How do I...?

I am using the seven channel analog on the 990 for my Blu Ray player.
I was using the seven channel for my SACD on the Sony 777.
Is there anyway I can use both.

Thanks

There are some switches around, but most are 5.1 and they can be a bit pricey. Zektor makes a 7.1 switch, but for the money you could wait a little bit and get an OPPO BDP-83 (Blu-ray and SACD in one chassis).

Patchbay, but not for everyone.
Works well for me, though.
Here are three choices of inexpensive patchbays

HTH

Thanks, Gonk, and Nfaguys.
I do not want to invest in the Oppo 83 since I recently purchased the Sony 550 blu-ray. The Sony 777 is SACD ready.
I am in the process of changing my Home Theater system. A lot to look at and consider.

Bit Streaming from Netflix thru ROKU.
Media Servers. Cheap media servers I know it can be done with all of what I read on media server forums. I just have to fine some one to do the job. If that is possible. Or should I keep what I have and not condense my Cd's or Dvd's.

Thanks again

Multiple multichannel analog sources are a long-standing problem. I suggested the BDP-83 because it will most likely cost the same or possibly $100 less than the Zektor 7.1 switch - factor in the price you could get for the used S550 and 777, and it would be even less out-of-pocket. Patch bays would cost a good bit less if it works for you, though.

Media servers offer a lot of convenience, if you can get it set up so that it is easy to access everything. CD's are easy enough to transfer. DVD's can be done, although there's more complexity to contend with. As far as I know, Blu-ray is still not an option. Disc space has gotten pretty cheap, but I'd lean toward some sort of RAID array to protect against the inevitable hardware failure (there's a lot of effort involved in ripping an entire music or movie library to hard drives). If you go the HTPC route - which offers more flexibility but also probably more cost and some user interface things to deal with - you can probably do Netflix without the Roku box.

Thanks Gonk, I wished you lived closer. Your idea about the new Oppo and the selling of my Sony 777 and Sony 550 I will give some thought. The big advantage with the Sony 777 is that it holds 400 discs. Great for storage. I wanted to kept the 777 if I am unable to get involved with a media server. Reading on the internet about media servers it seems that the process is involved. Someone that is very computer savvy would feel comfortable applying the applications but for me I am more of a Bob Vila type as opposed to a Bill Gates.
HP has a media smart server that is suppose to be adaptable to with the iMac. (my desk top computer)
Like I said on my previous post a lot to look into with updating my Home Theater room.
One thing for sure is that the 997 is definitely going to be a part of my redesigned theater. The money is in the bank for the 997 so it is a done deal with my better half. That money is before I sell my 990 so I am in good shape.
However I have some big ideas for our theater and I have to keep a tight budget.
Another thought is to take some more time in planning and in turn that may increase my bank account.
Once I have a set plan and and the finances it should be fun.

How many SACD's do you have in the 777? You could always keep the 777 for CD's and just use the coaxial or optical output...

I have about 20 SACD's. Not a hugh collection. But your idea is one to consider. I have a Pioneer CD multi disc player that is about eight years old and the Sony would be an inprovement...not that the pioneer sounds bad.
What is your suggestion on price for a one month old Sony 550. I still have the orginal box.
The Oppo MRSP $500-$600....a little steep for a Blu-ray player.
If I do this can I tell my wife that is was your idea?

I have about 20 SACD's. Not a hugh collection. But your idea is one to consider. I have a Pioneer CD multi disc player that is about eight years old and the Sony would be an inprovement...not that the pioneer sounds bad.
What is your suggestion on price for a one month old Sony 550. I still have the orginal box.
The Oppo MRSP $500-$600....a little steep for a Blu-ray player.
If I do this can I tell my wife that is was your idea?

Rubbersoul:

If you have an IMac, you have almost everything you need for a media server. You can use it along with a wireless router (e.g. linksys and others) and a Squeezebox to feed into the 990. Use Apple Lossless compression on ITunes and you are there.

With a Squeezebox you can also stream Internet Radio without your IMac being up.

73Bruin Thanks I do have the iMac and the wirelees router.
I am not familar with Squeezebox. Sorry.
I know this is a stupid question but doe this set up alow movies as well as music. Does this setup alow for Blu-Ray?

I know that I will need external hardrives.

Thanks

73Bruin
Disregard above post about whether or not Squeezebox would handle video. I went to the web site and see that it is strictly for music.

Something to think about. Shame that they do not have something for Video

I may be wrong, but I don't think that any setups allow for Blu-ray at present because of copy protection, as it was designed to prevent you from copying the data off the disc. It's much like DVD was at one time (until the encryption was broken).

Gonk, Maybe I did not explain myself clearly. I did want to copy any blu-ray material.
I am considering introducing a media server into my Home Theater.
Name brands are pretty expensive. I wanted something home grown. Cheaper.
HP has introduced a media-smart center.

You mean "didn't" - right? If you aren't copying Blu-ray to a media server, then all that you need to allow for Blu-ray is a Blu-ray player connected to your processor. The media server setup ends up being a completely separate entity.
For audio only, this sort of device is pretty straightforward: have enough network storage capacity for ripping all your CD's into your format of choice and then get some sort of media client (the Squeezebox is a popular choice, and the Duet offers some handy control options that I've heard good things about) to tie the network storage to the 990.

If you also want to do DVD's this way, though, it does get trickier. One reason that so few manufacturers have built media clients that support video is cost, but I think another is a fear that they will be tacitly supporting movie piracy (download DVD's or rip your buddy's discs, dump them on your hard drive, and watch them just like you had the original disc) and thereby anger the movie industry. If you look at the three most obvious examples of video media clients, you see a trend: AppleTV, Roku Netflix box, and VUDU all focus on playing back content that you've somehow paid to download. You can import your own videos into iTunes and play them on the AppleTV (I've done it with a couple short clips from my digital camera), but it's not something that lends itself to working with DVD's and I'm sure that's intentional. The best example of a network client/server system that support video is Kaliedescape , and they used a very expensive closed, encrypted system for storing the DVD's that still got them dragged into court for several years (it's resolved now, but their prices remain way, way up there).

I don't know what solution I'd use for a DVD server. An HTPC would be the cleanest approach in many ways, but even building your own will take some money (especially if you use a case and cooling components that are really quiet) and the user interface needs some care to insure that it's convenient.

Thanks Gonk for your response. The more I look into the idea of using the iMac for a video media server the more complex it seems to be.

Thanks again

A Mac Mini in the equipment rack could actually be a stronger candidate, possibly with a separate drive array on the network. I know that they've been including the little remote with Mac's for some time now, which might simplify setup. Definitely not a straightforward process, though.