hi this is my first post!!! I am looking to build a nice home theater setup for music, games, and, movies. I plan to my build system in stages. I already have a pair of athena as-f2's.I was considering getting a cheap stereo pre amp and a pair of m200's to start off. is this a good idea? please help.

Mike.
Though I've not ever heard M200s and though I only recently got into hometheater and OUTLAW products: if their M200 is as good as the 755 (I have the 755 and 990) then getting them is a good idea. When I asked an OUTLAW about any advantage of individual amps (M200) I was told (and it makes sense) that the entire power supply of a 200 is devoted to it...so there is no sharing. Now presumably that is taken care of to some extent in terms of a larger P.S. for the multi-channel amps. But still, it's an attractive idea.

In fact it's so attractive an idea that I am considering replacing my four CROWN DC300A's with eight M200s !!!! [Shhh I haven't told Mrs. nfaguys yet]. Besides that in my real steel 19 inc rack these will take up only 14 inches instead of the 28 inches the CROWNS now require.

As to cheap preamp: save your money (just some advice) and get an outlaw pre/pro. I love my 990

The M200's are very nice amps - I've been driving my Paradigm Studio/60's with them since last November and been very pleased with them. It would certain be a worthwhile purchase.

Another option that you may have already considered is getting a multichannel amp (like the upcoming Model 7125 or the larger 770) that you could use two channels of for now and then later add a surround processor and be in a position to start adding speakers without needing more amp channels.

I love my M200s, as you can see from my previous posts. They drive Dynaudios easily and those require alot of power. I even accidently shorted one out at high volume one time. The protection light came on, I unplugged and let it sit, plugged it in, and it has worked perfectly. I have five and will rotate them around since I mostly listen to two channel. The only upgrade I have considered is to an Aragon stereo amp to match my Aragon Stage One. I doubt it is worth the money, however. Good luck with your system.

I use my M200s to drive Axiom center (VP150 6 ohm) and mains (M80ti 4 ohm). I noticed an immediate improvment in sound quality, low to high volume.