so long outlaw 990.....

sickicw

Yup just did it. My 990 is now on ebay. I know it is a great preamp, but in the end I just couldn't get over fact that there was no auto eq (or any eq ) built in and my weird room dimensions and lack of space to move the speakers around pretty means I have very little options as far as getting a natural frequency response.

I know they were talking about adding it as an software upgrade (it already comes with a microphone), but I got sick of waiting and went out and bought a cheaper onkyo that had an auto equalizer feature.

Anyway, if anyone is interested go take a look.

Early B.

A couple of questions --

Did you try using an SPL meter? These inexpensive meters (and your ears) work just as well and should be used in conjunction with or in lieu of auto eq.

If you've got weird room dimensions, you'll need something more sophisticated than auto eq. to improve the sound.

Did you consider offering the 990 on this forum for sale?

Frank Z

Dumb, just plain dumb.

dudeinaroom

did you ever try to set the delay timing for your speakers, or was it a question of timing, but "bumpy" frequency responce?

danger boy

OMG! I so want a Outlaw 990 pre. I've been looking closely and reading up on this pre amp. it's where i want to be for my HT system. I don't need no stinkin auto eq feature. i know how to set it up the old fashioned way.

Sorry it wasn't to your liking.. I've read good reviews on it and the step down from that the 970 pre. Which is where i'm now heading instead.

What are you looking to replace it with? Just curious.. so we can flip you ****

StopherJJ1980

no offense but that seems kinda silly

shack

Did you try using an SPL meter? These inexpensive meters (and your ears) work just as well and should be used in conjunction with or in lieu of auto eq.

If you've got weird room dimensions, you'll need something more sophisticated than auto eq.

Dumb, just plain dumb.

I don't need no stinkin auto eq feature. i know how to set it up the old fashioned way.

that seems kinda silly

Pretty much says it all...

jrlouie

Damn, I wanted at 990 also! Probably had planned on getting one within a month.

Too bad I'm at work and they block out ebay.

Early B.

Sickicw -- since there are no bids on your Outlaw yet, pull the ad, return the Onkyo and we will gladly help you set up your system the right way. It is painful for us to read your post because the reason you purchased your Outlaw and separate amps was to get better sound than virtually receiver on the market, so we don't understand why you're going backwards.

Auto eq on receivers is simply a marketing gimmick. Some of them work better than others. There's no need to make a purchasing decision on something as insignificant as auto eq.

In terms of your weird room dimensions, we can help you out there, as well. If you could provide us with a detailed description of your room, including room size, system layout and some pics, we can make some recommendations on how to make your room more "frequency friendly."

ohskigod

WOW....I'm stunned here.

my outlaw 950 has great auto eq. its called my ears and the remote control

McLoki

Just to throw out another option that would be similar to your 990 but with the auto eq - the Sherwood Newcastle P-965.

It has a PEQ for all 8 channels. (I think the eq can be adjusted or defeated for different inputs as well, but I am not sure on that feature).

I have gone back and forth for the 990, the Sherwood, and a Rotel 1068. I keep going back to I have heard a rotel (1066) on my system and it sounded great, so that is the direction I am most likely to go. My current setup just has a good synergy with Rotel. (it may with other pre-amps as well, but I know the Rotel went well with it.)

Michael

sickicw

yea, i looked into the sherwood pre amp, and i really wish i would have gotten it in the first place, but it is quite a bit more expensive and you had to pay $100 to add the SNAP (auto eq feature).

I do have a SPL meter and test cd, but it doesn't help too much unless you have equalizers to correct the problems. Like i said i dont have many options as far a speaker placement go. However, if anyone has any sugestions, i am listining.

I also used an eq on my sub, but got sick of testing, ploting in excel, and adjusting especially when the auto eq sounds better. As soon as i set up my onkyo, my brother commented on how my new setup sounds just like a movie theater.

I will probably take another shot at just a pre amp down the road, but for now my cheap ($500) onkyo will do (I am trying to save money for high def tv and/or blue ray player).

danger boy

sickicw wrote:

yea, i looked into the sherwood pre amp, and i really wish i would have gotten it in the first place, but it is quite a bit more expensive and you had to pay $100 to add the SNAP (auto eq feature).

I do have a SPL meter and test cd, but it doesn't help too much unless you have equalizers to correct the problems. Like i said i dont have many options as far a speaker placement go. However, if anyone has any sugestions, i am listining.

I also used an eq on my sub, but got sick of testing, ploting in excel, and adjusting especially when the auto eq sounds better. As soon as i set up my onkyo, my brother commented on how my new setup sounds just like a movie theater.

I will probably take another shot at just a pre amp down the road, but for now my cheap ($500) onkyo will do (I am trying to save money for high def tv and/or blue ray player).

Don't feel bad.. one of my friends last year bought a B&K Ref 50, and has used it maybe 10 hours in the past 6 months.. it's currently sitting in a box in the spare bedroom. He doesn't like the video switching on it.. so there sits a $2K pre doing nothing but collecting dust. (and no, he wont' sell it to me either) :mad:

McLoki

Still have to pay for the SNAP feature, but the sale of your 990 may get the preamp....

Just a thought.

Michael

wingnut4772

Wow!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

McLoki

Wingnut - would that be wow at the pre-amp sale, the 990 sale, or the thread in general?

Michael

Early B.

sickicw wrote:

I do have a SPL meter and test cd, but it doesn't help too much unless you have equalizers to correct the problems.

If your cheap Onkyo receiver sounds better than the Outlaw, then either the Outlaw was faulty or you didn't set it up correctly. Based on the above statement, I'd surmise the latter.

Anyway, enjoy the Onk.

Sami

Hey, pull the ad and return the Onkyo, I will trade my HK AVR7200 for your 990...

I'm in Keller BTW, just north of Fort Worth, no need to ship anything.

danger boy

Early B. wrote:

If your cheap Onkyo receiver sounds better than the Outlaw, then either the Outlaw was faulty or you didn't set it up correctly. Based on the above statement, I'd surmise the latter.

Anyway, enjoy the Onk.

I don't think it was a sound problem with the Outlaw 990 he didn't like, more so than he really wanted the auto eq feature in it.. i think he was happy with it otherwise. I could be wrong though.

del44

Some people like to do upgrades and some like to do downgrades. It's all good! :eek:

wingnut4772

Wingnut - would that be wow at the pre-amp sale, the 990 sale, or the thread in general?

I am just amazed that the 990 is going back for an Onkyo..but Hey! That's what makes horse races, right? Enjoy it. After all, that's what it's all about. Lord knows I have done some crazy things with this hobby.

sickicw

del44 wrote:

Some people like to do upgrades and some like to do downgrades. It's all good! :eek:

This is only a temporary downgrade for me (hopefully). Must save money for the next year or so for the following-> Payoff Honda Lawnmower debt, 1080p High Def TV, Playstation3 with blueray, and last but not least a new pre amp with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD decoding, hmdi 1.3, and auto eq. Might have to throw in a new amp somewhere in the picture before the preamp, but you get the idea.

VR3

I dont know what to say about this...

So backwards in so many ways.

What do you think is going to happen when you go from a high class preamp to a lowly receiver. You're going to need ALOT more than an EQ to correct that "problem."