Great post, AvFan.

Must have patience...Speculation could run rampant that the lower price on the 990 is a precursor to a new pre/pro. For now lets say it is just the Outlaws working hard to contain costs and make the flagship 990 an even better deal.

all,
As mentioned by Scott in the Pre 4th Announcements ,
There is a small supply of 1070's left. "When there gone - there gone. also mentioned a new receiver coming out in 2008. ...... mmmmmm

2008 will be an interesting year for Outlaws....
... as far as electronics.

I am still cranking on my 950 so I can wait until late 2007, but mid-2008 may be pushing it. I don't want to buy outboard switcher boxes for video only, so OLs, get in gear and deliver. You/I need a new pre/processor for at least 3 source switching (4 sources would be best) of HDMIv1.1 (yes v1.3 would be better), newer audio decoding capability for the optical and coax streams up to 8 channels in to out with analog line drive, no balanced lines but quality RCA phono connectors, an updated universal remote, and a more user friendly user interface on a graphic display LCD panel (color OK but not required). No touch-screen, but something better than straight LCD character lines. Black case and no wierd color schemes please. Oh yes, and less than $800 please.

And with the dual sub outs, have them software switchable from mono to stereo, pretty please.

JDB001 posted: "You/I need a new pre/processor for at least 3 source switching (4 sources would be best) of HDMIv1.1 (yes v1.3 would be better), newer audio decoding capability for the optical and coax streams up to 8 channels in to out with analog line drive, no balanced lines but quality RCA phono connectors, an updated universal remote, and a more user friendly user interface on a graphic display LCD panel (color OK but not required). No touch-screen, but something better than straight LCD character lines. Black case and no weird color schemes please. Oh yes, and less than $800 please."


Now that is what I'm looking for !

The price point is important (as I noted above). The 'laws do not need another $1200 - $1400 preamp/controller/decoder - unless they give us a cost effective unit also. To keep it in the $800 range (which means the Law boys can spend at least $300 on the hardware), forget about balanced audio lines in/out, up-convert or down-convert video to the HD HDMI ports is not absolutely necessary (but would be handy on at least one stream connection - set-up menus should be available on the HDMI signal), and extensive EQ on all analog channels is not necessary - just some basic bass management. Some of the newer 7.1 audio modes and passing the discrete signal from the disc out at least the fiber audio port (and coax port) would be very useful. At other places in the hideout, there have been extensive list for the new 990(Hitchman comes to mind), but those request sound more like a digital sound design workstation than an audio/video controllers for consummer home theater. It's OK to build the top-of-the-line box for the selected well-off few, if the realy nice and affordable box is made for the rest of us (for around $800) - i.e., the new 970, a.k.a. the 980.
Outlaws - Get cranking on the new box - we need it out here in the hinderlands.

I think you've got a good point - that the next generation would be well served by having two price points covered much like we have presently with the 970 and 990. The higher point could dabble in the really fancy stuff (Reon chipsets and third-party EQ schemes like Audyssey) where appropriate, while the lower point could scale back some of those aspects while offering a similar core feature set (much like the 990 and 970 do now).

Gonk,

As long as we see the higher end unit first, I'm okay with that...

That'd be a happy arrangement. It's impossible to say which will come first, unfortunately, and what we've seen from other companies so far (Onkyo being the obvious example) sugggests that the lower end (and thus potentially less complex) model may be easier to get into production first.