A solid State component should last around 10 years with average use, perhaps longer.
Of course adding the 950 is going to be my ex/es upgrade. Some people are going to have the absolute latest new thing therefore more frequent replacements for some consumers. I would like to see SACD -vs- DVD-A format shake out some before I make that type of investment in equipment and software. That is part of the reason I have not bothered to research DVD-A or SACD and it is not anywhere in my plans for the moment. I would find it hard to imagine that mfrs would offer only firewire as a connection for future DVD-A units and bypass the opportunity to sell new equipment to people that could take advantage of their existing equipment. I'm sure firewire must have it's benefits, go ahead and call me ignorant, but it's not an issue for me now. My primary concern is being able to enjoy the current HT formats offered on DVD. There just is not enough audio material available to make me want to invest in a format that may yet fade away. Can you say BETA-MAX.

[This message has been edited by Steve_C (edited March 03, 2002).]