OutLaw 990 on the way

ben62670

I just purchased an Outlaw 990 pre pro for $850 shipped. Balanced outs, DIV switching, and Phone inputs.
Yeah

wingnut4772

Yay. Give us a good review.:D

ben62670

wingnut4772 wrote: »

Yay. Give us a good review.:D

I hope to:)

ohskigod

you didnt happen to have a 950 before for a comparison do you? Curious to the difference sound wise between the 990 and 950

Eric W

I got one, nice unit!

ben62670

ohskigod wrote: »

you didnt happen to have a 950 before for a comparison do you? Curious to the difference sound wise between the 990 and 950

I talked to Steve at outlaw audio, and he said they have had some customers try out both the 970, and the 990. He said that all the customers that tried them both out ended up getting the 990 due to audio quality. The only comparison I will be able to offer is the 990 VS HK AVR-235, and an Adcom GFP-500. I am really hoping that it will be a big step up. The HK sounds much nicer as a pre than the Adcom. I should have the unit in about a week.

a link on some OutLaw talk
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51462

aaharvel

ben62670 wrote: »

I talked to Steve at outlaw audio, and he said they have had some customers try out both the 970, and the 990. He said that all the customers that tried them both out ended up getting the 990 due to audio quality. The only comparison I will be able to offer is the 990 VS HK AVR-235, and an Adcom GFP-500. I am really hoping that it will be a big step up. The HK sounds much nicer as a pre than the Adcom. I should have the unit in about a week.

a link on some OutLaw talk
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51462

Ben, let me know how the h/k measures up to the outlaw in terms of pre/pro performance. I've always wanted to know if buying an ACTUAL dedicated pre/pro would be THAT much better (with the mid-fi gear i have anyways) than simply using a nice AVR's pre-outs.

I'm surprised the H/K would be nicer than the Adcom as considering the Adcom is designed around and dedicated for those very pre/pro duties.

wingnut4772

ohskigod wrote: »

you didnt happen to have a 950 before for a comparison do you? Curious to the difference sound wise between the 990 and 950

I used to have a 950 and I replaced it with a Sherwood P-965 which is supposed to sound similar to the 990. It's a major step up.

ben62670

aaharvel wrote: »

Ben, let me know how the h/k measures up to the outlaw in terms of pre/pro performance. I've always wanted to know if buying an ACTUAL dedicated pre/pro would be THAT much better (with the mid-fi gear i have anyways) than simply using a nice AVR's pre-outs.

I'm surprised the H/K would be nicer than the Adcom as considering the Adcom is designed around and dedicated for those very pre/pro duties.

I love my Adcom amps, and was disappointed by the pre. They music was more dynamic with the adcom, but the mids, and highs were grainy. I am so hoping the 990 will have the best of both worlds.
Here is a link to some reviews
http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/outlaw-audio/preamplifiers/PRD_342031_1591crx.aspx
When at this site I always try to see what they have used in the past to compare it to.
I have read a lot of reviews by magazines on line, and they all have many good things to say about the 990 especially at its price.

ben62670

linky
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homeproc&1182705948

heiney9

The only Adcom pre that sounds like a true audiophile component is the GFP-750. The others are alright but aren't any worse than others in the same price range. I was very disappointed in a Parasound PHP-850 I heard on a few occasions. The Outlaw will probably be a bit smoother maybe a tad more veiled and probably not have the ultimate in dynamics compared to the Adcom, but the overall presentation will probably sound better, plus you get many more features.

Good luck and I'll be anxious to hear your impressions. The only pre (within reasonable cost) I have heard that rivals my Nak is the GFP-750, but not by leaps and bounds. I can buy the 750 all day used for about $700 bones but there is no need since I won't get $700 worth of improvements over what I already have.

H9

ben62670

Finally it will be here Tuesday! I can not wait. For the time being it will do everything I need, and then some! Phono inputs, and balanced outs... Oh my! The seller was awesome. I just can't wait. Did I mention that already?

engtaz

Congrats and enjoy

WilliamM2

It takes Outlaw almost three weeks to deliver?

ben62670

WilliamM2 wrote: »

It takes Outlaw almost three weeks to deliver?

I bought it used for $850 near new in box!
I hope the warranty is transferable!

Ben

McLoki

ben62670 wrote: »

I bought it used for $850 near new in box!
I hope the warranty is transferable!

Ben

Yep - outlaw warrantees are transferable.

ben62670

McLoki wrote: »

Yep - outlaw warrantees are transferable.

Cool thanks MC

Grimster74

Ben, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

engtaz

How does Outlaw amps stack up as far as sound quality? I have heard Yammi is too harsh.

Thanks

ben62670

Grimster74 wrote: »

Ben, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

I already have a quick one for you do the balanced, and unbalanced have separate op amps?
Thanks Ben

ben62670

Tuesday at noonish
Yeah!!!

ben62670

First impression. I should have saved the money, and spent it else where. It is clean, no problems. Just not a real step up from the HK as a Pre. I am using unbalanced outs.

heiney9

ben62670 wrote: »

First impression. I should have saved the money, and spent it else where. It is clean, no problems. Just not a real step up from the HK as a Pre. I am using unbalanced outs.

Yep! Outlaw is very popular, but not really much off the middle. I've heard their amps and for music wasn't impressed so I'd assume the pre's are the same way. Solid, solid gear but more of a lateral move if you are already in the mid-fi group. Atleast you got to try it for yourself and see, that counts for a lot and you should make your money back to try something else.

P.s Blanced isn't going to make a big diff if at all.

millerman 3732

ben62670 wrote: »

First impression. I should have saved the money, and spent it else where. It is clean, no problems. Just not a real step up from the HK as a Pre. I am using unbalanced outs.

Ill trade you my HK for it.

danger boy

ben62670 wrote: »

First impression. I should have saved the money, and spent it else where. It is clean, no problems. Just not a real step up from the HK as a Pre. I am using unbalanced outs.

what amps are you using with the 990 pre? what source? what speakers?

Did you set it up with the microphone? It has quite a few settings.. go in a monkey around with all of that before writing it off.

ben62670

Yeah I'm not righting it off yet. My HK had a better sound stage, and I was really hoping to get back some of the slam the adcom gave. I have the kids today so I can't go nuts. I think too many people frown on receivers that have pre outs. The biggest thing I can't get over is the stereo sound stage just doesn't do it for me.
Adcom GFA-5800
SDA-SRS with morel tweeters
I must read the manual 5 times or so to see if there is some compression on somewhere for night listening maybe.
I hope its a setting for $300 you can get an HK, and $700 a 5 channel Adcom for less than this.

steveinaz

Give it some time to settle in. No critical listening for at least a week Ben.

ben62670

steveinaz wrote: »

Give it some time to settle in. No critical listening for at least a week Ben.

My friend says I am like Monk. Walking around turning speakers, playing with adjustments. One of two things I wanted to mainly accomplish with this thing is Phono inputs, and balanced outs. I all ready know what some of you are thinking... at short distances same same. I have 3 stereo amps that have 50k inputs. Balanced is designed for 10k inputs. 50/3 =16.7 k. I would not have the voltage drop to drive 3 amps passively. We will see what happens there. If it works I am happy.
Ben

engtaz

Relax breath: take your time relax and listen for a while. Sorry about the sub. That reaks.

MSALLA

Wow.I was looking at one of these.I think you just talked me out of it.

ben62670

MSALLA wrote: »

Wow.I was looking at one of these.I think you just talked me out of it.

The SQ is about the same, but my Adcoms require 1.61 volts(GFA-5800 requires almost 2 volts) for full out put. I could easily drive my Adcoms with my HK to the point where they would get full power. I have been through every menu to see if there was some sort of night mode on. No dice. If I were to make a recommendation I would say Get an HK with say 65 watts per, and add an externally amp with say 200 watts per. Then you could bi amp all the speakers, and have very nice smooth detailed highs of the HK, and the slam of the Adcoms.