Just purchased a Panasonic DMP-BD55 blu-ray player. I'll be hooking it up to a Pioneer Elite plasma and my 990. Had planned to do HDMI direct to the Pioneer with analog audio out to the 990. But the discussion on SACD over digital

http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/6/t/001015.html

and the review of the BD55 at UltimateAVmag.com (where the reviwer said he had to use component plus analog audio cables to test the analog audio) have led me to believe I need to use component out for the video if I can't use HDMI for both audio and video because of handshake issues with HDCP. Not an issue for video quality (as display is 720p) but more for ensuring I have the right cables for hook-up when the player arrives.

Grateful for any thoughts/guidance

I've been using HDMI for video and multichannel analog for audio for several years now. It's the other way around (HDMI for audio and analog video) that's more problematic. You're fine using HDMI to the Pioneer and multichannel analog to the 990.

As always, thanks much, Gonk -- you've made my life easier.