This is definitely a thing that makes you go hmmmm... I would bet its every bit as good as the 990 sans balanced outputs and auto speaker setup. But for people who dont need those features its $200 bucks cheaper. Since the prices are relatively close, I cant imagine a significant difference between them especially when they use the same processors. It might be Outlaw has supplied us with a more afordable pre-amp alternative to replace the 950 after all!