H/k AVR 254 -> Outlaw 975

Lowell_M

Ok folks... I haven't been here in..... I don't know...... Forever!! (7 years?)

Anyway, I've been using a H/K AVR 254 as a processor for my great room. I don't have surround sound connected right now but will again eventually. For right now I'm using the Preouts going to an Adcom 555 to my lsi15s. So, I'm frustrated as hell with the hk's hdmi sync issues and thought the outlaw 975 looked sweet as a processor. I don't need all of the extra crap in receivers now as most of it is duplication of other capabilities I have in my system

What I'm interested in is 2 channel sound quality of the 975. Thoughts?

tonyb

Well, the Outlaw always gets good reviews for SQ. If you can live with the limited HDMI inputs and lack of bass management, then go for it.

Lowell_M

Thanks. On paper it fits with my minimalist desires. Most if the electronics that are in an AVR lately are totally redundant to features already in my source equipment and I've never been a big fan of room eq etc. makes me concerned that True sound quality is being sacrificed to make way for fancy sounding features.

If the Outlaw gets me closer to the sound I had with my nakamichi preamp in my 2ch setup for now I'd be a happy dude.

leftwinger57

You are so right .With my Yammy RX-V665 they have these settings that are suppossed to transform you into that room's enviornment. This is a bunch of b.s all it does is add either echo or delay and whithout a doubt declearify sound. An opera hall, The Roxy, Chamber Hall, Vienna Theater, Bottom Line yes all famous places if your in the real place all this does is take away from what a recording should be and adds nothing .A total waste of time ,space for better circuits or more power and if you buy into those scenes your nuts......

WLDock

I was just researching this unit and outlaw amps in general. It seems you are looking at a unit that matches your needs. The specs look really nice...It really seems like they hit their target and made a clean minimalist unit that offers just the right amout of features at an affordable price. I have yet to read anything bad about the unit so it sounds like a good choice.

I want to try some of their products myself.

tonyb

Lowell,

Just curious my friend. Looking at your signature and all the speakers you have, are you going to be keeping 2 separate HT/music systems ? If so, then I would forgo the receiver and focus more on a dedicated 2 channel pre amp.

Lowell_M

tonyb wrote: »

Lowell,

Just curious my friend. Looking at your signature and all the speakers you have, are you going to be keeping 2 separate HT/music systems ? If so, then I would forgo the receiver and focus more on a dedicated 2 channel pre amp.

I just don't have the space for everything right now, so my system is a bit of a hybrid between my purist 2 ch system and my HT. I may integrate an ADCOM GFP-750, using the HT passthrough, and some form of DAC, but for right now my system is as follows...

Sources:

Media Server PC with HDMI video and Toslink Audio
Apple TV - HDMI
Dish Network - HDMI
Playstation 3 - HDMI
Rotel RCD-1072 CDP

AVR -> H/K AVR-254 (this is a replacement to the 247 in my signature that just decided not to power on one day)
Amp -> ADCOM GFA-555
Speakers -> Lsi15's

tonyb

Gotcha man, don't think the Outlaw has enough HDMI inputs for all that though unless you plan on using an HDMI switch box. Also, if your into music by way of the computer, a dedicated dac may be up your alley.

Another option for you is a dedicated HT processor. Of course budget is of concern but the processors from Cary, Arcam, Anthem, Classe, Bryston are also stellar in the music department. Used they can be had for real world prices, new is a stretch for most budget minded folks.

Lowell_M

tonyb wrote: »

Gotcha man, don't think the Outlaw has enough HDMI inputs for all that though unless you plan on using an HDMI switch box. Also, if your into music by way of the computer, a dedicated dac may be up your alley.

Another option for you is a dedicated HT processor. Of course budget is of concern but the processors from Cary, Arcam, Anthem, Classe, Bryston are also stellar in the music department. Used they can be had for real world prices, new is a stretch for most budget minded folks.

Thanks Tony. I have 3 inputs in the HK right now, so for the Apple TV (I forgot this detail) I have a toslink to the AVR for audio and HDMI going direct to INput 2 on the TV. That is how I handle 4 HDMI inputs at the moment.

I thought about a more full featured processor, but staying budget minded at the moment. The Outlaw seems like a good option for me that, I hope, gives me some sonic improvement over using the HK as a processor. The HK keeps losing audio sync from the HDMI inputs and I have to turn it off and back on. stupid annoyance.

Right now I plan 99% of my music from the media server and 1% on CD's through the Rotel. (to the point that I've considered selling the Rotel.) What would you recommend for a budget DAC?

jeremymarcinko

What I find interesting about Outlaw is they do not manufacture their products, They design/engineer and find someone to build it for them. I don't know if this is a bad thing or not perhaps it only keeps the cost down for the consumer, but I think moving from one builder to the next could cause some inconsistency in quality.

cfrizz

jeremymarcinko wrote: »

What I find interesting about Outlaw is they do not manufacture their products, They design/engineer and find someone to build it for them. I don't know if this is a bad thing or not perhaps it only keeps the cost down for the consumer, but I think moving from one builder to the next could cause some inconsistency in quality.

Polk does the same thing and we haven't had any consistency of quality problems that I know of.

Lowell_M

cfrizz wrote: »

Polk does the same thing and we haven't had any consistency of quality problems that I know of.

Really, what company does actually assemble their own electronics.... Not many

tonyb

Lowell_M wrote: »

Thanks Tony. I have 3 inputs in the HK right now, so for the Apple TV (I forgot this detail) I have a toslink to the AVR for audio and HDMI going direct to INput 2 on the TV. That is how I handle 4 HDMI inputs at the moment.

What would you recommend for a budget DAC?

None....until you see how you like the sound first with the Outlaw.

You using the PS3 as your music server ?

Lowell_M

tonyb wrote: »

None....until you see how you like the sound first with the Outlaw.

You using the PS3 as your music server ?

No. I'm using a pc with apple lossless iTunes and a digital out to my avr.

I know I would like the adcom dac... 600 is the one I've heard. That and a gfp-750 and I be golden. I like the dac in the rotel Cdp 1073 also.

Lowell_M

Lowell_M wrote: »

No. I'm using a pc with apple lossless iTunes and a digital out to my avr.

I know I would like the adcom dac... 600 is the one I've heard. That and a gfp-750 and I be golden. I like the dac in the rotel Cdp 1073 also.

1072