rbray: it shouldn't be too difficult to use. Just clamp the probe end around the AC mains going to the amplifier. Set the range pretty high to begin with (100 amp scale or higher) and turn on the amplifier. See what happens. If you don't get much of a reading, reduce the range scale, one scale at a time and repeat the process. $9.50 is pretty cheap for a clamp on meter. Hope that it works OK.

Here is a link for an inrush protector. Even though it is for ham radio tube amplifiers, I suspect that it would work just as well for in rush for audio amplifiers.

[http://www.ameritron.com/products.php?prodid=ICP-120]link[/http://www.ameritron.com/products.php?prodid=ICP-120]

Now, if I pasted this link properly you can take a look. If I didn't, just copy and paste the link into your browser. I wouldn't get one until I convinced myself that in-rush is actually your problem. It is a little disconcerning that other owners don't seem to have this problem. It bothers me that if this isn't a common problem, that Outlaw would tell you that it is OK.

I would call Outlaw and talk to them one on one and get a better "feel" for the situation.

Yes, at $9.50 it may be an estimate..

Try this.

ameritron.com

Cool! I didn't know the 755 had tubes..

"When you first turn on your amplifier, a massive inrush current gushes in. Your house lights flicker as you hear loud "thump" from your amplifier. This terrible inrush current stresses all your power supply components to their limits. Your cold tube filament suffers abusive thermal shock."

Only one, thats cheap!

Maybe I will get lucky with the digital clamp meter. Following e-bay address has multiple clamp meter auctions from the same guy (first example is around the fourth or fifth item on the page with subject as follows: Digital Clamp Meter, 1000 Amp, No Reserve, $1.00):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42291&item=4384170357&rd=1
Picture and description look/sound like $150 meters. He has over 6,000 e-bay sales with 99.7% positive feedbacks and has sold these meters before. That's why I decided to take the risk--not to mention that even if it is a "ripoff" I haven't lost much.

Ratpack/bugbitten: Thanks for the info on the "inrush protector". If after measurements, my amp isn't out of spec for the 755, the protector could be the answer. But it definitely sounds as if I'm not the only one suffering from "thumps/blinking lights".

I would also be interested in how you like that meter. I couldn't tell the brand, but he claims that they are new.

trikos: one of those tubes could be an Eimac that puts out 1500 watts, key down, all day.

1500 watts is good..