will there be 7 balanced analog inputs on the 997 or will they only be 7 unbalanced channels for bypass mode use?

I expect there will be eight (left, right, center, left/right surrounds, left/right rear surrounds, and subwoofer) balanced analog outputs on the 997, but that's the only balanced provisions we know of. We haven't heard of any balanced inputs (stereo or multichannel), but since I don't know of any sources with more than stereo balanced outputs I can't imagine why they'd try to shoe-horn a balanced 7.1 analog input into a surround processors. There are some disc players with balanced stereo outputs, but they are rare. Based on the 990's design (which lacked a balanced stereo input) and the fact that Outlaw has made no mention of a balanced stereo input, I doubt we'll see such an input on the 997.

the reason i ask is because i was looking at a mod oppo blu ray player that could have a mod which would have multichannel balanced outputs 7.1 or i can get a mod which would use 7.1 unbalanced analog output.

just seeing if i could use the balanced 7.1 analog output on the oppo to a future 997.

I'm not sure how much value such a mod would have - the DAC's are unbalanced, and surround pre-amps with balanced inputs are beyond rare (I don't know of any).

gonk, do you believe in mods like one done to an oppo blu ray where they change out the master clock to reduce jitter, and they change out the power supply and stereo outputs?

are these mods mostly snake oil or do they have some merit?

I think that some mods can help - the BDP-83's analog section is a very good value already (and I mean very good), but there's always room for refinement. I'm less convinced about master clock or power supply changes, and I'm really dubious of the value of slapping balanced outputs onto the player. (Aside from questioning the practical value, I also wonder where on earth they'd put a bank of eight XLR's and how you'd actually be able to integrate it into a system.) Any of these changes are offering "diminishing returns" sort of improvements. I wouldn't expect "night and day" sort of changes. Technically, you're going to also void your warranty once you have a modder start making these sorts of large-scale questions. OPPO is pretty cooperative in these sorts of matters - I traded posts with a guy in Australia who had a modded player that arrived from the modder with a bad optical drive, and based on an email exchange diagnosis OPPO shipped him a new drive for free so he could swap it out himself - but it does make things more complicated.

any thoughts on the analog section dacs of the soon to be 997?

The 990 is still very good in that regard. I'd assume the 997 to be at least as good, but it's impossible to know anything definitive at this point.