OK, if I do "dedicate" the digital input, as expected (if you think about it for 2 sec), it does eliminate the 950 losing the lock.
Gonk- I had thought about your way too, but not long enough.

I would use the CD input for coax1/PCM say, and then DVD for coax1/auto. But I already have a CD burner hooked up into the CD input. But now that you mentioned it: aux... Cool.
Just curious, but *no one* else out there has this problem? I haven't seen anyone else post about losing the lock *within* a CD, just say switching between cable or DSS boxes an stuff. Even if it is something unique to the player I have, I know there are other people out there with the Pioneer DV-45a/47ai / 950 combo. (My HHB burner also exhibits this, but I believe that it has a substantial % of Pioneer component inside.)