The signal lock issue is common to many modern pre/pros and receivers to varying degrees -- the processor needs time to properly identify the signal format, and if it starts playing too soon you may wind up with a gibberish screech of mis-decoded noise. It takes place any time the 950 senses a change in format. Since typically DVD's use DD 2.0 for menu audio, changing to DD 5.1 or DTS for the main feature (either at the beginning or when using the scene selection menu) creates the moment of muting you are noticing.

There is a solution included in the 950's manual that can work in certain cases when the signal format for a specific input is always the same (such as a CD input that always gets PCM audio, or a satellite receiver that always gets PCM or always gets Dolby Digital). In column 2 of page 31, there are instructions for "Surround Data Format Lock" that will override the detection process and always default to the specified format. This setting is input-specific.

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