Sound, this unit is absolutely quiet and passes only material through. It doesn't add any personality of its own. Just what the doctor ordered. Really cool blue display also.

There is no video up-conversion. There is only 1 component video input/output (what is it doing??) The unit runs pretty warm.

I have been using my S170i for a little over a year now and am very pleased with it. While I use it for both music and movies, I'm a music nut (60+% of my listening is music). This unit excels at being out of the way. It really lets the music come shing through. It simply does what a good pre-amp should do, disappear and let you hear the artists in all of their glory. On movies, this thing is out of this world. The hairs on the back of your neck will stand on end with the right material.