Finally! Just thought I'd share this with y'all. Probably wont get it hooked and and tested out until some time tomorrow, but when I get everything going I'll let you know how the 990 brother performs. I know some are interested to hear how well the SNAP EQ works, so we'll see. And, I have the Outlaw 755 we'll see how these two work together as well.

Oh yeah, have to tell you, this is some really beautiful equipment.

Well I guess I was rejoicing too soon. After pulling out the entertainment center, removing my 950 and reconnecting everything (you guys know how this goes and how long it takes, My P-965 doesn't work. I'm waiting for the folks at SW to show up for work so I can give them a call. Front panel buttons do not respond and it does not respond to the remote.

Seems like it's locked up, even the standby button doesn't work. I can turn it off and on and that's it.

Sheesh, guess I should have went with the 990, I'm not a happy camper right now. This is the first DOA component I've ever had and I've been into this hobby over 30 years.

Just curious if any of you guys might know a way to reset this unit? Should be the same as the 990 I'm thinking.

Anyhow, if I don't get it up it's going back and I will get somehing else.

The only thing that I can think of to check is the "OPR/SVC" switch on the rear panel - if it is in the "SVC" position (necessary for firmware updates) the unit might behave as you are describing, but I would certainly not expect a unit to ship from the factory set that way.

Sounds like a sign to me Order that 990...

Thanks Gonk, I did check that. I called SN this morning and spoke with Eugene in technical assistance. He walked me through the reset process. We tried this several times, including moving the opr/svc up and down several times. The unit just wont respond.

He offered to overnight me a new unit, but I declined. He was very nice and went out of his way to make me happy, but I just didn't have a good feeling about the 965 after this, so I just requested a refund.

I was thinking hard about the 990, but I went ahead and had my dealer order me an Arcam AVP-700. It should be in by Friday or Saturday.

My wife is not going to be a happy camper when she learns I spent double the money we had originally allocated for the 965, but as the saying goes, it's easier to ask for forgivness than to get permission. I'll go buy her some new curtains or something this weekend.

Anyhow, I just hope it's worth it. Reading the various forums it's getting nothing but glowing reveiews so we'll see. Everyone raves about how musical it is and this is very inportant to me.

But, I really wanted to see how that SNAP EQ worked, bummer.

BTW, the Sherwood looks awesome. Pictures don't do it justice. And, the remote was also too cool. Wonder why Outlaw doesn't include this one. I think it would be worth the extra cost.

Sorry to hear about your mishap, Jack - do let us know how the Arcam works out.

The 965 uses a Home Theater Master MX-500 remote, which is a great remote that would probably add $75 or more to the 990's price. I was one of many people who voted for the MX-500 as the standard remote for the Model 950's successor, but apparently economics prevented it. Since a number of different good universal remotes have gained widespread acceptance in the market (including the MX-500), it made a certain sense to let consumers decide which brand and model of "super-remote" they want to invest their money in rather than raise the price and lock folks into getting an MX-500. I still would have liked having another MX-500 around the house, of course...

Let us know how you like the arcam. I'm receiving the 990 tomorrow to go with my 7125 amp so I'm going the the fedex site every hour to track the package lol

LOL! There's a Fed-Ex tracking window up as I type this. The 990 arrived today...a 7500 is making its way from CA...

Kahuna, you're killing me over here! I'm sitting here ready with the 7125 amp and no receiver/prepro. Watching tv thru 2 little speakers sucks already after 10 minutes lol I'll get my revenge though as I'll post a review on here tomorrow to wet your appetite and make your wait that much longer

Thanks. This makes sense. After all many people are on a tight budget and try to get all they most they can for their hard earned dollar, me included.

Will do. And I know how you feel. I waited for the 965 for over a week. Can't tell you how disappointed I was.

Anyhow, while it was enroute I kept hearing the hype about the AVP-700 so I feel compelled to give it a try.

Hopefully it wont be an expensive mistake, but I really doubt it will be. I've never heard a piece of Arcam gear I didn't like.

I'd hardly classify it as a mistake. 8-) It's going to sound great. Is it going to sound twice as good (or any better) than a 990? I honestly don't know. I'd love to hear your impressions...especially if you've also auditioned the 990.

Cheers,

Well gentleman the Arcam has settled nicely into my system. As I stated previously the P-965 I got was DOA so I can't make a comparison to the 990, but I can tell you the AVP-700 has surpassed my high expectations.

It has a terrible remote and a global crossover. These are the two things I don't like about it.

But, it sounds awsome! The spaciousness and seperation for HT is as good as I've heard and easily the best I've had in my system. Using the analog inputs I really can't tell allot of difference between it and the 950 it replaced. And, the 950 had the 80Hz analog crossover, I do miss that. So if you are on a budget the 950 with a good Muti-DVDP utilizing the analog inputs is going to be hard to beat.

However, when I feed the 700 via a digital output from one of my DVDP's the music comes alive. I'm talking detail, pace and accuracy that my DVDP's just can touch.

With the 950 I used to play my SACD's almost exclusively as my DVDP's had poor Redbook CD performance and the 950 wasn't any better in this ragard. The Aram is a different story. I am now getting redbook performance that is very close, if not just as good as that of my SACD's (depends on the CD). Just incredible!

The sound is so good that I've now decided I cannot give up on RBCD's and I'm going to get either a Rega Apollo or the Naim CD5i. It's going to have to be something really good to surpass the 700. I'll use my Sony ES and Sherwood SD-860 for multi-channl and SACD playback, 700 for HT, and stand CDP for two channel RB CD's. I should then have all basis covered.

Well maybe a faster sub down the line (it never ends). :-)

Anyhow, it's not all hype, this is indeed an impressive piece of equipment.

I have nothing but admiration for the Outlaws. IMO the 950 in it's price range can't be beat, and from what I read, neither can the 970/990.

I mean, I could have bought two 990's for what I gave for the Arcam and that's something that can't be overlooked. And, I still don't know how the two compare, but I can tell you if the 990 provides anywhere near the sound of this unit, which I hear it does, than it's a steal. But, I'm happy with my Arcam. Just tickled pink. I haven't been this gush over a piece of equpment in quite a few years. Kudos to the Arcam folks for this one. :-)