I have both a digital coax cable, and an RCA pair, from the STB to the 990 for audio.

Video is via component, switched through the 990.

Good idea on the PL II, I'll try that. I just went down to look at the back of the STB, my daughter is watching the original Poseiden Adventure, and I was switching surround modes, and PL II mode definitely is wrong...Red Buttons' voice was strong in the right channel and it just sounds bad. Watchable, but not up to my standard.