Just a quick report from a two day old, first time Outlaw 950/755 owner. My 950 has absolutely no hiss that I can detect. I even have the problem child Klipsch Ref3s. I literally stuck my ear in the Klipsch horns with the 950 volume set to 0db and couldn't hear any hiss. I’m very impressed with the sound compared to my Denon 3801 that it replaced. I really would liked to have connected the 3801 to the 755 to compare just the pre/pro differences but didn’t have a chance before selling the Denon. My S/N starts with a 02 and doesn’t have any kind of dots in it.

I do have two major disappointments with the 950, both which I should have realized had I done my homework. First, the 950 does not auto switch between a digital and analog signal. I need this for my cable input where some channels are analog and others digital. The other thing I did not realize is that the preamp only has 5.1 inputs and not 7.1. I wanted to use my rears for DVD-A/SACD instead of the sides. My two generations behind Denon had both of these features. All and all I’m pretty happy but it makes me wonder how a Denon 3803 would sound hooked up to the 770.

Tom

Tom:

You might have a new 950 from the same generation mine is from. If you have the "problem" Klipsch speakers and cannot hear squat, hiss wise, I think things are looking good.

Obie- Make sure to check for hiss after the "global" mute has let go:

Play a DVD/CD doesn't matter. Then pause it, then listen for the hiss. Be aware that the newer 950's also might have a "active" mute for digital sources that kicks in 0.5 to 1.0 sec after you stop (or pause) a digital source.

No active mute on analog sources (even if they are A-to-D'ed and D-to-A'ed inside the 950).

Right-O - I'm so used to listening for hiss in the "analog DSP" mode, that I sometimes forget that the digital modes are quieter. For what it's worth, I didn't hear a huge difference in digital vs analog mode hiss on my new 950. Nowhere near as much difference as the old 950.

Kevin - I'd also be interested to hear your impressions of the new 950 when you get it.

Mr Hound,
At the risk of opening the proverbial can o'worms, would you think there's enough of a sonic improvement to warrant an exchange for an older 950 that doesn't hiss too much (I hear it about a foot away, no change with volume adjustment)?

I did exactly what you said above. I paused a DVD and then listened. I only have my DVD hooked into the digital input. What do you mean by global mute letting go? I guess I need to hook up the analog and do the same check. Do you know for a fact Outlaw auto mutes the digital inputs or is that just speculation? For those that had the hiss was it only on analog or digital too? Remember this is the 1st time I have had this gear.

Tom




[This message has been edited by obie_fl (edited December 22, 2002).]

You'll have to open that particular can of worms at the Outlaw Headquarters - give them a call.

I would say the difference in sound itself is not worth the change: the revision was mainly intended to reduce the hiss.



[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited December 22, 2002).]

Tom:

The 950 was always very quiet on digital inputs, it's just the analog input that was the problem, at least for me. YMMV.

You'll not only hear my impressions here, you'll be invited to hear it, here.

Obie-

When you 1st turn on the 950, *everything* is muted. Once you play the 1st source through the 950, the "global" mute disengages never to reappear again until you switch off the 950 and turn it back on again.

I know for a fact that on the *prototype* 950 I had for the hiss fix solution, that it does have an active mute. My older (I got it in Oct) 950 does not have that. But if you listen for it, it is apparent.

On my older 950, the hiss didn't depend on volume or digital or analog source. Was always there (except when globally muted).

So bottom line, is that if you don't have any hiss with either the global mute not active, or that "rider" active mute not active, than that's a good deal. I'd be surprised, especially since you have Klipsch speakers, but still a good deal. Maybe you did indeed get the very latest rev...

Oh, you don't even need an analog source hooked up to check an analog source. Just play a DVD/CD, and while playing it, switch the source to the analog input for that source (use the "digital" button at the bottom of the remote).


SH: me too!