Just to point out one componant that meets virtually ALL of the discrete requirements; not a Philips/Marantz product though: the Sony TA-E9000ES preamp. Disrete on and off commands, as well as discretes for all inputs and almost all soundfields (except for those provided by a recent firmware upgrade), AND discrete codes for any and all soundfield PARAMETERS (eg distance, balance, individual speaker volume, etc). Hopefully other manufacturers will take the hint....