Just loving the sound my 970 gives me but find it a bit much for a 2 channel system. I would love a full on preamp with the HQ DAC but more geared toward a 2.1 channel system. Leave all the digital and analog input options of course, and add in a phono pre too.

Why not just get a phono pre-amp and save the rack space.

It sounds almost like you are describing an RR2150 with a digital section added and the amps removed...

i guess, im seeing allot of 2 channel or 2.1 preamps allowing multiple inputs both digital and analog out there and think a option on this from Outlaw would be cool. It seems hard to find a 2 channel pre with the 24/192 DAC that sounds good with in the Outlaw price point and think this could be a good thing.

if i wanted to simply save rack space i could just go with a Mytek Stereo9624 and spend 1k more, or even a Grace 901 and spend 1.5x that. i think the model Outlaw has proven effective could apply to us raw 2 channels music freaks too.

im loving my 970 as its being employed now though! it handles all my 24/96 dvd-a with authority, and my Martin Logans are singing!

I use my 990 all the time for 2.1 channel from both vinyl and iPod. It is a universal machine for my uses anyway. Describe what you mean by "a bit much". Is it too $$$ for what you are using it for or maybe that it has features you are not using (yet). I can tell you I have not scratched the surface of what the 990 could do mostly because I don't have enough rack space to hook up all my legacy gear from the last 30 years.

ive had a few people question me on why im using a HT frontend on a 2 channel system, which lead me to the "a bit much" comment. Its not a money point really, i already bought it at this price happily. a bit much is more like all the dolby and DTS software, ill never use it(i do have a full HT in my livingroom). that space under the hood can go to the phono pre or balanced i/o, or even sub crossover frequency control. i would just like to be able to have a more streamlined Outlaw stereo preamp, and then i would add two bi-amped monoblocks per side and die happy. ;^)

just a suggestion, certainly not a complaint.


....and it has crossed my mind that after a speaker upgrade in a few yrs that my fronts now would make a wicked set of rears for a quadraphonic romance. lots of material out there mixed in 4 channel audio, starting with Frank Zappa and ending with The Who. the 970 would then get put to the test.

Wow,
I haven't heard anyone talk about quadrophonic sound in almost 30 years. Back then the equipment was available but it was expensive. It sounds like you got a lot more for your $$$ than you really need right now but the 970 will let you do almost anything in the audio realm. I had a quad reel to reel machine way back then that was awesome. In order to play it though I had to borrow another friends amp to output four separate channels. I ended up selling it for more than it cost me after a year or so. I actually bought 4 large Advent loudspeakers just for the experience of quad sound.

for me this is all about the music, not home theater. Im a music freak! ill post pics of the system after i finish tuning the room, hopefully this weekend!

BTW, is there a section for system pics in this forum?

Hey Jimna - nice pics of the Wilco concert at Red Rocks - looks like we were sitting somewhere in the same vicinity.

The section " Your System Saloon " is a good place to go for posting pics of your system.

thanks, to bad my recording wasnt the best. Red Rocks is a tough place to tape a show.

and thank you gonk.

peters new products hint has me thinking, i guess a 2150 with on board DAC and no amp is my aim. i would want more outputs though, a set of sub outs or just dual pre-outs would be nice so a 2.2 system would be fully manageable. i also would like to see a set of balanced outs so any amp would be plug and play with it. i do love the bass management already employed here, they really have the shell of a quality preamp in the 2150. only features to really change is the silver face(black is timeless fashion in the audio world) and i could lose the tuner too, i dont see people looking for a preamp wanting a tuner, so why spend the money including the feature and waisting the space in the box. i really think an outlaw stereo pre would be a hit as long as they maintain the audio quality Outlaw is know for at a price point that we love from this company. the market has a big hole in it right now, either you find an affordable pre that has very little features or inputs and creature comforts, or its loaded to the gils with every bell and whistle but costs you your first born.

anyway i spent a lot of time with the 970 this weekend and it had me thinking, and so i had to share my thoughts.

BUMP 2 yrs later....