I am setting up for a 5.1 home theater system. I am looking at using either 2 pair of Magnapan 1.6 or 3.6 for the front and rear and the CCC3 for the center. I am looking at either using Rotel for the pre/proc amp and their 1098 200x5 watt amp or the Outlaw 990 and 8 200's. If I go the Outlaw way I was thinking about bi-amping the speakers. The 3.6s can be bi-amped.

I currently am running a 2 channel rig with Mirage 3si, Aragon 8008 BB and AR ls9.
I am also looking at picking up a used pair of Mirage 3si for the home theater and getting a pair of 3.6s for my 2 channel. I found a used pair for under $700. I love those speakers. They are exception for sound quality.

I want to do a nice home theater so I don't have to do it again. I have a budget but am willing to go slightly over to get it done right.

What are you thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Between the Rotel 1068 and the Outlaw 990, I'd definitely not pull the trigger on a Rotel until we see how the 990 sounds - the 1068 that I heard came across too harsh for my taste (I preferred the sound of my 950), and the 990 will offer more features than the 1068 for less money. The 1068's interface is also a little convoluted, and the documentation is simply dreadful - especially for anyone who is new to surround sound processors. Either option for amps should work well, or you could consider the Model 755 as an alternative to the 1098 amp.

Speakers are very much a matter of personal preference. If you haven't done so already, I'd recommend gathering up some discs that you are familiar with and find someplace where you can demo the speakers you are considering.

If you have any other questions, keep 'em coming. There are folks around here who can field most any question you can come up with.

I have never heard any of the Outlaw equipment so they are at a disadvantage when it comes to comparing them. From what I have read Outlaws equipment is second to none. the only way I can demo the equipment is to buy it and then decide. That's a costly way of demoing that much equipment if I decide to go that way.

Any home theater people out there use Outlaw, please respond.

Thanks again.

I did a side by side demo of a Rotel 1068 and the Outlaw Audio Model 950. IMO 950 was the winner hands down. the Rotel unit went back to the store...


later,
simp

Just to make things fair, I kept the 1068

Both the 1068 and 950 have many satisfied owners - the 1068 offers a few more features than the older 950, the 950 sells for several hundred less, and which sounds better will depend on associated equipment and personal preference. The 990 looks to be the equal or better of the 1068 on features (depending on which features matter to you - the 990 offers several that are missing from the 1068), will cost less (you may be able to get a 1068 for the same price as a 990 if your dealer likes you, but you may also end up paying list price), and we don't know yet how it will compare sonically.

Outlaw offers a 30-day return policy specifically to give people the opportunity to demo their gear at home. There is some cost associated with that if you were to end up returning the Outlaw gear - you'd have to pay shipping to send it back - but it is an approach that many people elect to use.

Fair enough, Morphsci. My intent was not to bash the rotel unit... I think that Rotel makes very nice products. In fact I'm a proud owner of a RMB-1075 amp.... ;-)

later,
simp