I have a 950 and I am thinking about getting a DVD Audio player. I wanted to know how well the the 5.1 audio inputs on the 950 work with those of you that have DVD audio players. How does it sound with the 80Hz crossover activated? I love my DTS CDs and DTS tracks on DVD audio discs but wanted to know how it compares with DVD audio tracks. Thanks for any input.

------------------

The 950 works fantastic. I have a DVD-Audio player, SACD player, and a DD decoder for Laserdisc (with built-in RF demodulator) hooked into my 950 through two Radio Shack A/V switches. They all sound great.

------------------
Philip Hamm

Review of the Sherbourn equiv pre/pro in the latest Home Theater mag. The dude specifically mentions the usefulness of the analog crossover, in that he said he was truly hearing his DVD-As and SACDs *correctly* for the very 1st time.

Here's one for you (my opinion):

Anthem AVM-20: ~$3000
Rotel 1066: ~$1500
Outlaw 950: $899
Analog crossover the 950 has that the others don't: priceless.

Hee, hee.

Thanks Philip and Kevin for your input. I may go ahead and get a DVD Audio player.

------------------

Figured I'd put this here. The analog crossover on the 950 just became that much more valuable.

You those new fangled universal players that are supposed to have "complete" bass management? Well, the Pioneer dv-45a and 47ai have been confirmed to *not* have BM for DVD-Audio. Just SACD. Just like the older DV-47a.

And so presumably, the new Onkyo 800 and Integra 8.3 do not have bass management for DVD-A either as they are based on the Pioneer. Even the new $3500 lexicon is based on Pioneer innerds ("Pure Cinema" ring a bell?).

Only the new Yamaha 2300 *may* have complete bass management:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118892

I haven't read the Sherbourn review yet but I totally agree with the paraphrased finding that Kevin posted. Before the 950, I was listening to DVD-A with a JVC player (SA70BK) and a Kenwood receiver (VR-409). This combination had no bass management at all and many DVD-As are mixed as if you have six full range speakers as opposed to our 5.1 setups. This sent low frequencies to speakers that can't handle them _and_ high frequencies to the subwoofer. The bass management in the 950 for six channel very nicely converts this format to the average home theater setup.

DVD-Audio sounds fantastic on the 950! I set my system up last week, and have been listening to music non-stop. DVD-Audio/SACD is so far superior to CDs that it is rediculous. Go with DVD-Audio. You won't be sorry you did!