Yeah, Sluggo's response is a bit scarely. Tks. Sluggo, Good warning.
Kwok

I'm not sure what the question is. The 7.1 Direct input does not allow any matrix processing such as PLIIx or NEO:6, and 7 Stereo only works with a two-channel analog or PCM source anyway. If you want to do any matrix processing to expand 5.1 sources out to 7.1, you need to do it upstream of the 7.1 Direct input.

Gonk, I am sorry.....I am confused myself and also confused you. PLiiX or DTS Neo:6 or 7 Stero are on digital domin for 7.1 out to the power amp. I mixed up with 7.1 analog in, on my last question. Stupid me. Sorry.
Kwok

No sweat...

Gonk, Sluggo and other outlaws:
The S550 came 2 days ago. Hooked it up with 990 with 7.1 analog directly. The HD lossless surrounds definity better than DTS and DD.
s550 provides speaker size, distance to sitting position, x-over settings. The difference from S-350 which I have, is a additional light button on the remote and the 7.1 analog outs which pass all lossless surrounds after decoding by the S-550 itself. The picture quality is similar btw S550 and S350, upon my own nick eye comparison.
I am now awaiting the compoent switcher from Monoprice. Expecting it will arrive latest by Saturday. With it I can then switch between 2 the S-550 and another player which plays DVD-A and SACD. Very excited.
Many thanks for all your former suggestions. Will advise how the switcher works out next week. Regards.
Kwok Lau

Since you are connecting to the Model 990, you already will get bass management, channel trim, and delay as long as you have any speakers set to small. I would recommend setting all speakers to large, the sub to on, distances to 0, and channel trims to 0.

Gonk, 990 also applies bass management to 7.1 analog direct input?? Your recommend setting, as above, is to be set at the S-550, right?
Kwok

That is correct, and yes.

Gonk, Yes Sir. Will do exactly your command. Thanks again. Will tell you the difference after the new setting. I had set speaker =small,with xover =40/80/100/120 and the distances last night when briefly test the system. I had to boom up the Subwoofer to +10db to get balance with other channels. I used the sound meter (RadioShack) to do the calibrations.
Kwok

By having the speakers set to small at both places, you are stacking crossovers, and you may have some bass lost around those crossover points as a result. It's possible that contributed to your need to boost the sub to compensate.