One thing about HDMI 1.3 inputs and outputs is that this will be 100% necessary for the raw audio bitstreams of the new formats from both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD to make it to an outboard surround processor. Not toslink, not coaxial, not pro-digital connectors, and Firewire doesn't seem to be in the picture.

Also, digital video and audio are sent down the same HDMI pipeline. The surround processor would strip out the audio and send the video stream on to the display. This HDMI 1.3 switching is again necessary.

HDMI version 1.3 published specs. are expected this year.

These are NOT "dream" items, these are features that must be included.

As is, the 1st gen. HD players with built-in audio decoders seemingly need at least four audio DSP decoding chips to handle most of the formats (and some don't even include full Dolby Digital TrueHD or DTS-HD support so full format support in outboard decoders is a must and you need all the processing horsepower you can muster!).

Oh, and the much touted Arcam pre-amps are in the $2,000 - $5,000 range. That's dealer MSRP, with Outlaw they're supposed to have cut out the middle man.

Dan