The 980H has a rather neat little trick with the 7.1 analog output. Any 5.1 source that isn't Dolby Digital (DD 5.1 being the one source that gets EX processing applied) goes through a fairly simple matrix logic to produce rear surrounds. It's slightly more sophisticated than copying left side to left rear and right side to right rear, but not as sophisticated as something like Pro Logic IIx or Logic7. Bottom line: DVD-Audio and SACD sources can be output in full 7.1. I couldn't get the current production firmware to do this, but a closed beta firmware that I got a couple weeks ago did it and the beta firmware posted on OPPO's site Monday also does it.

Bottom line: get the 980H, download and install that firmware, and set the Downmix to 7.1, and you'll have 7.1 with DVD-A and SACD. It also works with two-channel sources expanded to 5.1 using the 980H's Pro Logic II processing, and it should work with DTS 5.1 (although I don't think I've tried that specific combination).