Just to confirm does the OPPO's new HDMI inputs: 1) Send the video signal to the HDMI Outputs of the Oppo 2) Provide Video processing of the input HDMI signal.

If both of these are true, it would seem to make these units equivalent to a minimal input digital pre-pro (albeit one that does not include room correction).

HDMI 1 video is processed by the Qdeo chip. If you send a separate video source via HDMI 2, it's processed by the SOC. Optimum is video into HDMI 1 and audio into HDMI 2. There are a boatload of posts and detailed info on AVS Forum: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1428214/official-oppo-bdp-103-bdp-105-anticipation-thread

1) Yes, video signals are passed to the HDMI outputs.

2) Yes, although (as Hank points out) the Marvell QDEO chip's processing is only applied to the HDMI1 output. HDMI2's output is processed by the Mediatek SOC.

The main purpose for the two HDMI outputs is for use in systems with a 3D display and a surround receiver or processor that can't pass 3D signals. The idea is for HDMI1 to be connected to the TV for video and HDMI2 to be connected to the receiver for audio. In the 103 and 105, however, they are also making it easier to use the player with two displays - in which case, the better display should be fed from HDMI1.

So if I understand this properly, with a BDP-105, one could bring in two video devices (e.g. a cable box and roku) on HDMI as well as 2 other audio sources using the digital coax and toslink inputs. It would consolidate its own video signals with the other two video sources, process them using the QDEO processing and output the signal on the HDMI-1 Output. The digital audio signals would all be converted to analog and available on the 7.1 outputs. This sounds like the ultimate upgrade.

If so in my case, I would only need my 990 for hooking up my SMS-1 (I don't really listen to AM/FM in that room). Am I missing something?

There is now a BDP103 owner's thread on AVS Forum: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1432162/official-oppo-bdp-103-owners-thread

And the Anticipation thread topic moves to the upcoming BDP105: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1428214/official-oppo-bdp-103-bdp-105-anticipation-thread

There's a wealth of information there.

Radical idea: OPPO teams with Outlaw to get Outlaw's magic and Audessey into next gen player and then you'd have a helluva console. Don't shoot holes in this - internet naysayers are a dime a dozen - just let me bask in my brilliance

Pretty radical idea but why would OPPO need Outlaws "magic"? Seems like OPPO is killing their field of competitors with innovation and great products.

Audyssey in a player would be problematic - the chips that you need to use to run a player aren't built to run room correction, so you need to build in a separate chip (borrowed from surround receivers/processors) just to run that function.

Assuming the Oppo BDP-105 has a volume control like their previous players, if you have a simple system of only a few digital sources one could run analog output directly to a high end power amp and not use a preamp at all. No?

I know, no room correction.

A year or two ago, you poo-hoo'ed my suggestion that Oppo include HDMI and digital inputs on the BDP-95 so that other forms of input could benefit from the video processor and high quality dac's built into the BDP-95. I think Hank was correct and that in some future release, including room correction would make a lot of sense. Personally, I could see Oppo adding additional digtal inputs as the next iteration, however.