The video can run either through the 1070 or straight to the TV - although if you have any other DVI/HDMI sources it'll be useful to make use of the 1070's DVI switching. Does your Pioneer have an HDMI or DVI input? That's very much the preferred video output for the Oppo 971.

As for digital audio, there are arguments in favor of both coaxial and optical. Optical cables are immune to RF and electromagnetic interference, but you have to convert the data from wire to fiber and back. Personally, I've tried both and never been able to conclusively find a difference between the two.

The 1140 Pioneer Elite has HDMI and no DVI.

My cable box has DVI. No HDMI. I guess I would connect both to the 1070???? Thanks

You could connect both the cable box and Oppo 971 to the 1070 (DVI to DVI cable) and the 1070 to the Pioneer (DVI to HDMI cable). You'll probably want at least a composite cable between the 1070 and Pioneer just for the convenience of the OSD menu.

Gonk, If I connect the Oppo and the Cable Box to the 1080 via DVI and a coax, then I guess I do not understand the composite cable between the 1070 and the Pioneer. It appears duplication??? for the OSD ???? menu. I am a newbie so I appreciate your tutoring.

The composite video cable is for the 1070's OSD (on screen display) menu - convenience only, since you can also configure the 1070 with the front panel display.

Sorry that I am so dense. From the 1070 to the Pioneer, I will have a DVI cable to carry video. I would then also run a composite video cable from the 1070 to the Pioneer for OSD? Does that mean I would then have two video feeds to the Pioneer but would sort that out in a menu? I want the OSD as my 1070 will be in my cabinet behind speaker cloth. Once again, thanks for the tutoring.

You'd have two video feeds to the Pioneer, but aside from those times when you want to make changes to the 1070 you'd leave the Pioneer on the HDMI input. (Be aware of something, though: the 1070 does not superimpose menu "pop-ups" such as volume and input info onto component or DVI inputs - so you won't see that sort of information on top of your HD cable box or DVD player video.)

Gonk,
Re "pop ups" not appearing from the 1070. Is that an argument to hook directly into the Pioneer? Seems no advantage to connecting my cable box and DVD into the 1070 for video? Cable visibility not a problem as any will be hidden. Remote advantages?

The advantages that have led me to use my receiver's video switching are user friendliness (in your case, you'd never have to switch video inputs on the TV) and allowing more devices than your TV has inputs (many displays have a single DVI or HDMI input, for example).