The input access thing hasn't really bothered me when I change input at the unit (which I actually do probably once or twice a week at least). I have always been impressed by the fact that you can -- if you so desire -- do effectively everything with the unit from the face of the unit, without ever touching the remote. How many other pieces of gear can claim that (remember when you could set the clock on your VCR without the remote )? I've assumed that the input up/down was an attempt to achieve that absolute control without overcrowding the faceplate (a faceplate that even as is has gotten negative comments from a reviewer or two for being "busy" -- an issue that they've addressed with the 950's far cleaner face, albeit at the price of less direct control over things like input and surround mode). The lack of a way to directly go to stereo or directly to surround decoding from the remote is one aspect of the interface that I've occasionally been bugged by, too, though. On the bright side, the 950 remote appears to have tried to address that issue, since there are separate buttons for DD and DTS on there (and I think some others, but I don't remember for certain at the moment).

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart