New Gunslinger lookin for Tips

Hello All,

Just purchased a 950 and became an Outlaw. Love it but have some questions and need some recommendations. First let me lay out my system

950 pre/processor
GFA-555 front amp
GFA-2535 Center/rear surround amp(3 channel mode)
Panasonic combo DVD/VCR Recorder
General Instruments set top Cable box
Vizio 37" 720P LCD TV
DVD using Monster S-Video and Optical outputs
Boston Acoustics RS-260 Front speakers with Design Acoustics passive 10" Subwoofer
Boston Acoustics CS225 Center Channel
Boston Acoustics HD6 rear speakers

First off, Remote control is difficult to use. Main volume takes 2 seconds of pushing before 950 reacts. replaced batteries - no change. I have a logitec harmony and it does fine...any recommendations?

Second - picture quality is fair to my Visio 720P 37" LCD TV. Currently using monster S-Video cables...should I hook up the HDMI output of the DCD direct to the TV for Viewing?

Third - two of my digital input covers are missing, any one know of a source to replace these?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to shooting the sh**t around the campfire...

John

Use the Harmony. I have the "ONE" and it is excellent. Probably the best gear I own. By all means get off S-video and on the HDMI. S-Video won't output HDTV.

I'm not sure why the remote is behaving oddly. Is anything other than volume affected? For what it's worth, the Harmony should have the 950 in its database so you should be able to retire the original remote. After all these years, my wife still says that our universal remote is the best upgrade we've ever made to the system. The first remote to get that praise was an MX-500, but the MX-700 and MX-900 have also been popular once I got their setup dialed in.
If you are using s-video from your DVD/VCR, you are right smack in the middle of the road for output options from that source: both component and HDMI offer the potential for video improvement, with HDMI generally being the recommended video option these days if it's available.

Are you using the Vizio's over-the-air tuner to get HD television broadcasts? If so, I'd suggest connecting the TV's digital audio output (probably optical) to the 950 so you can get Dolby Digital 5.1 when it is available.
I do not, although I've somehow accumulated a collection of them over the years from various components. It shouldn't hurt anything for them to be missing.