Any feedback on the 970 in a 2 channel setup?

Hi - it's been awhile since I've been in the saloon, good to be back (I notice many of the same unsavory characters still haunt this place). I own a 990 paired with a 7100 in my home theater, I love it. But just as important to me (if not more so) is my 2 channel system for audio. My existing pre-amp is dying and I need to replace it.

Getting the Outlaw email on the 4th of July sale of the 970 was timely, that's a great price. My question is, has anyone used it extensively in a 2 channel setup? Any feedback/comments? I'll also hook TV (FIOS) sound through it as well.

Thanks - Bob

Bob has beaten me too it. I'm curious as well about a 970 in a 2 channel or 2.1 channel set up. I have an Onkyo TX-8555 as a pre/pro and it is fine but the 970 @ $299 is just too tempting. I can't get it out of my head. I have a 990 Pre/Pro as well in my HT set-up and LOVE it. Thanks and advise when you can. JD

I had mine hooked up in a 4.1 setup for quite a while, but used it primarily for 2 channel analog audio with both a 7075 and a 7125. I was very pleased with its performance. In fact, at this price I'm thinking about getting another one!

Two channel is not the strong point of the 970, it is good but not great. I am sure it is as good or better than most AVRs but the 990 is supposed to be better for two channel. I use my 970 in analog bypass with an external DAC (channel islands VDA-2) because I was never happy with its two channel performance. I use it with an Outlaw ICBM which I use for bass management at all times so that I can use my sub when running analog bypass.

Dvenardos brings up a good point - for folks considering a 970 as a processor for a two-channel setup, would your source be digital or analog? As an analog pre-amp (a mode in which the 7.1 analog input can even provide bass management with an 80Hz crossover for one source if you wanted it to) with the ability to handle digital as well, it could be pretty handy...

Thanks all for the input! Probably 90% OF my source will be digital (a Goldmund CD transport) with some light phono workout.

My 970 works well no matter how I use it.
It's not the perfect 2 channel system, but it does surprisingly well for a processor. I wouldn't use it as a dedicated 2 channel system, but to supplement from a home theater, there's nothing wrong.

I use it in 2.1 (for now - due to the room size/configuration) with a 750. I have Monitor Audio Rs 6 L/R 7 Klipsch rd10W sub. Love it. quiet, responsive, flat. Just some of the same signal detection issues that crop up occasionally.

I use my 970 for music only. I have 4 JBL monitors and 2 NAD C 272 amps. I use my Inspiron 9100 as a music source through a Behringer U-Control, and use it's digital optical out to the optical in on the fornt panel. The sound is freaking amazing. Especially songs ripped in Lossless format. I use the "6 Stereo" setting.

Also have a SACD player and it sounds best if I use the 7.1 analog out to the Outlaw DVD inputs.
The sound is mind blowing. Dark Side of the Moon, The Dave Brubeck Quartet and Miles Davis are the only 3 SACD's I have and all sound excellent. When I play a regular CD or MP3 CD, I run it through the CD inputs as those CD's are Stereo only. I am compareing the difference between the digital out and the analog out on the SACD player for the best setting for MP3 and normal CD's. This SACD player has very good DAC. I was surprised giving that is is a Sony product but it is the ES line. Even has a button to diable the video so all resources go to audio.
I love my 970.