Yes, more efficient speakers make the problem worse. (I have all Vandersteen up front, which are maybe 86 dB, but Def Techs in back, which are 90 dB or a little more. The hiss is worse in the Def Techs.)

But none of those are horns.

And the hiss from the 950 is still worse than other pre/pro's and a receiver I've had.

I watched 13 Ghosts tonight. Couldn't hear the hiss at all with the movie playing. But pause it, and turn my head, and it's there.

The movie wasn't that great, but the audio soundtrack was really well presented by the 950.