I don't think anyone is sure what's going to be needed as it's not clear how these formats are going to be presented.

HDMI would need to be a receiver/input not an ouptut on 861 to get something from a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player. I would imagine that one is under development. However (and contrary to popular belief) I am no more privy to what's in development than you are. M is well aware of what's coming in the market, so this isn't a mystery to them!

Gazing into the future (speculating here) I could see a new MC digital in card with a traditional MHR (3x SPDIF), one HDMI audio and maybe a TOSLINK input in the future for 861.

Now, can the DSP core handle it? I know it can handle 8 channels @ 24/96K, but I don't know how well the core will do with 24/192K beyond 2 channels. It's 4x+ the requirements for DSP.

Then there's the issue of 24/192K to DSP loudspeakers. I don't know what's required to open the 24/192K door there. I think some of the DSP speakers are listed as requiring a software upgrade to enable 24/192K.

The DSP core is identical for 861 and G68.

G68 has fewer overall DSP engines than 861, but it can share DSPs across digital receiver and analog inputs where 861 cannot.


Cheers,

Surround Music Fan/Computer Geek/Curmudgeon in training.
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861v4, HD621, Panasonic BD-P55K, Toshiba HD-A35, Oppo HD990, Dish Network 622, Pioneer DV-668AV-S w/ DVD Upgrades mod, EW Fontaine II (x5), Velodyne DD-15 (x2), Seymour AV Ice blocks (x7)