I also own both the 950 and 990 and with the current street prices of the 950 either is a great bargain. If money is an issue and you really are going to stick with 5.1 for a while, I recommend the 950. With the money you save by going with a 950, you can invest in a used high-quality 5-channel amp from Outlaw, Rotel or Adcom, etc. to complete the setup.

Good luck