This may seem like a really stupid question but what's the difference between a Preamp-Processor and an AV Reciever???? To me they seem to do the same things (amplifying and decoding) and yet they are seperated into these two different categories..

anyone?

Pre/pro doesn't include any amplification, where a receiver does. You have to have an amp to use a pre/pro.

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Gonk

so to take advantage of all the 950 features what's the minimum my amp must be able to provide?

Also, how come Outlaw sells a combo 1050 Receiver / 750 Amp? Why the extra amp?

To get all of the 950's features, you'll need a 7-channel amp like the upcoming Outlaw 770. A number of folks (myself included) will be using a 750 and a two-channel amp.

The 1050/750 combo is for people who want more power than a receiver typically offers. The 1050 has become notorious for how much power it actually has with a rating of only 65W per channel (it sounds like a good deal more than that in most people's opinion), but the 750 is rated at 165W per channel -- a lot more.

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Gonk

cool, thanks for all your advice and info!

I'd also like to say that not all receivers may be used as pre/pros. Only those which have preamp outs on the back (which the 1050 does). When you use the preamp outs you're basically bypassing the 1050's internal amp and using it strictly as a pre/pro.