I think I've narrowed it down to these two. My biggest problem though is finding out about the P-965, The have a lousy website and their dealer locater has been under repair forever. Does anyone know anything about the P-965? Is it available? How does it preform? Does it really exist? Should I just buy he 950 and be done with it. Help my head is starting to hurt.

You're in the wrong forum first of all. Go to the AVS forum. Not only will you find out everything you need to know about it, Sherwood's VP of marketing posts there almost everyday. Here is a specific link you can check out:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160581

The posts go from March to recent.

Jeff

[This message has been edited by Majestyk (edited May 24, 2004).]

we have talked about those two models here before, so perhaps he is not in the wrong forum. avs has a lot of information, perhaps too much from too many people. this forum is lucky enough to have mostly intelligent people.

I'm actually in 4 forums looking for info. Majestyk is correct in that the AVS forum does have an enormus thread concerning the P965 it does take some time to go through it to find relevant information but it has been helpful. I've really grown to like the outlaw forum mainly because of what curegeorg points out that most of the people here are very knowledgable. I just still can't shake this feeling that if I buy the 950 that Outlaw is going to come out with an updated preamp by the end of the year. I'm really leaning to just enjoying what I have know and waiting until after the summer to upgrade.
Thanks to all that helped in my decision making.

They should have the receiver ready by then end of the year, but I'd guess a new pre-amp wouldn't be out for another.

"when the ball drops in time square" is what Peter/Outlaw Audio said at the show in NY regarding availability for the new receiver.
I'm torn between the 950 and the 965. Both are great values. Sure the 965 has more bells, but it's also almost twice the price. I was lucky enough to see and hear both this last weekend. Very difficult to choose between them. $$ is a very big factor for me.

List out the features that actually interest you. Ignore the ones that hold little or no value. Then decide if they are worth the price difference. If something might be cool to have, but you really don't care then it holds little to no value to you. Consult back here as often as you need.

One of the reasons that I was leaning towards the P965 was the OSD display through the component outputs however I just read (I'll try to find the link)that all the new processors and recievers that upconvert all signals to component will display through component output but only at 480i, anything higher and no display, that includes volume. So if you're watching High Def or progressive scan DVD (which is 95% of my viewing) there is no OSD through component outputs.
Other than that I'm sure the Cirrus surround modes will do about the same job as DPLIIx. This leaves no real reason not to give the 950 an audition, especially when I can do the 950 and 7100 for about the price of the P965 alone. Off to the order page, I'll let you know how things work out.

How do I advance to a "gunslinger" from my present "deputy gunslinger"??

"Consult back here as often as you need"
hehe..thanks! been lurking here since this forum opened. I used to visit the original web site almost every day to see when the 1050 would be released. I like this company a lot. That makes it even more difficult!