You can find my comments on the 990's audio performance here , but the short answer is that the 990 is a very enjoyable step up from the 950. The better DACs have left me using the analog inputs very rarely, performance on DVD's is improved, and performance on CD's benefits even more. Multichannel analog input probably saw the least change, but even with the 990 applying digital bass management (with an A/D/A process added) the performance is still transparent. My Yamaha universal player's SACD performance is still sub-optimal, I believe, but the 990 isn't detracting from the experience any.