Thanks for the helpful responses on my question of using the 950 with my existing receiver. I have been doing a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of reading about what will be my next move in HT. I've been a satisfied Denon user since 1989 and would almost automatically continue on that road if it weren't for the glowing reviews, both press and individual, for the 950/7100 combo. I understand the inherent advantages of separates, but a particular feature and financial considerations make me hesitant. Music is as important, if not moreso, as films to me and the Denon offers a feature that I like very much. I can A/B surround speakers so my film speakers can be dipole (allegedly better for film) and my music speakers can be direct radiating, (allegedly better for music and the only type I've ever had). My question, and I know it's subjective, is: Can dedicated dipole/bipole speakers deal well with music, particularly multichannel formats, and/or do direct radiators perform the film surround work well enough to leave aside dipole/bipoles? (I'm considering a set from Axiom and one from Paradigm that each feature dipoles) My other question regards price. Will the extra flexibility of the 950's bass management offset 500$ of extra price (the Denon provides about the same power as the 7100)? To me the AVR-3803 and the 950/7100 combo are the closest competitors that I've read about and will probably be the last two for me to choose from. (Also considering NAD and Integra) Any comments?

Thanks for indulging a newbie's long post.

I currently run dipole speakers for my rears in my system. I have Energy Veritas 2.0R's. They have the option of dipole/bipole/direct. I just keep them in the dipole. It sounds great to me.

I cannot imagine that Denon amps are anywhere near as good as the Outlaw amps. I bet that the weight of the Outlaw amp is really close if not more than the entire Denon receiver. Just because a product says that the wattage is the same does not mean that they are similar. When I upgraded from my Yamaha receiver to Parasound amps, there was no comparison in sound. Now the amps were rated exactly the same, but the seperate amps sounded fuller and had a lot more impact with greater detail. I would strongly suggest going the seperate route.

Jeff

Jeff, I concur wholeheartedly. I recently replaced a Denon 5800 (their flagship amp a few years ago) with a 950/770. I figured I had 30 days to compare the two. The Denon is a fine receiver. The 950/770, to my ears, is a dramatic improvement.

Mike

I'll second that. I just got a trio of Model 200s yesterday which I'm now using for my front three channels. My previous amp was a Denon 4800 (which I'm still using as the preamp). There is absolutely no comparison between them; the Outlaws are so much cleaner I wish I'd got them years ago.

You mention that, "I just got a trio of Model 200s yesterday which I'm now using for my front three channels."
What Model 200's ????
Thanks

DUHH!!! I was so interested in the 950/1050 that i never saw the Model 200's . Sorry for the seemingly naive question about the what are the Model 200's.
Thanks

look here

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/200.html