outlaw 975 pre/pro

weirton57
weirton57 Posts: 21
edited July 2014 in Electronics
My Nad t163 died on me after 12yrs. Now i'm looking for something cheep
but sounds good and has HDMI hookups. The outlaw looks good and has
what i need. Anyone have any input on this pre/pro
Post edited by weirton57 on
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Comments

  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited June 2014
    I liked mine alot, excellent sound quality. Actually preferred it (sound quality wise) to a Marantz AV7005 it replaced. If you don't need any bells and whistles it's worth a listen.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • weirton57
    weirton57 Posts: 21
    edited June 2014
    Glad you said it sounds better then your Marantz. I'm using my old Marantz AV9000
    for now, and I like the sound of my DEAD Nad better then my Marantz.
    Thanks for the reply Gaara
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited June 2014
    it looks very intriguing but make sure it has the options that you want/need. The main things missing are auto setup/calibration and internet connectivity. The later does not matter at all to me, but depending on your room you might greatly benefit from a good auto calibration eq like Audyssey Laboratories' MultEQ. If you are comfortable with an spl meter and tape measure,then the outlaw just might have everything that you need.
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited July 2014
    Is the outlaw better than the emotive UMC-1??
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited July 2014
    imho yes
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited July 2014
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    imho yes

    Thanks, might get one!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited July 2014
    tophatjohnny wrote: »
    Thanks, might get one!

    Yup, just remember no auto calibration but you can dial it in by hand.

    Its a nice simple unit
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,036
    edited July 2014
    I've always been curious about these as well. weirton, if you get one, please keep us posted with your thoughts/observations. I'd be curious to hear how it compares for you, coming from the NAD. I've considered the Outlaw 975 in the past and just recently been loosely considering a refurbed NAD. nothing in my future anytime soon, but for down the road.

    I'm specifically curious about the sound quality for music and speakers used, and such.

    exciting :)
    I disabled signatures.
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  • weirton57
    weirton57 Posts: 21
    edited July 2014
    Well, i went with CAMBRIDGE AUDIO Azur 650R 7.1 3D A/V Theater Receiver from
    ACC4LESS. My adcom amp 5503 I bought when they first came out(late 90's) is old.
    So if it dies, i have the amp from the receiver. With CA, i can turn the receiver amps off from the
    receiver and just use my power amps :) I'm happy with the sound, it's different from Marantz and
    Nad. Just a little bright for my taste, but i'm happy with it
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited July 2014
    weirton57 wrote: »
    Well, i went with CAMBRIDGE AUDIO Azur 650R 7.1 3D A/V Theater Receiver from
    ACC4LESS. My adcom amp 5503 I bought when they first came out(late 90's) is old.
    So if it dies, i have the amp from the receiver. With CA, i can turn the receiver amps off from the
    receiver and just use my power amps :) I'm happy with the sound, it's different from Marantz and
    Nad. Just a little bright for my taste, but i'm happy with it

    Interesting. I was looking at that avr as well for 699. That sux it sounds bright. Probably wouldnt pair well with my b&w.
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  • weirton57
    weirton57 Posts: 21
    edited July 2014
    If your going to turn it up LOUD then its going to be bright. I just turn the treble down 1 turn
    when i crank it up and i mean LOUD :). My ACI Sapphire XLs can handle some power :) At low to mid
    your going to be good.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited July 2014
    Cambridge is a NICE company to buy from. On my 3rd piece of their gear and loving each and every piece :smile:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,987
    What swayed you to CA*?
    weirton57 wrote: »
    Well, i went with CAMBRIDGE AUDIO* Azur 650R
    W/my tax refund due soon I'm looking... ...read VERY favorable reviews on the Outlaw.

    So much so, its at the top of my upgrade list, at the risk of being branded a heretic, from a Rotel** 1068! Their** latest offering is nearly 7X the price.

    I can't help but ask does it deliver 7X the SQ?
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga - LCR mids, inside* & out 8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out *soldered LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & “Plugged*” Mids - 981, connected w/MP Premiere ICs Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s *Xschop's handy work
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  • weirton57
    weirton57 Posts: 21
    I wanted something cheap, tha'ts why i bought the CA. I'm old and i'm not spending big bucks anymore. Outlaw was my first choice,until i came across the CA. For $700 bucks, i got a pre/pro plus a receiver in one. It sounds better than the Nad and the Marantz. Like i said if 1 of my amps dies i got the the receiver amps. SQ is up to the individual. Everyone hearing is different. You got a good pre why not upgrade to a bigger amp.
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  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,987
    weirton57 wrote: »
    I'm old* and i'm not spending* big bucks anymore.
    That make 2* of us*! As I mentioned earlier, the latest Rotel offering, the RSP-1582 is $3500(!!) and will be dated** by this time next year.
    ** won't do the new Dolby - can't remember the name

    All of Rotel's HDMI friendly predecessors*** have known problems****, some on the migraine level, and only the last was HDMI 1.4 rated. In spite of that**** they're*** higher u$ed than the Outlaw new. Unless I find better SQ w/out the headaches for about the same $... well you know.
    weirton57 wrote: »
    Outlaw was my first choice, until I came across the CA. For $700 bucks, I got a pre/pro plus a receiver in one. It sounds better than the Nad and the Marantz.
    "Sounds" like a win-win for you.
    weirton57 wrote: »
    Everyone hearing is different.
    Yup!
    weirton57 wrote: »
    You got a good pre*...
    If this is directed to me and even if it isn't, thanks. Most would hesitate to argue w/that. Unfortunately it's* grossly outdated - no HDMI.
    weirton57 wrote: »
    ...why not upgrade to a bigger amp?
    This I don't follow. I have power in spades, just read my sig. Easily 500 across the front - w/out breaking a sweat. Further I have plans to upgrade* all but the surround amp.
    * SQ first & foremost - more power a byproduct (LOL)

    I've since read 2 VERY positive reviews on the CA. I'm not certain they were the same model, written 4 years ago, & listed @ a higher price.

    Regardless, ENJOY! Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga - LCR mids, inside* & out 8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out *soldered LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & “Plugged*” Mids - 981, connected w/MP Premiere ICs Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s *Xschop's handy work
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  • littlewoodboats
    littlewoodboats Posts: 823
    I have owned the Outlaw unit for almost five months and would say the experience has been positive. I went from two channel only to a 3.1 system in my living room and find the Outlaw does a great job with the audio duties.

    I feed the 975 from my OPPO DBP-103 or a Dish Network receiver. HDMI in and HDMI out to a 51" Samsung plasma (no 3D). Speakers are Monitor 7 Series II, CS400I, and PSW 125 in an 20' by 14' room. Amplifiers are vintage Adcom units done by Big Sky audio.

    If I had to knock the Outlaw it would be the random brain farts they seem to suffer. Mine lost its ability to put up the OSD and reading over at the Outlaw forum mine was not the only one to have it happen. When I noticed the problem I called Outlaw and had shipping conformation of the replacement unit the same day. The customer service is exceptional.

    While the unit works great it is not as refined as many other offerings. For lack of a better word the software seems clunky. If I switch from radio to tv I have to remember to turn on the TV first or the 975 will not recognize the Samsung. I switch the inputs to radio then back to tv and all is well. It reminds me of computers back before the plug and play days. All of the peripherals had to be turned on first then the system unit. The 975 is the same way. It was annoying the first few times and now I remember. This is my first experience with something of this type so it may be normal. Reviewers noted the unit takes a bit longer when switching between inputs than other units.

    I saved the $50.00 and bought a B-stock unit that arrived in spotless condition. The replacement unit I was sent arrived in the same condition. I would guess my first one had its firmware flashed and is now a B-stock to someone else.

    For my purposes I think it does a great job. Video processing and upscaling options exist but I found them to be of little to no improvement over what the Dish receiver does and is no comparison to the OPPO though that is probably unfair. The M-975 supports all audio formats with the exception of DTS-X and Dolby ATMOS. It does a great job with both movies and TV.
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