can program an individual button on my Universal remote (I have the MX810--which seemed the most intuitive for me when I was a true neophyte)?

3. Is there any discs out there that contain all the various formats on different tracks so I can default all my settings simply at once by switching tracks and then changing the default settings for that format on the 990 as Gonks suggests is the way it works?

4. Assuming 990 programed default digital settings work for each type of format being played as Gonk suggests, will the 990 automatically switch back and forth between the defaulted digital formats when formats change but no other changes are being made to the 9900--which is what I understand happens when watching cable TV and different formats are broadcast between stations and between programing and commercials?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Ed.