If I want to hook up my surround speakers seperately. For some test purposes I want the 950 to power my front 3 and another preamp to power the 2 surround using the 7100.

Which connections would I use?

What are you using for a source? If it is a DVD player use the conection that can be the same to each preamp. For example, if your dvd player has 2 coax outputs hook both preamps up with coax, if there are two optical outputs hook each preamp up with optical. It would also be helpfull to know what you are trying to acomplish so other can lend a helping ear.

I'm just aching to know what this test is - c'mon, what's the story?

If all you are doing is using the 7100 to power speakers that are being fed by different pre-amps, you just need to hook the pre-amp outputs to the different channels of the 7100 and make sure the 7100 is turned on. After all, the amp doesn't care what comes before it.

I'm having a prob with my left back from the 950. I hooked up another amp w/no problems. I want to test the two. Gonk, that is what I thought too. Not getting sound. I thought there may be another connection.

Me Dummy. Big Dummy. To embarrassed to say why. Thanks for your help.