Using a 990 w Panasonic DMP BD10A into an Acuris 3 channel and 3 Marantz MA 500 mono blocks. When using optical (from BD to 990) I get 5 channel fine, same with comcast box using optical to 990. Not doing any video switching on 990...going direct to 60" samsung DLP with HDMI. When I switch to 7.1 direct on the 990 I get only stereo. I have 6 analog cables out of BD in to 990 and out to the amps. I've tried every setting there is and checked the cables a dozen times. I upgraded to the 990 for the 7.1 direct and all I get out of a BluRay disc is stereo. What in blazes could I have set wrong here, I can not get anything but stereo out of 7.1 direct. Currently the BD is set to bitstream. But I've tried PCM settings as well.

The issue might be with the Panasonic, not the 990.

From page 10 of the manual for the DMP BD10A: When hooked up to an HDMI compatible television you have to turn HDMI Audio Output to "OFF" otherwise you only get two channels (actually it matches the number of speakers in your TV). It also points you to page 22 of the manual for multi-speaker output.

I've thought it was the Panasonic all along and I've been to pages 10 and 22 numerous times but somehow with all the settings on the 990 (which I'm new to) and the BD10A settings and conflicting advice and my confusion re PCM/Bitstream and BluRay vrs DVD I headed down several rat holes before I realized (thanks to your advice above) the HDMI audio output got turned back on.

I new it was some simple setting but just could not put my finger on it.

Problem solved.

Thanks for your help.

You're Welcome.

The Panasonic manuals kind of suck. Fortunately the software doesn't change much between models so what worked on my BD80 also works on your BD10A.