My 950 LCD screen won't come on and my 775 left front channel has no output. The OSD works so I was able to continue with the configuration minus one amplifier channel. I hooked up the left front output of the 950 to the center channel of the amp just so I can at least sample the sound of the 950/775. I have a 100 disc CD player by Pioneer that I always play in random mode. It's like listening to a radio station without all the talking and commercial . It's quite good actually. Anyway, I played the CD and start listening to the music. I can only set the volume at -30dB max because of the wife .

From Pioneer Receiver VSX 905S to 950/775 combo, I was expecting to hear a huge improvement in sound quality. But to my disappointment, I couldn't tell or hear if there was any difference. Is it my speakers? RT-55(main), CS-245(center), FX300 (sur) and Paradigm PDR-10 (sub). Do I have to listen at high volume to tell the difference in sound?

Due to the problems with the units, my listening test is more like a hasty one. Steve, promised me AGAIN, that he will be shipping a replacement units via DHL. Should be arriving tomorrow, well, that's according to Steve.

I am so dying here. Need experts help please.... Thanks!!

no you dont have to listen to music at high levels to hear the difference. your speakers are fine, although i would suspect most people wouldnt know that those are polk. rt55 are good fronts, which is what you are mostly using for music. maybe you dont have the 950 setup ideally. i dont have a 950 so i couldnt help you in that direction. but there are lots of settings, crossovers, etc. that impact the way a system sounds. a lot of times it is hard to tell the difference in the way something sounds. if you like the music, you usually would say it all sounds good.... to tell the differences you have to kind of separate yourself from the music and critique it against what youve heard elsewhere.

A few thoughts. First, since the blue dot revisions to the 950 design (which includes any 950 built in the last year or so), many users have noted that it seems to take longer for the 950 to burn-in -- a greater sense of change in sound over the course of a week or so than earlier designs exhibited. Between that and the fact that replacement units are coming, I'd wait for the replacements to sweat it. Second, curegeorg makes a good point -- particularly for surround sound material, calibration can make a world of difference. Two channel listening is not so critical for it, but for DVD's it's mighty important, and very easy to do. Third, how do you have the changer hooked up? IF it's connected via analog cables, the changer's DAC's (a critical piece of the sonic puzzle) are still in the loop, which may be helping to define the nature of your system's sound. You may find that it helps to switch to a digital audio cable between changer and 950.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

you did swap cables to rule them out right?

Curegeorg, I really didn't have enough time (last night) to make any serious adjustments. I just left everything at flat settings and didn't mess with the trim. It's probably because I was too disappointed to received two faulty units and I couldn't think right. Anyway, I'll make a few adjustments tonight, maybe use the SPL meter.


Gonk, As always, you always come up with a good advise. I guess I'll have to run to the closest Walmart and pick up a digital cable. I don't want to let go of my 15.00 analog audio cable .

BTW, how do you conduct the proper burning process? You mentioned some takes a week before the sound really makes a difference, Do I have to leave the unit on for a week? The question may sound stupid but I want to do it the right way.

Thank you both for all the help....

Rayban, yes I did do some cable swapping and ruled out the cables. I even reset the 950 by removing the volume knob and pushing the button with a toothpick. It didn't help. all it did is make me reconfigure the settings all over again.

Hopefully the digital audio cable will have an impact. In my experience, going from the analog output of a CD player to the digital output will often produce eye-opening changes in sound. (It also would help explain why the 950 sounded so similar to your receiver: the CD changer's DAC was "defining" the sound in both cases, so to speak.)



I wouldn't get too fancy with it. Leave it on during the day for a week or so; I did it with TV playing in PL2 mode because my wife likes to leave the TV on for the cats when we're at work.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

[This message has been edited by gonk (edited November 25, 2003).]

Someone from Outlaw probably didn't like me. They shipped a 950 and 7100 instead of 950 and 775. I called Steve to informed him of the mistake. Anyway, Steve told me to audition the 7100 until the 775 get here.

Well, the 950 display screen works, that's a good sign and the 7100 amp came on with just a faint click must have been a relay. Did the normal test tone adjustments and played a CD (digitally connected }. The sound is a lot better than the first pair I received. Movies are even better. It don't make sense, why would the 7100 sound better than the 775? Do you guys think there're other things wrong with the 950 and the 775 other than the display and one amp out (respectively). I guess I'll just have to wait for the 775 to get here.