DMF,

If you don't spend the ~ 1200 on the 755 amp, I thought you would have about enough to get a Parasound amp and a used Rogue with Unity Gain bypass (ie, the Rogue's volume can be disabled with a flick of a switch). Opps (edit)...I forgot that you would sell the 1203/750 amps to pay for most of the 755 price.

Another option for your is the Citation 7.0 preamp with the MSB 5.1 inputs (retail 4k plus ~ 500 for the upgrade....now, about 650 used if you can find the rare 5.1 inputs; 7.0 units w/o 5.1 are ~ 300 used). If you go to videogon.com and search for Citation, you should see one available. The Citation's 2 channel direct mode holds its own against highend solid state 2 channel only analog preamps. If DVDs are your only 5.1, dd/dts source, you can run the DVD player's 5.1 dd/dts outputs into the Citation 5.1 inputs (many DVD players have these decoders built-in, not sure about your Denon 1600). Also, IMO the redbook dacs in the 950 are comparable to those in your Denon 1600, Sony 222es players....and not as good as newer, more expensive DVD players like the Denon 2900.



[This message has been edited by Ricky (edited July 31, 2003).]