Jim,

Apologies accepted. I know it's very frustrating. I very much wish someone in the SF Bay Area would stop by and help you out.

Until that happens, I'd try a few easy steps to try to improve the soundstage of your 950 in stereo, without a subwoofer: (1) try re-arranging and moving your main speakers around, farther or nearer from the wall, etc., (2) use the digital connection from the CD player to the 950 since your CD player is many years old, the D/A inside your 950 should be quite a bit better than the D/A in your CD player.

Quote:

With reference to the possibility of having received a bad unit, how does one determine that? It is very subjective.

You may have a bad unit, but chances are slim that the 950 would turn on and work but be sonically so bad that your HK would sound better.

Will