So for $500 (package price), you can buy a dandy remote..

Plus you get the other extras Gonk spoke of.. Sounds like a no brainer..

Or even better, if you already own one of those "dandy remotes", buy a 990, use the existing remote, and pocket the $500!

i dont know where you are pricing the p 965 at but they are 1068 to 1098 all over list is 1499 but who pays list / retail anyway..so for the things you gain on the 990 the remote on the 965 makes up for it .. and the 965 does have a nice bass manage system ..

You can replace a remote. You can't add the features of the 990..

This is not directed at anyone in particular, but I have always found it hard to believe that people are willing to spend $1000 dollars on a processor and probably thousands more on a tv, speakers, dvd player, etc. but won't spend $150-$250 on a really nice remote control. Its one of the few things that everybody, whether a tech junkie or not, notices an improvement with and its very possible it will never need to be upgraded. I guess different strokes for different folks but I find it sad when somebody prefers one piece over another but chooses the lesser because it has a better remote.

- You make a good point, Jed M. I have a very simple argument in favor of a well-chosen universal remote: family members who use the system. If you ask my wife what the single best upgrade to the system was, she'll tell you it was the MX-500 remote we added almost two years ago. Subwoofer, HDTV, amps, progressive scan DVD player, DVD recorder with hard drive, processor all come behind the $100 remote.

Besides, remotes get stepped on, lost in the back of the fridge etc...

Remotes are almost like buying a cell phone. Some will purchase a Harmony because they are not techies and want a no brainer setup. Other will purchase a MX-1000 with two satellite remotes, multiple RF transmitters, light dimmers, shade closers and connect it to their PC and write 10,000 lines of code for it..

But once you buy a piece of gear for your HT, you are stuck with its features until you can't stand them anymore and upgrade to the latest greatest and rewrite 1000 line of code for that remote..

OK so the balanced outptus and dvi AND some (software changes) are it?? well i own a ati 1506 which i would never part with and it has no balanced inputs .. my PA DJ equiptment goes though... even outlaws own doesnt have it yet .. btw ATI makes outlaw amps .. just a little diff power supply in the outlaw.. still the outlaw amps are great.. so balanced outputs no biggy .. as for most of you now you have to get the new outlaw amp or a comparable to use the balanced outputs .. DVI SWITCHING >> Still in the air ..and most folks that worried about signal will be going direct to monitor from a video up center .. neat boxes that turn your low vcr etc signals to 1080 p or i so your new DLP doesnt look lousy trying to fill in the voids .. so back to the whats the diff.. a couple extra wires parralled to a balanced conn.. and a built in dve switch box .. and a software upgrade .. (maybe).. i ve heard good things about the newcastle .. which also means good for outlaw ...

Trav when I read your post what came to mind is: between the 990 & the 950, is it really worth the difference in price?
what makes the 990 so much better than the 950?

I've read a few user reports saying the 950 was not that great for music. Great for home theater, but not great for music. But the Sherwood has, and thus the 990 should have, much better audio processing for music.

I haven't heard either product myself. I'm using a Yamaha RX-V1400 for my pre/pro.