Xenon:

To your question, I could connect a 7th speaker and have an open power-amp channel for the input. I was trying to avoid this approach due to the way, the room is configured and the difficulty I will have in installing the extra speaker in an ascetically pleasing manner. Currently, my wife accepts the 6th speaker because of the 1050's limitation. Its the only speaker that really has some visible wiring and adding a 7th will only make this worse.

This may be a case, where I should analyze whether I would be better off at 5.1. I originally had a 5.1 system but with certain DVD's, the 1050 could not decode the rear signals properly and was dropping most of the rear signal. The work around from Outlaw was to add a 6th speaker (this is all posted in the 1050 archive somewhere back in 2003) and it made a significant difference. I am now in essence trying to fix that fix. I know that if I remove the 6th speaker, I will pick up bonus points from my wife's point of view. Any suggestions on how to conduct this type of evaluation?

I've seen XLR to RCA adapters that were just a couple of dollars. 1/4" to RCA adapters are probably equally economical. Look at places like Musician's Friend.

"In terms of a work-around, I asked if I could use a Y connector to join the output signals of the 990 into a single output. He said no that this could harm the 990."

Hmmm, why isn't this in the manual?

FWIW-I have run a y-connector to create 6.1 in my setup for 4 years now with no ill effect.YMMV.

I understand that Outlaw might want to have someone produce a printing ready version of the manual (e.g. to get the graphics really nice). However, I can't answer why Outlaw doesn't have a copy of the manual that could be updated over time and at least posted to the website. To me this would be something, that an on-line company should do. That way as things change or errors are found they can be corrected and made available to everyone.

A couple of follow-up questions.

1) Do you use the Y connector before the 7.1 input or on the 990's left and right rear surround output?

2) Do you use a Y connector that is designed to do a mono summing (I have seen some Y connectors that are designed for the old stereo vcr to mono tv type connections)? By contrast most of the Y connectors that I have seen are, if they have any explanation at all, say they are designed to split a signal.

3) Did you do anything special in the setup? For example, reducing the relative output from each source?

73bruin - The manual is available online as a .pdf in the 990 product page. I find it very useful when I need to use it. I keep it on my desktop so it is easy to access when needed.

With regards to the wiring for a 7th speaker, I bought some 4 strand phone cable which I used to power my rear surrounds awhile back before I buried the wire under some new carpet. If you can only run one wire to your rears it would serve to power both speakers and is pretty cheap. I think it is 24 gauge but it is solid copper. It powers the rears pretty well.

A couple of follow-up questions.

1) Do you use the Y connector before the 7.1 input or on the 990's left and right rear surround output?

"On the 990's L&R surround output"

2) Do you use a Y connector that is designed to do a mono summing (I have seen some Y connectors that are designed for the old stereo vcr to mono tv type connections)? By contrast most of the Y connectors that I have seen are, if they have any explanation at all, say they are designed to split a signal.

" Mono summing. It has 2 male connectors y'ing down to 1 Male connector"

3) Did you do anything special in the setup? For example, reducing the relative output from each source?[/quote]

"I used a RadShack meter to check that the combined outputs were in balance with the other surrounds."

Xenon - Thank you for the response. However, I was aware of that and I have downloaded the .pdf and printed it out as the version that I received with my 990 was the 0.9 release. My point was more about Outlaw keeping the manual updated as things change or errors are noted. For example, one of the surround modes "PL IIx MOVIE + DOLBY VS 5-SP WIDE" doesn't work per Scott. Even if there was only an online addendum that would be an improvement.



In my case the issue is about running the cables up a wall (which I could hide), but then getting it over an exposed wood bullnose to a speaker that is literally mounted in an open railing. My attempt to get flat 12g speaker wire mounted to the the bottom of the rail, by double sided permanent tape for the 6th speaker was pretty much a failure as the wire pulled loose. A lighter but higher gauge wire as you suggested might have worked better, but I was trying for flatness as well.

Thank you for the feedback. I will have to look through my junk box of old interconnects and cables. I may have one of the old tv cables in a drawer some place.