”The P-965 does offer some new features, but I haven't heard one to know if it offers any sonic benefit.”

Gonk,

The P-965 does provide better sonic benefit (at least in my home theater) than the 950. There are many new features that make the extra $700 well worth the cost. The 950 is an excellent product at its price point and the P-965 serves the same purpose at its higher price point. Some of the many supported features are:

1) Firmware upgrade by the user through Serial Port (RS232) or USB Port.
2) System control through the serial or USB ports.
3) Supports USB audio from a computer.
4) High bandwidth relay based component video switching (less video noise than IC switching).
5) Supports DPLIIx and MPEG audio (the next (first?) user firmware upgrade will add DPLIIx to the 8 channel direct input and will derive the back channels without changing the original 5.1 channels. This firmware upgrade will also add adjustable audio delay to better match lip sync when using digital displays).
6) All video inputs from composite and S-Video converted to component output.
7) Better remote control. Comes with Sherwood branded and pre-programmed MX-500 remote and another remote for ROOM2 control (does not include Multi-Room System Kit).
8) Has Coax Digital for ROOM2 in addition to analog stereo and video.
9) Has Pure Audio mode that shuts down all video and digital processing circuits to reduce system noise.
10) Has front video inputs under a panel door for S-Video, Composite, Analog Stereo, and Digital Optical.
11) Faster audio decoder mode switching in Auto Mode.
12) Decodes DTS 24/96
13) Decodes Multi-Channel MPEG Audio (hoping AAC will be added in a firmware upgrade).
14) DPLIIx can be used with all digital audio formats to derive 2 back channels in addition to stereo.
15) Supports Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone.
16) Has separate LFE Level Trim for Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG audio.
17) Better FM tuner (much cleaner even with the included dipole antenna).
18) Digital Re-Mastering to 24bit/192kHz
19) 8CH Direct analog input instead of 5.1
20) Can go direct from stereo mode to 8 channel direct mode without having to pass thru a multi-channel mode first.

I don’t know why but the analog input sounds much better when processed thru the P-965. Before my XM Satellite Radio had to be processed by a separate device (Firewire portable sound recording device) before the analog input on the 950. Now I go direct to the P-965 and it sounds great.


[This message has been edited by Cliff Watson (edited May 20, 2004).]