I am using the Sony 7700 DVD player which has Dolby Digital & DTS. Will I be able to hear the other surround formats i.e DTS ES Dolby EX etc... on the 950 with this player or do I have to upgrade the DVD player.

You need to use a digital cable to connect the 7700 to the 950, so that the 950 handles the decoding -- in which case your 7700 will allow you to use all of the 950's decoding modes. If you use the 7700's onboard Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, you will not be able to use the 950's EX/ES modes (or the triple crossovers).

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