950 PREAMP PURCHASE?

Have a chance to buy a 950 unit used from someone and have a question about what model it is , he says its a red dot replacement unit.What is the difference from current model and red dot unit?

There was a blue dot revision around the first of the year that further refined some of the analog section to address noise floor issues reported by some users. Many users (apparently including the guy selling you his 950) had no problem with the red dot revision that it replaced. There is also a DTS-ES upgrade (a chip replacement to eliminate a bug in DTS-ES playback) that can be gotten for free from Outlaw.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Thanks for the info gonk, so other than dts update red dot unit would match current 950 model? thanks again.

Depending on your setup, the currently shipping model ("blue dot") might be quieter. The red dots were know to have problems with hiss with certain speakers and amps. What do you have?

My current setup consists of a marantz5300 avr,adcom 5 channel (gfa7000)amp,polk audio rti70 mains,csi40center,fxi30surrounds,paradigm 2200sub

You will probably be OK. I remember the problems were with Acurus amps and Klipsch (high efficiency) speakers. Sunfire amps too I think.

Thanks for the info kevin, in your or anyone elses opinion do you think for 650.00 this would be a good buy over my current recever because to setup for 6.1 or 7.1 i will have to buy another amp (2 channel) because im using marantz for power for rear center now and my amp is only 5channel.

A new one is only $800. I'd consider that, because then you get the 5 yr warranty, and, you get the latest and greatest in terms of innerds and software. You might even be able to work a deal with Outlaw for a 950 and a couple of M-200's. I don't think the sound quality will be improved that much, but most people seem to really like the going from 5.1 to 6.1 or 7.1. But your room also needs to be big enough too. Don't forget, you get the money from selling the Marantz receiver to offset the cost of the 950 too.

One more thought. I do not think that the Marantz has "multiple" crossovers? The 950 does. IMO, this is actually a reason for upgrading by itself.

[This message has been edited by Kevin C Brown (edited October 12, 2003).]