So it looks like we have 2 situations here with using the analog out of the newer blu-ray players:

1) 7.1 channel out w/7.1 speakers, but only 5.1 material sent.
2) 7.1 channel out w/5.1 speakers, but 7.1 material sent.

So the $64K question is how do players that do the processing, handle these situations? My situation is that I have really come to enjoy my rear speakers and don't want to "y" connect them to the side channels if only 5.1 material is available. That is what I did to play my SACD's when I used to listen to all 3 of them :^)

Like Gonk, I don't believe that the players have advanced this far yet with the processing to simulate or deal with these two issues. I guess I don't know enough about the 997 to see how it would deal with this either.

(sigh) isn't this hobby wonderful?