I've been using my MOdel 990 with an OPPO DVD player with no problems--using the HDMI with DVI converter for video and the optical output from audio.

Sad to say, the OPPO developed a mechanical problem, so needed replacing.

I have now tried three different DVD players, of two brands (Sony and Samsung), using the same connections as with the OPPO and had the same problem with all three: The 990 apparently can't detect what kind of signal it is getting from the digital input (the word "digital" keeps flashing on the display face), and I get only a faint sound, and only through the center channel.

Now I'm using a new Sony DVP-NS700H. I'm sure I have the right setup options chosen--I spent half an hour on the phone with Sony--and Sony says there should be no problem with using the HDMI/DVI with the optical output. But the same thing is happening. (Just to be sure I hadn't broken anything, I put the OPPO back in the system, and its audio works just fine.)

Any ideas?

Thanks.

This is very strange. If the 990 works well with the OPPO using the optical input and not with the other three decks it might just be the physical connection. While the connections are the same, are you employing the same exact optical cable that you use with the OPPO? That was not clear from your description.

Peter

Yes, the exact same cable. Nothing has changed except the units being plugged in.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm with Peter - that's an odd situation. The flashing "digital" indicator suggests that there's no signal coming to the input, which would make me want to check cables and verify that the correct optical port is assigned to the input.

I checked the Sony's manual and agree that there should be no problem with using the optical out in conjunction with the HDMI-to-DVI, as long as the Digital Output setting was still set to "On". I'm a little surprised they still have their digital output defaults set to disable DTS and force a stereo downmix of Dolby Digital, but it shouldn't matter for what you are encountering (although I will hope that Sony support made sure you get those changed so that Dolby Digital was set to "Dolby Digital" and DTS was set to "On").

Thanks, Gonk. As it turns out, I'm not getting any digital input--the "faint sound" was actually from the TV, I now realize.

And thanks for checking the manual--I do have the Sony set to digital output "On," "Dolby Digital" and DTS "On."

I also have the DVD input configured on the Model 990 for Optical 1 audio input.

So you'd think a bad cable--except that putting the OPPO back in the system worked fine.

I'll recheck everything, though.

Rechecked everything--even took the Sony out of the system and put the OPPO back to see if it still works--and it does. Took the OPPO out, put the Sony back in--and the same problem. 990 doesn't recognize that it's getting a signal: "digotal" light keeps flashing, no sound

AAAARRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!

That's truly bizarre. The cable works (because the OPPO did fine), the 990's input works (because the OPPO did fine), but there's no signal. Is that Samsung still handy? (Wondering if there's an issue with the Sony...)

No, I returned the Samsung . . .

I'm just gonna have the Oppo repaired . . .Thanks, folks.

For the sake of scientific inquiry, would it be possible to try another cable? On the suspect decks, perhaps there is some resistance in the cable that they can't handle whereas the OPPO can easily overcome the problem with a stronger signal. If you have another optical cable lying around this would be an interesting test.