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03-29-2003, 02:25 AM
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#1 of 12 
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Local Time: 10:26 PM
Local Date: 10-13-2008
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Time for a pre-pro
Current system is made up of 5 Marantz MA500 mated to a Yamaha RX-V995 with output to PSB Image 4T, 8C, 1B's and "Sun" Sonobox Sub. Sources include Pioneer DV-45a SACD/DVD-A/DVD player and Pioneer CLD-D606 (outboard Yamaha ADP for DD decoding). I'm leaning towards the Outlaw Audio 950 pre/pro. Any other recommendations of products that will support the above, support 70% HT/30% Music (hi-rez mainly, bass-management optional as I listen to 2 channel mainly). And price range is under $1500. Your thoughts?
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03-29-2003, 09:23 AM
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#2 of 12
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Used Aragon Soundstage for ~ 1400. Has "inside" the top of the line, 2k Aragon Aurum stereo preamp (and for all channels).
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03-29-2003, 10:38 AM
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#3 of 12
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I have an Outlaw 950 that I bought in December, and based on my experience I highly recommend it. Compared to my previous pre/pro, a Sherwood Newcastle AV-P9080 (a very nice, but older, budget pre/pro in the same price range), the Outlaw has 6/7.1 modes, DPLII, and DTS:Neo. The new DPLII modes are a definite noticable improvement over old DPL IMO.
For 5.1 sources and analog pass-through the Outlaw sounds no better or worse than the Sherwood did. That is to say, it's very damn nice sounding! I'd buy the Outlaw again in a heartbeat.
The onboard analog crossover network for the 5.1 input is really fantastic for external 5.1 sources. I have a DVD-A machine, an SACD machine, and an old DD decder for LD, and they all sound stunning through the pass-through. I just listened to "Dark Side Of The Moon" last night and it was fantastic.
I also find the Outlaw to be very pleasing for stereo use as well. I even like the remote control!
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
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03-29-2003, 10:47 AM
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#4 of 12
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The HTF membership for some reason seems to be very anti-Outlaw at times, though I know the Administration loves the 950 (many of them use it at the heart of their systems).
You may want to check around at SMR, Home Theater Talk, AVScience, and other forums to get a balanced opinion.
Also, Outlaw has a forum at their site you may want to lurk there and see what Outlaw owners are talking about. I recently posted there about a usability quirk with selecting the 5.1 inputs. (my first real nit with the unit - and a minor one at that)
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
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03-29-2003, 11:54 AM
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#5 of 12
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Ricky T:
Quote:
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Used Aragon Soundstage for ~ 1400. Has "inside" the top of the line, 2k Aragon Aurum stereo preamp (and for all channels).
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Good suggestion! 
If you are looking for formats then go with the Outlaw but if you want something sonically superior, go with Ricky Ts suggestion or get your hands on a used Lexicon with v4.0 software. There is a lot of good used stuff on Audiogon for under $1500.
Too much power is never an overkill!
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03-29-2003, 12:01 PM
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#6 of 12
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How is my post anti-outlaw? He asked for other 5.1 alternatives under $1500 and I gave him my top recommendation. I have owned the following processors in MY system on basically the same NHT speakers and amps (citation or parasound) over the past 4 years and believe the Aragon Soundstage sounds the best by FAR in 2 channel and 5.1 (the Lexicons do well in a 7.1 setup, which he doesn't have).
Sherwood 9080 prepro
Denon AVD2000 ac3 decoder
Nakamichi AV10 receiver
Angstrom 200/205 prepro
Technics 500 dd/dts decoder
Sony ep9es ac3 decoder
Harman Kardon Signature 2.0
Onkyo 989 receiver
Citation 5.0
Lexicon DC1
Lexicon MC1
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03-29-2003, 06:03 PM
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#7 of 12
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Quote:
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How is my post anti-outlaw?
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Who wrote that it was?
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
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03-30-2003, 05:27 PM
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#8 of 12
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Well I found a local shop that has the Rotel RSP-1066 which is on my list to demo and I have a local friend who will let me check out his Outlaw 950.
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03-30-2003, 06:38 PM
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#9 of 12
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Leo,
you will most likely get more bang for your buck if you pick up a high quality used 2-channel pre-amp. You can feed the left and right front out of your 950 into the aux input of the 2-ch. preamp, and your stereo source devices into their respective inputs. The stereo preamp should handle your 2-channel source material more cleanly than any $3k ht pre/pro.
Marty
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03-30-2003, 06:55 PM
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#10 of 12
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Member
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Marty,
I used to say just that "a good stereo preamp will be cleaner than any ht prepro"...until I tried the Aragon Soundstage in | |
