Mary and Jed,

There is alot of history behind my obsession with this. But alot really has nothing to do with many of you. I'll describe it a little, for several months from 12-20 months ago, it seemed like every single thread had some Outlaw input in it. The 1050 receiver was in every thread. People kept on saying, why pay $900-1000 when you can get this one for $600....the problem is that those $900-1000 receivers do cost $600 with 25-40% online discounts from authorized dealers like J&R Music, Oade, Onecall, etc. A couple of guys kept on insisting that since some magazine only gave annual awards to two receivers, the Denon 5803 and Outlaw 1050, then the Outlaw receiver betters every Denon except the 5803. Huh? What about the 5800, 4802, 4800, 3803, 3802, 3801?

A year before the 950 eventually shipped, almost every thread asking for advice on receivers or separates had "wait for the Outlaw 950"...it is the substitute for just about every product, every brand, any price (higher or lower). And Outlaw did announce that they would design a highend model too before the 950 shipped (not just the recently announced 950 replacement).

But hey, this really has nothing to do with you. And anyone spending $2500+ on separates, that's basically all of us, is long, long past the point of diminishing returns. Most people spend $300-500 on a receiver, $400-600 on 5 speakers, $300 on a sub, and are very grateful if you can go to the store with them and figure out what to buy. Then, you go to their house and hook everything up. No way they know what optical, composite, component means They don't read forums, and basically have just spent their 10 year budget on HT electronics..this is stuff they give to their kids when they go away for college.

Anyway, Happy Listening!

Yours truly,
Ricky