In order to use the audio processor’s bass management or Matrix to the surround back channels from a 5.1 source, the audio data stream needs to be digital. When you use the source analogue outputs, the audio processor is receiving analogue data, not digital. HK is the only manufacture I am aware of that will convert analogue to digital and then back to analogue. Unless you have an HK that will do this back to front to back conversion, you will have to use the source bass management functions. You should then be able to apply whatever bass management and channel levels that the 980 allows.
There is another option, but only if you have an audio processor that is HDMI 1.1 spec or higher. You output to the audio processor as multi channel digital PCM via HDMI from the source. The audio processor will then recognize a multi channel digital input and you will be able to apply bass management to that data stream. If you have an audio processor that has HDMI 1.2, and it accepts and recognizes the SACD compressed DSD format, you select an output of Bitstream via HMDI and audio processor will unpack the compressed DSD digital data stream, allow you to apply bass management to it, and then convert it to analogue.
Clear as mud??
