I ended up relagating my 950 to DSS, VCR and AM/FM duty only. It's really a shame I had to do this. I put my Sony EP9ES Dolby Digital processor back in service, with my Smart CircleSurround box which extracts Dolby EX better, I think, than the same function in the 950. For straight stereo, I run the analog output of my Sony DVD player directly to a very good vacuum tube stereo preamp that is in line with my main left and right speakers. I have to get up to turn a 'real knob' to change the volume, but the sound is as pure as it gets for stereo. The 950 hisses out to about 5 feet in my system, which has very efficeint horn speakers, but I can't hear it at my listening position 15 feet away. The vacuum tube preamp is dead quiet, even with my ear pressed to the tweeter. Progress??