If your pre-pro can "only" handle 6 channels you would configure the source (Bluray, whatever) to output 6 channels. It should synthesise the sides and rears of a 7.1 mix down to 5.1 so the "loss" is in positional information rather than sound. If a Bluray player cannot do this then every 5.1 set-up in which it is placed would be similarly compromised, regardless of whether it is Meridian, Onkyo, etc.

I would love for some-one to have the conversation above with, for instance, Sony if their player couldn't perform that synthesis. I wonder if a director would come on the conference call with the dis-gruntled purchaser?

In the spirit of Spinaltap, I would like to confirm that I am not involved in the corrupt theft of a global sport.