Well I got the BDP-83 anyway and I have the same audio dropout issue. I did connect via 7.1 Direct based on Gonks advice. For my work around I just swap back to 7.1 direct, select my track and then switch to optical. I'm sure they will eventually fix it with firmware but since I rarely change tracks manually it isn't much of a problem.
The system sounds great on 7.1 Direct but in my system I really do prefer the Optical input to the 990 in upsample 2.2. Even with the dropout issue it just sounds better. That's a good sign for the 990s DACs.

XenonMan

Try the 2 ch outs of the Oppo, the DAC's are better than the Oppo 7.1 DAC's.

You may like the sound better than the Outlaw DAC's via optical.

Thanks for the advice Audionirvana. When I diassemble the rack next week to install the 886 I'll have enough room for some extra wires.

It's worth a try - the 83's analog section (7.1, not stereo) stacked up remarkably well against the 885 with Audyssey. My wife actually preferred the 83's 7.1 analog output to the HDMI for CD listening the one time that I staged an unintentional listening test with her. I haven't ever wrangled in an extra two cables to compare the stereo analog output as well, though.

Some good news, the problem of the Oppo losing a bitstream signal on the 990 when changing tracks on cd's does not occur on the 83SE.

So since no one answered me in my thread . . .

What were the bass issues in the 990? I recently bought a second hand one, pretty much specifically for use as a multichannel analog preamp, and kinda want to know the current state of what it does if I am feeding it 5.1/7.1 analog (I want it to do basically nothing except act as a volume control).

Thanks

BB

990 will apply bass management if your speakers are set to anything but large. Since bass management is applied in the digital domain, 990 will convert the input signal to digital, apply bass management, then convert back to analog before the signal reaches the volume control circuitry.
This is called a "bug" because the behavior is different from what "7.1 analog direct" means and also what the 990 bass management matrix indicates.

Thanks. Can work with that.

Back (closer to) on topic. Anyone compared the 83 vs. the 83SE's analog out (stereo or mch) through the 990 when NOT engaging the 990's A/D/A bass management? This was my main reason for asking as I was not going to spring for an SE if it was going through a reconversion process.

I know Gonk is looking to do so at some point, and have read a bunch of comparisons at AVS, but specifics with the 990 in the loop are always welcome.

My review is not in depth as I have only had the SE a week, but see if it helps. I have a 990 and primarily use it 7.1 all speakers Large, or in 2CH analog. I am very happy with the SE.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1194011&page=110