Do other users prefer to pass their player/console HDMI signal through their television to the 975 in a chain topology, or connect all sources directly to the 975 to be sent to the TV in a star topology?

Why do you prefer your chosen topology?

Is the lip-sync delay different for TV to 975, compared to console to TV to 975? That would kill my interest.

I could see some benefit to the option to use the console and TV without the entire sound system. Say for quiet hours, or to simplify things for some users.

I prefer the star setup so that all the sound can be processed by the processor vice trying to get the TV to do it. Most TV have much worse processing capability than any preprocessor or receiver. You also have the ability to up convert the video from legacy sources.

Running HDMI to the processor is the ONLY way to get HD audio out of bluray disks.

I was going to say the same thing bootman. I didn't think it was possible for the TV's to pass thru the HD audio formats. Also, it makes more sense to me to have the processor do all the heavy lifting and provides for more options. When I had my 1050, I took the video direct to the TV and then all the audio went to the 1050. With the 975, I just run everything through the 975 with HDMI.