I'll add my support for the 990. I upgraded from a 10-year-old receiver around the first of the year. I've been researching this upgrade for quite awhile, and had considered a competitor's new model since the 997 was going to be outside my budget. Then I learned of the BDP-83 which removed the need for a pre/pro with new codec capabilities, and I also connect the video straight to the display. Music performance is really important, and after reading all the great comments on the 990 in this regard and deciding it had every capability I would need for the foreseeable future, I bought the 990. It is such a great deal. What's more, my wife and I have been enjoying it for several months and the new pre/pros aren't out yet. We have no regrets with the decision to buy the 990.

Bill