With all this talk about DTS 96/24, and 1394 firewire for dvd-a, and last but not least DVI. How many out there are thinking this 950 is outdated before its shipped? All I know is that my reservation was at 10:02 and i'm actually dying of excitement waiting for it to come. If we wait for the newest and latest that will certainly never come.
Well the ball just dropped and another year is gone Outlaws.

I don't think it's outdated, because a lot of this is still not ready to be implemented. How many displays out there offer DVI? And how many DVD players? If you have DVI on both, why not just go directly from one to the other -- there's no need for DVI switching in a pre/pro. The firewire stuff for DVD-A is all well and good too, but I'm not sure that it clears hardware manufacturers to proceed -- there's no approved encryption scheme included that I could see, and you'd also need to add in the "brains" to do DVD-A decoding when there won't be a DVD-A player to connect it to for the forseeable future.

It's dangerous to wait for the next new feature before releasing -- there's always one more on the horizon that's "worth waiting for." If you used that logic, you'd never ship a product.

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Gonk

I feel what you're saying JM, but I've started looking at things in a 'what is it worth to me' frame of reference, instead of 'what is the coolest thing.' I used to be a total computer junkie and that is one arena where you are sure to lose a huge amount of cash if you play the 'newest technology' game.

So when I think about my HT hobby, I try to evaluate if a change is something I really want or just something that would be cool. I recently decided to go with an ICBM and new interconnects from my 1050 to my amp instead of selling my 1050 and buying a 950. I am still only running 5 speakers, but wanted true stereo subs, which the ICBM would do and the 950 wouldn't. And while 7 channels would be cool, in my situation (room arrg't) it would be tough to pull off with both function and aesthetics.

But back to the 950. There is definitely going to be an 'outdated' factor to it and just about every other processor except truly modular pieces, but the 950 seems to be one of the best values out there when compared to everything else with its features.

You bring up good thoughts on the paradox of technology vs. timing, which I think everybody purchasing any brand of component should be up to speed on, but if its a waiting game, you could be putting off a purchase for a year or two and then be miffed by the newest technology that's only '6 months away.'

S.

It shouldn't be too outdated, the 6.1 receivers have been out for a year or so and there is still just a handful of 6.1 movies much less 7.1. The dvd players with firewire aren't out yet, there isn't even many dvd slash dvd-a or sacd players. If you by smart and sound the components will work for a long time, there is alot of 20yr old macintosh stereo amps out there in smoking home theatres.

m-mmeyer

While firewire and DVI are the future I don't see substantial integration of either for at least two years and even then they'll probably be relegated to higher end equipment for another two years. So you're quite possibly looking at four to five years before it trickles down to the Best Buy and Circuit City run o' the mill set. By then the next latest and greatest is out and we'll be discussing something that doesn't even exist today like Dolby 1XobZ.938x1.2.4 or centrifugal floor speakers.

So to answer your question no, it's all relative to the individual consumers wants or needs at the present time.

The reason I mentioned it is because it was something that will be here next year not down the road. At CES 2002 in 9 days, you will see manufacturers with their latest gear and I guarantee, you will see firewire incorporated in new recievers as well as tvs.
In fact all satellite boxes from direct tv and dish network will incorporate this. As we speak Mitsubishi tvs have 1394 firewire. Jvc D'ahlia 36" has DVI. The wait is over the technology is here today. You just got to know where its at Mr. Vox

Jeff,
I agree completely. Mitsu and Sony's higher end Hd Tvs already have firewire as does Mitsu's latest DVR.

As it stands I don't think DVI has a leg to stand on against firewire, but I do believe there will be a playout of the two before there is a standard, just as in HDtv, DVD vs. Divx and the like. That is why I say it will be relagated to the higher end ( first adopter segment).

I was comcuring with gonk in that if we wait for the next great product we'll never have anything.

I do know for a fact that a new protocol standard for firewire is coming out which will increase it's data transfer considerably. Will it be compatible with firewire 1? That I don't know, but we all adopted usb1 when it came out and now usb2 is out. I can't remember which way it is but either hardware or plugs of the two are not compatible with each other. If that is the case with firewire then those first adopter will be out when firewire 2 comes out.

Speaking of waiting I just read an article that described PC in 2004. It said 4 to 5 GHZ microprocessor with 512mb of DDR memory and a 600 MHzsystem bus. The hard drive will have 300GB to 400GB. Not to mention a 18" to 21" flat panel display. Now, by the time you read this, if we add 10 days, we are not getting our 950 at least for another three weeks. 2 years, three weeks, any way you look at it feels like eternity.

I thought it was only being delayed three weeks past the 24th... So I was hoping to at least hear something by a week from Monday.

Either way, though, doesn't affect me too much since I can't use a 950 until the 770 is released, and that's being delayed into February.

They said they would contact us 10 days before its ready to be shipped. You might here something today then add 10 days plus shipping, your talking 2 to 3 weeks. It will be here before you know it. Then all of our posts will be about the new product they are announcing next tuesday. Hey the ces show is just two days away so the outlaws should be telling us something in the next couple of days for sure by tuesday we will see that new product.

[This message has been edited by JeffreyMercado (edited January 06, 2002).]

Starting tonight stereophile will be bringing us coverage of CES. We might get some answers as to how the 950 looks now and that new product they are announcing.

Didn't know there was a new Outlaw product coming at CES. Oh boy oh boy is it a DVD player? :-)

Well I dont know about a dvd player but they did say a addition to their cables would be announced. Something about the nickname of Las Vegas, Possibly sin city s-video. Anyone else can guess what the new product is?

Obsolete? Because it doesn't have firewire so that maybe someday you can play your DVD-A's through the DAC of your processor instead of DVD player?

Give me a break.

When that day comes, you'll be looking to upgrade processors no matter what you own/buy now. And you should be glad you bought the 950 for $900 instead of the Lexicon for $9000 when the current generation actually is obsolete (in probably 3 years time).

HT crazed correct 100%.
All so-called "upgradable" processors are very expensive, they cost arm-and-a-leg to upgrade (recent anounced upgrade for Krell HTS includes analog bypass like in outlaw + new DAC chips and cost ~$2500), it takes forever to upgrade and no guarentee that they will support Firewire soon (if ever).
Cost of new Outlaw processor will be compatible (probably much less) then just cost of upgrade on "modular" processors.
I have nothing against Theta or Meridian - they are increadibly well engeneered and build, but you cannot compare them pricewise with Outlaw.
Buy Outlaw now for $900, and resell it in 3 years (when (and if) new format will pick up steam) for $500. You will have all you need and nothing you do not for 3 years for $400, which probably equal tax on a new Lexicon...

To Mr HDcrazed , it seems your not quite up to date. CES has just finished and a slew of products were announced. Pioneer and denon just came out with recievers and dvd players that transfers audio and video. So your not waiting that long a time the products should arrive buy the second quarter of this year. The mitsubishi tv and sony both have firewire for copy protection so you can tape hdtv, so please before you put your two cents. Try to keep in open mind, this is a forum and my reservation clocked at 10:02 for the 950.

Obviously, if "The Outlaws" had ANY good news at all.......they would have posted it either here on the Saloon (which they no doubt monitor) or as a News Update on their web site.

These guys are (I assume) intellegent business folks who understand marketing, as well as their customer base. And if they do in fact monitor/moderate this forum site, they surely know that their loyal customer base is disintegrating every minute they remain silent on these issues with the 950.

I too am one of many HT enthusiasts who have $$$ burning a hole in my pocket. I've got a serious Jones to buy a new HT set up....yesterday. If I don't hear any news (good or bad) soon........I'm just going to pull the trigger elsewhere. Maybe, just maybe, this 950 has got so many problems, that it isn't worth waiting for. And maybe that's why these boys aren't talking.

Which brings me to my original point. They know that they need to communicate with us, yet they don't. This tells me that (at least from their perspective) whatever thay do have to say must be pretty bad news. They obviuosly believe that any statement from them regarding the situation with the 950 would cause even greater harm than their deafening silence.

Evidently there must be some pretty nasty news out there regarding the AT 2000.

Evidently there must be some pretty ugly updates on the shipping status of the 950 itself.

Maybe they spoke too soon as to the capabilities of this new dream 950 pre-amp.

Maybe they've gotten their #^*$?@ in a sling over patents or something.

One thing is for sure, that the consumers will continue to speculate until "The Outlaws" themselves come forth and level with us, somehow, someway.

Or maybe, just maybe, "....all that glitters is not gold."