Sadly the 950 isn't flashable. I suspect it would at least require some quality time with a chip extractor and inserter, and that's assuming the ROM is socketed.

I've poked around inside the 950 quite a bit, and there doesn't appear to be anything that is not surface mount, and no EPROMs or such that can be easily swapped.

Hmmm. Some embedded CPUs have onboard nvflash, maybe that's where the firmware is? It has to be somewhere....

I suspect it's on the circuit board used for the front controls/display, but I didn't take it that far apart to verify. Lots of itsy-bitsy parts in there, though.

I believe that the AT clone's tech sheet says that the design uses an EPROM chip...

I'm sure it does; the 950 too - I don't think it would be any more programmable in the field than the 950 however.

Found another occurrance of loss of signal lock within a CD.

In between tracks 5 and 6 on Sabbath's Never Say Die. The Castle Communications remaster from England.

Kevin:

One thing you might try that could possibly make a CD that would not skip between tracks: Rip the CD onto your computer. Then burn a copy of the CD, setting the time between tracks to zero, and setting the software for "disc at once" which does not turn the laser off between tracks. This might yield a CD that you can play without the loss of lock between those tracks. If this cures the problem, it will tell you the probable cause of the original CD skipping.

IIRC the issue with timing is also a direct function of the source product's programming of how it handles the signal.

i.e. not all DVD/CD players manipulate the digital signal the same way. They vary in their timings and muting of signals during various functions such as FF, rew, skip, etc.

SO, the 950 might react quite differently depending on which brand of CD or DVD player yoy are using as a sourve.

Just an FYI.

I've had Pioneer DVD players for years. Sometimes had initial lock delays with the Sony TA-E9000ES pre/pro, but NEVER in the middle of a CD.

With the 950? I do.

And even if it is how a CD is mastered, that still doesn't explain the 950 losing the lock in the middle of that track on Pearl Jam's Riot Act.