Ok, here is the bottom line...

Whether there are players that have 6.1 or 7.1 analog outputs or not, which I am sure there are...there are more receivers that do take the 6.1/7.1 inputs, which is usually quite useless for one big reason...I have yet to see a MLP (DVD-Audio) or a SACD with more than just 5.1 outputs, so there is no information to decode anyway, which means that anything coming out of those channels would be matrixed sound, not discrete and wouldn't really make much of a difference in my opinion. I suppose the only place that this MIGHT be applicable would be in VERY VERY large room settings, but even then that is stretching it.

As far as digital signals are concerned...there are lots of movies, DVD-Audios that are ES or even some Dolby Digital EX tracks out there, in which case the optical or coax outputs on the DVD player are carrying those signals. Yes, THE HAUNTING was one of the first.