I'll take a shot at your question -

The ICBM has gotta go somewhere - If you put it between your DVD-A player and the receiver, it will manage the DVD-A only. If you put it between a pre-amp and separate amplification, it will manage the entire system. However, if you are using the receiver as a pre-pro and only using external amplification on the mains, the ICBM will only be effective on the mains - Unless you have "tape loop" connections for ALL channels - Then you could run IC's from the out's to the ICBM to the in's of each of the other channels.

I'm using a Yamaha RX-V2095 and a Parasound HCA-2205AT, with MY ICBM between the two.

Hope this helps.