To start with, I am a new 1050 purchaser; I have had the receiver about 2 weeks now. I am sufficiently pleased with the $ vs performance of the unit. Not a bad deal for $499 at all.

I have some cheap-o, newer Advents (AS-2?), and they don't sound half-bad; nice enough for a bedroom system, but not for front-end. By the way, I did not go for the system approach; I have some older Polk bookshelf speakers for my surrounds, a cheaper BIC center (not bad for $20), and a JBL powered sub. The movies I have watched so far have sounded great- especially Lord of the Rings and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.

I then went on the upgrade quest. I found a Carver PM-175 for $220 locally, used, and I figured that the amp would be a good test for the pre-amp outs; if the Outlaw would sound good through that Carver, it has definite promise. I have been pleased with the detail so far- very quick, not flabby in the bass dept, either with my sub or using the Advent speakers full-range. I bought a pair of Magnepan MMGs to replace the Advents- they will be here Monday. I have not heard Magnepans in a home, just in a store; has anyone given the Magnepans a listen, or tried them in their system? The Carver will have enough power to drive them correctly, to begin with, anyway.

When I am a bit more flush with cash, I will probably move the Carver to power a passive sub and get a Rotel or something similar to drive the Magnepans. Any comments or suggestions about Magnepan or other speaker experience would be helpful and welcomed.