If the 950 loses lock at the exact same place on the CD every time, there has to be something at that point causing the problem. If it is between tracks, my guess would be that the cutting laser was turned off between those tracks, and the 950 can't handle the temporary loss of signal.

SH: That might *explain* it, but doesn't make it acceptable, especially when, for example my TA-E9000ES doesn't lose the lock...

I say, a continuous improvement activity for the Outlaws...

I never said it was acceptable - But if this is the cause, you can burn yourself a copy CD and at least be able to play it without the dropouts.

Ooooh, a data point:

In every case of a "signal lock drop" I've had, if I go back and play the specific area again, *but only start my DVD player within about 5 - 10s of the offending portion*, no signal drop. If I go back to about 60s before the dropped part, bingo, dropped again (very repeatable). So if it was a mastering problem, seems to me it should be dropped no matter how far in advance of the "bad" part I started my player?

I presume that in the 5-10s case, the 950 is still in "looking for a signal" mode, so even if there's too much of a gap, it maintains the lock. But 60s in advance, the 950 goes back to "normal lock" mode, and hence the dropped lock. ??

It does sound like a time constant type of thing with the lock of the signal.

By the way, I'm dying to know: if you burn a copy CD, does the problem go away? I don't have any offending CDs, or I would perform the experiment myself.

Does the Rotel 1066 suffer from any of these issues?

SH: oops, OK, I'll try that... (Burn all at once and not track by track so the laser doesn't shut off...)

I was wondering, does the signal lock problem on occur on the digital coax input or on the optical input or both?

I've been meaning to look at this too. I've had the problem on both 950"s I've had, but I've only ever used the coax input...

Data point:

Pioneer DV-05, 45a, 47ai through the coax input loses lock on the Pearl Jam CD in the cases above.

HHB 830 CD Recorder through the optical input ... also loses the lock. Whatever it is, is deeper in the 950 than just the input type.