It looks like the 950 will offer everything but DVD-A processing. Is this correct?

The 950 will offer most every form of surround processing except for THX (not really worth the licensing cost, especially now that Dolby has released Dolby Digital EX), proprietary stuff (like Lexicon's processing, although they do include some semi-proprietary stuff of their own), and internal DVD-Audio decoding (because there is no standard available for digital connection from a DVD-Audio or SACD player).

Just to clarify on the DVD-Audio aspect, nobody can currently offer DVD-Audio or SACD decoding in a pre/pro, receiver, or DAC. RIAA has forced the industry to restrict all DVD-Audio decoding to within the DVD-A player itself (in other words, you can't output a digital DVD-A or SACD signal); the signal that leaves the player must be analog, to avoid potential piracy by perfectly reproducing the digital information. The 950 does include a 5.1 analog input for DVD-Audio or SACD players, including a (rare) 80Hz crossover for some rudimentary bass management.

It has one surround decoder analog input. Should have had two and a high bandwidth switcher so you could add multichannel SACD to it as well.

Most processors, as of yet, do not have internal decoding for DVD-Audio tracks as there is no formalized digital audio input standard.

It also will not decode the new DTS 24/96 format.

Dan

This maybe a dumb quetion, bu do most/all DVD-A or SACD players process the signal onboard? In other words, since the 950 has 5.1 inputs, will plugging in a DVD-A player directly to the 950 work or will the player need to go through a processor and then to the 950?

No such things as dumb questions. All DVD-A/SACD players are currently required to decode onboard; RIAA will not allow a digital signal to leave the players. That's also why nobody provides DVD-A decoding in their pre/pros or receivers. The 5.1 is there pretty much exclusively for DVD-A/SACD.

You could put an ICBM between the DVD-A and 950, but that's purely for bass management, and that's a whole separate discussion...

So this 80Hz crossover IS analog right? I mean it must be since analog passthrough is the point of the 5.1 input.... Right?
Please only tell me yes or no if you know you're not guessing.

Yes.