I was just coming over here to ask the same question. smile

First some info on Integra versus Onkyo 805 from Home Theater HiFi review:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/processor...-7.1-ssp_2.html

"Sometimes users question if they are getting any value in buying a higher end piece from a company like Integra over say a mid-lineup receiver and just using the receiver as an SSP. This is one time where we can make a direct comparison of the two options. Brian Florian recently reviewed the Onkyo TX-SR805. While these reviews have very little to do with one another (SSP vs. receiver) you can't help but draw a few comparisons. As an example, both have Audyssey room setup, HDMI 1.3a, and support all the latest surround formats. One would hope that for $600 more than the 805, the Integra 9.8 would have superior audio and video circuitry. Brian lives fairly close to me, so we measured both units using the exact same equipment. In all aspects, the 9.8 measured better. In the simple frequency response test, while the receiver is down almost 0.75 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the Integra 9.8 is down only 0.015 dB over the same frequency range. This kind of performance is amazing for an SSP at this price point. THD+N was lower on the 9.8 than the 805 as well.

Some of the internal components are better in the 9.8 as well. For example, it uses a toroidal power supply transformer, where the receiver just uses a conventional (though massive) power transformer. The menu options are different too, as the SR805 only allowed 0.5 ft increment adjustments for speaker distance, while the 9.8 allows for 0.2.

So, don't be worried about spending the extra coin on the 9.8. You really are getting more for the money. "

I couldn't find anything about whether or not the Integra has an analog bypass mode. I am looking at this unit, the new outlaw, or an external dac to use with my 970. I have been using the 970 in analog bypass but recently gave it's DAC another shot and the one thing that is nice about using the internal DAC is the bass management, it is really nice using my LFM-1EX with my two channel, even though I have the av123 strata minis which have powered woofers. I too would prefer to use an external DAC, there is such a big difference between DACs and it is nice to not to be stuck with the DAC in your pre-pro. But, from what I have heard the DAC in the Integra is outstanding for two channel music, it is supposed to be THE processor to use with digital sources. This is definitely going to be the processor for outlaw to beat.