a good A/D/A is unnoticeable. The Audyssey system promises to make stuff like the Rane analog peq.'s seem like something out of the stone age. Read up on it on the Audioholic website and you'll see. FIR filters are to analog peq as brain surgery is to hitting somebody over the head with a hammer.

I use a BFD for my SVS sub and Behringer DSP 8024s for each channel. The 8024s are stereo 31 band digital EQs with auto room calibration for each channel. They sound fantastic. There is no added noise or grain in my system that I can hear. I can tell you that my system is much better with the EQs than without. Room correction really helps.

Gonk, just a little more info on the new audio formats. I read your post earlier and now I am confused. Are the new audio formats coming out for HD dvd players (which ever format they choose) deliver audio out in HDMI format only. In other words will they have no allowance for DVI and a toslink audio, or stritly just HDMI? Or is it just too soon to know?

Also what good are balanced outs when the Outlaws dont make a balanced amp? Or do they? HMMMMMM.....

I wonder if Outlaw's server is going to burn out from all this activity!

Balanced Pre/Pro, balanced amp, what about cables? Are those in the queue as well?

I think it's reasonable to assume that Outlaw soon will be a one-stop-shop for all your preamp, amp and cabling needs.

I tossed a DEQ2496 into my system just to try it out. It's the newer version of the 8024, and includes the same D/A converter that's in the 950, I believe.

At any rate, I was simply trying it and didn't expect to keep it in. It's there to stay. Room correction is a good thing, especially after the room has been acoustically treated as well as possible.

For stereo playback without extra A/D/A conversion, I run a digital out from a dedicated CD player to the digital in on the DEQ.

If you want to run a balanced line to your amp because of distance or a hostile sonic environment but don't have balanced inputs on your amp, you can. Simply use a Jensen PC2-XR at the amp end. It's a passive device that easily meets audiophile standards and has a 4:1 stepdown transformer that outputs to unbalanced RCAs. It's also a isolation transformer, so between the balanced interconnects and the PC2-XR, you won't have any noise.

After placing my order for the 950 and waiting on a reserve list, and what seemed to be just over a year in waiting. I hope I can hold back the urge to sign up early again. I really want to make sure no one hears the HISS, at 10" inches or 10' ft, with volume up or down. I could not stand to go through the red dot, blue dot and the final fix again. Months where all production stopped, and people pulling their hair out 24/7. Everyone posting about the pony and explaining sponge Bob. All I can say is here we go again. First I get a Outlaw update newsletter and the first thing I do is check out the site for new, news. Line them ponies' up, here we go again. DOBEMAN