Thanks Kevin!

Just curious Kevin, are you saying that high speaker sensitivity numbers equates to "high-end" or "higher resolution" speaker designs? If so, I feel sorry for those who own expensive speakers made by companies like Wilson Audio, Revel, Joseph Audio or Aerial, just to name a few. Some of these $8,000-$20,000 (and up) per pair offerings list speaker sensitivities ranging as low as 81dB to around 88dB. I'd list most any of these companies offerings as "higher resolution" in my book. In fact, most high-end (i.e. expensive)designs tend to fall more in the "low sensitivity" design arena. To me, speaker sensitivity and "resolution" are not necessarily related. My apologies if I have misunderstood your intent, Kevin, but just felt I needed to make a small clarification.

Steves- Man, don't you have a sense of humor? It was a JOKE. There are crappy sensitive speakers just as there are crappy low sensitivity ones, and high quality for each too.

BTW, I hope you also realize that a high MSRP doesn't necessarily guaranty good sound either.

If you do believe that, you should pick up an Audio Critic sometime. (Audio mag that's not that easy to find. Article in the current issue about that very subject, with example frequency responses and comments in terms of listening tests.)


[This message has been edited by Kevin C Brown (edited October 05, 2002).]

Has your new unit arrived and if so, is the hiss significantly reduced?

Kevin- Like I originally said- my apologies for the misunderstanding. And definitely- the higher MSRP the better the sound!! That's why I bought Outlaw equipment.

Steves- Coolness. Did I mention that also for value, I'm using Bose minicubes and a bass module with my system?

Man, went over a friend of a friend's place today who just spent like mucho bucks on remodeling his house, and he had a Bose system in his family room. I just don't know what to say...

Kevin Brown,

So what's up with your replacement 950 that you were expecting last Friday? I have been waiting for your post on that.

AJ and Will- The 2nd unit acted the same in my system as the 1st. So I kept my original 950, and am returning the 2nd one.

They are within the same range of serial numbers, so I think it was just an attempt to make sure I didn't have a defective unit.

It's good, because they did act the same way. That's why I posted on another thread that I didn't really think they had an issue with QC or much variation between units. (At least these two! )

It's bad, because obviously I still have the small amount of hiss...

I figure either they will find the problem in the 950, and I'll get another one someday, or maybe the "high end" version will come out soon enough that would be an upgrade for me. So in conclusion, the 950 is good enough for right now, but hopefully Outlaw can come through. (But I'll be keeping my eye on the B&K and whenever the Sherwood comes out.)

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for the update. That's EXACTLY my experience too! Get a new 950. Hook it up and listen. Discover the hiss is about the same as the old 950. It's happened to me more than once.

But what's cool about your particular situation is the head Outlaw himself told you they know about the problem and they aren't throwing in the towel on fixing the hiss problem on the 950.

Have you told the head Outlaw that swapping 950's does NOT reduce the hiss in your system?

What are your thoughts now?

For reference here's a snippet of your previous post:


[This message has been edited by Will (edited October 08, 2002).]

Well I have more than a "small amount of hiss" and only about 2 weeks left to decide whether to keep or return. I was hopeful there was a fix out there already for loud hiss people.

I am not excited about keeping such a hissy unit. If I return it, I have 3 options: 1) buy a much more expensive pre/pro; 2) buy a less expensive receiver with preouts; or 3) wait and see if Outlaw really makes a fundamental change in the next month or two and then buy it again.

If I decide I cannot live with the hiss, I will not hold onto it in hopes that I will be taken care of in the future. I think Outlaw has phenomenal customer service, but I am not going to expect that much.

With Kevin's unit a "no improvement", I don't know if there is going to be any news to change my opinion/hopes from today until my return window closes. Guess I'll spend the next two weeks listening to the 950 and looking more at alternatives.