Originally posted by Scott Gammans:
If the 990 suddenly sprouted four HDMI 1.3 switchable inputs and one output, I'd be happy with that and nothing else. Except it wouldn't be able to decode the new codecs. The "only," real reason to replace a 990 besides for sound improvement is the NextGen stuff.
HDMI won't make that happen, but HDMI and a 49700 Cirrus Chip would make that happen!
I think we'd all be happy with a 990 +HDMI/49700.
Blu-Ray players with analog outputs are expensive and do a poor job decoding the nextgen codecs (they lack the right chip as well). I've been to a Dolby presentation where they show what Blu-Ray does and what it's supposed to do.