I am using the analog outs on my BDP-83 for audio and hdmi for video since my Outlaw 950 preamp does not have hdmi inputs. I am thinking about getting the Outlaw 970 preamp which is on sale so that I can get 7.1 output when watching Blurays that have it. My 950 only has 5.1 inputs. The Outlaw 970 does not have hdmi output.

The sound on movies and music is great using the analog outs on the Oppo. For those of you that have had experience using hdmi for audio and using the analog outs, how do they compare? I thought about waiting until the Outlaw 997 or the Emotiva UMC-1 comes out since they have hdmi inputs but the Emotiva does not have 196khz/24 bit DACs which the Outlaw 970 does have. Bottom line is this. Will I miss much by not getting a new preamp with hdmi inputs? Thanks.