With coaxial and optical inputs, the options are limited to DD bitstream, DTS bitstream, and PCM stereo - which, of course, works for just about everything except Blu-ray. Of course, without HDMI switching to allow the video to pass through, the only sources that could feed audio to the soundbar using HDMI and still get video to the display would be a handful of dual-HDMI Blu-ray players. Such players are rare, even more rare than BD players with analog outputs. We need more specs before we fully pin down this unit's potential.

To further clariy Gonk's comment,with Blu-Rays all soundtracks can also be decoded in Dolby 5.1 or DTS 5.1 streams using the accompanying digital outs (optical or coax) on the players.
Every single demo at trade shows has been conducted exclusively with Blu-Rays due to the superior picture available and delivering the decoded 5.1 sound is no problem at all.

Peter

So, if I got that right the newer codecs which primarily go through HDMI will not be available for this soundbar to output, but the older 5.1 tracks will work. Seems like it should have an HDMI input for the audio side to allow use of the new stuff or is the difference to a soundbar just not enough to justify the cost of using HDMI?

Can we get a picture of the back and does it have a subwoofer connection?

Dolby Digital +, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, multichannel PCM, and DSD (all formats that are restricted almost exclusively to Blu-ray Disc, with a few lesser-known exceptions like DVD-Audio, SACD, and some DD+ streaming options like Vudu) cannot be carried over optical or coaxial. For digital delivery, they rely on HDMI. The problem is that HDMI also carries the video signal. Therefore, the only way to have a useful HDMI input is to also have an HDMI output (unless you assume it will only be used with players that offer dedicated HDMI audio outputs, which limits you to a handful of higher-end players like the OPPO BDP-93 or BDP-95 - units that are not routinely paired with soundbars). Once you have an HDMI input and output, you have to figure out how it will integrate with multiple sources and a display. You also need a lot of processing power to decode the lossless formats. You could support multichannel PCM only and rely on the source player(s) to decode for you, but that's going to be a source of tremendous confusion for consumers - it's not a graceful solution.

With the soundbar providing the audio processing, amplification, and speakers, you're moving into a territory where the lossy core tracks on Blu-ray (which are part of the standard) are actually a good fit. These core tracks use Dolby Digital or DTS at the highest bit rate the formats support, which has led more than a few people to suggest that the gap between the lossy core tracks and the lossless main tracks is narrower than people normally assume. And for everything that isn't Blu-ray, optical and coaxial offers the same audio options as HDMI would.

So in a theoretical bedroom, with a TV, dvr cable box (optical out), dvd player (optical out) and a ruku (for netfix), assuming analog inputs on the OP1 means more than one, I could hook up everything and not need a separate receiver.

With two optical inputs, a coaxial input, and at least one analog audio input, you could have a cable box, disc player (DVD or BD), and Roku all hooked straight to the soundbar and still have one digital input free. If you wanted to tie in the TV's over-the-air tuner, that digital input could be used for the TV. If there is more than one analog input, you could use that too - but I'd probably use digital if I used anything at all. The soundbar's DAC will likely be better than the DAC you find in a typical TV.

Sounds good, I wonder how much and when.

Same here. The topic does say "Coming soon to a home like yours..." Just wonder how soon. Hopefully by Christmas times

Let's just say a lot sooner than Christmas

Peter