Sadly, my science experiments with using component video switchers for switching 5.1 channel surround sound were all failures. I tested three different switchers (Radio Shack's 4->2 switcher, the Philips switcher sold by Wal*Mart, and a friend's Zektor) and all of them (even the Zektor!) introduced some amount of signal strength degradation and/or audible noise into the PCM stream.

Regrettably, this leaves me with no other choice but to start looking at the various A/V receivers on the market that accept HDMI 1.1 or better, and to put the Outlaw 990 up for sale. Oh well, at least I'm still an Outlaw with my trusty 7700. And when the day comes that I replace my projector with one that is HDMI 1.3-compliant, I'll definitely give Outlaw my business if their follow-on to the 990 is HDMI 1.3 as well (I can't imagine that it wouldn't be).

Thanks gonk, for all your help with my 990 over the past ten months. It's a great preamp! I just wish it would magically sprout some HDMI inputs.