Classe ssp 600 vs 800 ?

You will not be getting DVD-A resolution by an optical connector.....

Correct...same with SACD. You need to run analog audio cables from your player into the SSP-600s pre-amp analog inputs. The only time the SUB will receive input from the SSP-600 is when you have a Dolby Digital 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 (or DTS 5.1 or 6.1) source. For SUB to have input on analog audio outputs you need to be using a subwoofer similar to a REL with the hi-pass input off the amplifier mains unless someone has figured out how to do this otherwise...

I have a ssp 600, although sonicly it is excellent, I find the tiny video screen on it to be useless and gimicly, it is absolutely useless as you can not see it from a seating position. I have been on hold in upgrading the 600, with all the bugs and problems with hdmi. as of now all my video sources are hooked up directly to my tv. so imo, a 600 would suffice as a prepro, good luck

Zephyr24069: Does the SSP 600 have analog bypass input capability?

I send analog 7.1 and XLR stereo from an Oppo BDP-95 to a Cary Cinema 11a. The Oppo does the processing, including bass management; the Cary passes the signal to the amps, so the subs can be activated even with SACDs. The Cary does control volume and convert RCA to XLR, but it treats PCM 88.2 kHz as DSD, so does no bass management. Analog bypass gets around that problem.

db

Sorry for the delay in replying....both the SSP600 and 800 have analog bypass. I utilized the analog bypass with XLR outputs exclusively with my SSP600 and the results were very good. The SSP600 (like the 800) also has the ability to utilize a separate pre-amp for the front L/R channels (HT passthrough); I also utilized this quite extensively after getting a standalone pre-amp (CP700) to utilize for 2-channel listening as well as bettering my HT experience by using the separate pre-amp to drive the front two channels.