950 vs Onkyo 701

Hello. I am eagerly awaiting my 950 B. It is replacing my Onkyo Txsr701 which I have been using as a pre/pro with the 7100. Does anyone know what differences I will hear? Or what to look for?
I have Polk Audio Lsi 15s as fronts and RTi 100s for surrounds. Sonus Faber Solo for center and Polk csi 30 for surround back. I also have a Velodyne CHT 8 (which I am considering replacing with the LFM 1). I have a Sony NC555ES dvd player. Thanks in advance:)

I switched from an Onkyo TX-something-or-other to a 950/770 combo and noticed better “clarity” in each channel when in surround modes, plus, when such sounds as enhanced gunfire were played at near “theater” volume levels, that clarity was maintained. With the Onkyo, fine detail in the loudest passages was lost. At low volumes and without a surround mode engaged, I noticed little difference. There may have been a difference, but when listening at low volumes in an environment with its own ambient sound providing some acoustic masking, noticing any difference would have been difficult.

Because I changed my processing and my amplification at the same time, I cannot definitely attribute the positive changes solely to either unit. Likely the clarity while in a surround mode was due to the 950; likely the maintaining of that clarity during high output was due to better amplification.

I think you will be pleased. But if not, the shipping cost is small enough that, if you return the 950, you’ve spent no more that you would on a couple trips to a dedicated audio store for auditions. Come back once you’ve had a few hours of listening to the 950 and give us your impressions!

Thanks for the response. I am hoping to get a better soundstage from the 950 for movies. Right now with the Onkyo I really notice the effects coming from particular speakers...although putting the Rti 100s as surrounds(when I upgraded the fronts to the Lsi 15s) helped this a lot.
When I hooked up the 7100 to the Onkyo I noticed a BIG difference. I will definitely post and give my review.
By the way...Is anyone else using floorstandings for surrounds? I seem to like it better but it could be my room acoustics? It looks awesome anyway! Ha..