It appears that the 950 Preamp/Processor will have a 7.1 input and 7.1 output. Sounds great, right? The problem is, there is absolutely NO 7.1 software out there, nor is there likely to be any for the foreseeable future. I think that the SACD specs (or possibly DVD-A) may be able to accomodate 7.1, but all the SACD and DVD-A players being made today have 5.1 outputs. So it really doesn't make any sense to include 7.1 capability on the 950 unless it has a 7.1 mode that can convert 5.1 or 6.1 sources into 7.1 channels. I think there are a few processors on the market that can do this (the Sunfire Theater Grand II).

Quite a few DVDs are 7.1. The Haunting and Terminator 2 for example. The players don't have 7.1 outputs, but they do have digital outs. 7.1 inputs on the receivers and preamps coming out today are simple futureproofing, not just for hardware that will have outputs for THX EX and DTS ES, but for other potential formats. If SDDS comes to home theater, the current hardware is set to take a decoder, in theory anyway, not sure how well it would work with SDDS since that has extra front channels and no rear center, but that is the theory anyway.

Regards,

C.E. Tekell

The Haunting and Terminator 2 DVDs, which I presume carry a Dolby Surround EX or DTS ES soundtrack are 6.1. I repeat, there are no DVDs (or DVD-As or SACDs) out there with a 7.1 soundtrack.

So again, unless the 950 has a 7.1 processing mode, the only way you'll get any use whatsoever out of the 950's 7.1 channel handling capability is if you have an external processor with a 7.1 mode, such as a Lexicon processor with Logic 7. But I really don't think there are many people out there who, if they buy a 950, are going to want to shell out the extra $$$ for an outboard processor.

I think the idea behind the 7.1 inputs on the 950 is simply future-proofing. "Just in case" -- since the 950 has the pre-amp outs for those channels, they went ahead and provided multi-channel analog inputs for all of them. It is true that two of those inputs will not be used initially. That doesn't make this a bad thing. Maybe they'll never be used at all. Or maybe the multi-channel world will branch out and you'll start seeing DVD-A or SACD with 6.1 or 7.1 outputs. If that were to happen, most existing receivers and pre-amps would be out of luck. Will it happen? Probably not, but the Outlaws apparently figured the cost to provide that extra bit of security was small.

I wonder how much has been added to the cost of the 950 as a result of providing a seventh channel of preamplification (is that a word?) that, given the absence of any 7.1 software, will not be used for years, if at all. And I wonder how much it would cost to add Logic 7 or some other 7.1 mode, which would at least allow you to get some immediate benefit out of that 7th channel. If the 950 is software upgradeable, I suppose this feature could always be added at a later date.

If DPL II can be scaled up to 7 channels, OR if a decent version of Logic7 could be added, OR if the Outlaws came up with their own decent proprietary 7 channel matrix version, I think you'd hear a GIANT sucking sound coming from Lexicon. I'm presently considering the purchase of a used MC-1, but if the Outlaws had a decent Logic7 imitation, I'd buy the 950 in a heartbeat. But I'd still like a 2-channel crosstalk-cancelling mode like Lex's Panorama anyway.

I have a lot of confidence in our Outlaws to deliver excellent design, components, and low cost. But custom, sophisticated DSP modes requires very specific skills, and is way out of their league. There are dozens of HT manufacturers out there, but only Lexicon and Yamaha are known for DSP modes that really sound good. (You could probably throw in Meridian, Fosgate, and Sony, too. Dolby PLII is basically a Fosgate algorithm). There's little chance that Lexicon would license Logic7 outside of the Harmon family, and there's little chance the Outlaws will be able to create something equally good - other than Fosgate, nobody else has been able to.

-avi

I am indeed amazed at the algorithms used in matrixed music and respect the designers/companies that develop them. I imagine, though, that reverse engineering one would be a much easier task that creating the original. If the hardware would support it then maybe, as mentioned earlier, it could be software upgraded when a decent reverse engineered algorithm appears.

S.

You may be right, Avi. It's such a shame that Fosgate didn't have the foresight to scale the DPL II for 7 channels like the Lexicon....but then again, maybe Harmon paid Fosgate not to.....holy conspiracy Batman! It really wouldn't have been too difficult to matrix another two rear channels. Sigh.....

Newer pictures of the back of the 950 don't show 7.1 inputs anymore, only 5.1 inputs. What happened to the extra two inputs? When using the 5.1 inputs for DVD/A or similar, do the two surround channels get "doubled" and sent to the rear speakers, or are the rear speakers not used at all?