Ok, so I was going to upgrade my 1050 to the 1070, but based on some changes at home and our future planning scenario, it looks instead like I'll get more long term benefit by finally taking that first step in to the world of separates. So I'm thinking about taking up Outlaw on that offer with the 7125 instead of buying the 1070.

If I've picked up anything from this forum over the years, it's that everyone seems happy with the addition of a separate power amplifier and I think the 7125 will give me plenty of power for years to come, regardless of what speakers I add in the future. Besides, speaker upgrades will be a long way off. They'll be after the move to a nice widescreen HDTV which is probably at least another 2-3 years. Between budget, technology, and the little fingers running around my house, it makes the most sense for me to be patient right now when it comes to upgrading the display.

So, in all of this rambling, there actually is a question. I was figuring on just going ahead and getting the Outlaw cables at the same time. Any of you 1050 users (past or present) use Outlaws interconnects with the 1050? How well do they fit on the pre-amp outs. I've read that their locking connectors can sometimes be a pretty tight fit leading some to even abandon using them altogether. It's easier to one stop shop and I like the idea of supporting Outlaw, but not if I can't actually use the cables.

Also, to confirm, I'll need to buy a mono mini plug for the turn on feature, right? I don't think it comes with the amp.

The move to a separate power amp was a nice upgrade for me back when I had my 1050. I was just moving to nicer cables at the time, but I think even with the original PCA's (the larger barrels) I was able to get them on the back of the 1050. It was a snug fit, but it worked - and they gave the PCA barrels a diet a few years ago, which helps.

Before you run by Radio Shack, check with Outlaw because the 7125 may come with one - my 750 didn't come with a trigger cable and the monoblocks don't have them (because of their auto-on sensing ability), but I think around the time they released the Model 770 in 2002 they started including trigger cables with their multichannel amps.

The 7125 does come with one trigger cable Outlaw part #(65-0123)

I just upgraded from the 1050 to the 990/7125/LFM-1 pkg. I purchased the Outlaw PCA's to go along with the upgrade. I found the PCA's to be simple to install. Not sure what all the fuss is about, I've read other threads about others having difficulties with these plugs but I found them relatively easy to install. Yes the fit was tight, however; once I became familiar with the locking mechanism, I got all 6 of my PCA's to be plugged in securely & quickly. Let me just ad that the sound difference from the 1050 to the 990 combo to be exceptional. I'm definately glad I decided to move forward at this time!

In my opinion it’s not a question of whether the PCA cables fit or work, all be it tight, they do! I agree, initial installation is not a difficult procedure. I was able to install the PCA cables with minimal effort. The directions provided with the cables are clear-cut. The locking mechanism is simple and works rather well. It’s more of an inconvenience than anything else.

When your installing the interconnects say from top to bottom or vice versa you have access to get you fingers around the connector to tighten., however once they are all installed it’s a different story. In my case I noticed the issue when I went to test a separate two channel amp. The Center and SW1 connections are right above the L/R channel connection point. So to get in and loosen the cables (without or prior to disconnecting the Center/SW1 and SR/Sl connections first, proved to be very difficult. Once you have the top two or bottom two connections off, it is easy.

All I am trying to point out is that there is room for ergonomic improvement here. Either with the locking connector or the spacing on the outputs/imputs for the next generation processor.

Hey, thanks guys; this sounds good. Assuming everything lines up the way it should, I'll just order everything from Outlaw then. Thanks for the heads up on the trigger cable, edcon.

Agreed Edcon, if I needed to remove one of the connects in the inner grouping, I don't think I could without removing the outer ones first.

Finally! My 7125 arrived last week Friday. It shipped from SoCal and if I lived much further south in OR, I'd be in Cali myself so it only took two days to get here.

However, the cables shipped from the right hand coast so I had to wait and just stare at the box for four days. I actually hid it under a blanket in the bedroom to take my mind off it. I was tempted to pull the entertainment center out and start rearranging anyway, but I considered all the weight. Between the amp, the 1050, and the UPS (not to mention the furniture itself) I decided to do it one time only. So tonight, I shall play!

Can't wait!

Owl's,

I know that must have been tough to wait on the cables. Did you get everything up and running?

Owl's
I was considering getting the 7125 too, I wasn't sure if it would make a big difference or not. Let me know how it sounds. I have polk RTi25's for L/R, CSi45 center, and FXi3 surrounds, & a Velodyne sub.

Sorry guys, been away a couple days here. Yea, I finally got everything up and running. The locking connectors weren't anything to be worried about. They fit fine and everything went together nicely. No problems with hum or anything like that and the supplied trigger cable works just like it should.

As for listening, I really haven't had much chance to get a lot of critical listening in yet. I just finally got the system recalibrated last night. Since it's in our main room in the middle of the house, I need to do things like that on the rare instances I'm alone. My wife gets a little annoyed with the test signals going and going and going, and my four year old wants to paw everything and chat the whole time. Very cute and all, but she just doesn't understand how unhelpful it is in achieving the final goal.

All that said, I think that even casually, things seem better. It can certainly play louder (and clearer when doing so), but even at low levels, I think it sounds cleaner. That's not to suggest that the 1050 sounded muddy on it's own, but it's a bit like when your ears suddenly equalize and you hadn't even noticed they weren't. Not quite as dramatic, but the same effect. Maybe I'm imagining it simply to justify spending $1k on a separate amp (my wife still doesn't understand why we "need" it ), but I do like it better. I haven't solicited her opinion yet. I'm kind of waiting to see if she speaks up on her own and I also want to give us both a chance to hear it properly set up for a while.

I'm hoping to get a couple movies in this week. Need to rewatch my X-men with number three due out soon. Not that I need the recap, but it's as good an excuse as any to watch a couple of fun movies. The opening scene with Nightcrawler in X2 alone is worth buying that movie!

I'll follow up after some more run time.