So I received the 990 on Friday and I have to say I am very impressed so far. Movie soundtracks sound excellent. I am still evaluating things from the music side. My Citation 7 did such a great job with music I'm a little spoiled. Especially the base management on the Citation blended the sub and speakers perfectly.

I am still playing with the 990 for music and think I will be able to get it tweaked close to the Citation. The low level detail of the 990 is excellent and it is very quiet so I think it's a keeper.

So, does anyone else get a pop everytime it loses lock on a digital signal? It's a moderately loud pop. It happens navigating through DVD menus and changing between channels that are DD 2.0 vs. PCM vs. DD5.1. It's a little bothersome. I think I could live with it but am surprized no one else has mentioend it.

Only other gripe right now is that the information I want to read on the display is not easily visible. Surround mode, dialog compensation, incoming signal format are all things I find I want to know and make sure I have selected the correct decoding method, but I can't see it easily. To be honest, I don't really need to know the input I've chosen or especially the digital input associated with that input. That doesn't make much sense to me.

But overall, great showing from Outlaw!

Yes, I agree; the display information is pretty badly thought out. Expecially when you compare it to the previous model 950 (which told you what kind of signal and format BEFORE you change it)
Hopefully this is something outlaw can change via the USB port for firmware. I have complained about it, and hopefully enough others will as well...I hope the outlaws let us know they are working on this...I for one would rest easier if I knew.

I do not have the pops you are talking about. I would contact Outlaw about that tomorrow. I agree with you about the display though. I expected better considering all the room they had to work with.

i got pops on digital when using optical... i switched to coax and it lssened almost not at all... how old dvd player r u using??? i'm using a pretty old ..but high end marantz may try one of my newer players... i just love the marantz's picture...

Its always hard to tell whether the patch cord that you replaced was defective or if the sender and receiver had a timing problem on one kind of interface but not over the other. That said, clicks and pops shouldn't happen under normal circumstances.

I feed my Outlaw 990 over coax from my Denon 3910 and optical from my Sony SAT-HD200 DTV/satellite receiver. I switched the inputs and couldn't generate any clicks on DTV, satellite, CD, or DVD. I use analog out for SACD and DVD-A so I couldn't test them.

I agree with everyone's thinking that clicks shouldn't be....but can't add much that will help. In my system, however, kind of input doesn't seem to matter. Everyone says Outlaw is very helpful. Let us know what they say.

Oh, sorry, forgot to address your pops and clicks...my machine is free from this, and, on a positive note it does lock onto a digital source much faster than the 950. As was stated, outlaws are good about help for a problem; but first check/replace cables...

Hmmm, when I was using it today I realized there definitely must be something wrong. The pop I hear when the preamp loses and gains digital lock I also get very time I hit mute when it's on a digital input. That's not right.

Thanks for the responses everyone I will call Outlaw tomorrow. But I wish I didn't have to ship it back! I don't want to do without it!

tex when did you recieve?? mine is doing the same things...i may give scott a call.. i recieved june 20 something

But I wish I didn't have to ship it back! I don't want to do without it!

When I was having problems with Video1 Rec/Out (that a reset eventually fixed), Outlaw generously offered to ship me a loaner while my problem was being fixed. No mention was made of who would pay shipping for the loaner, but I found the offer generous nevertheless. In the end it was not necessary.

FWIW, my 990 does not exhibit the problem you describle.

I actually just received last week. At least I'm not the only one!

I also get clicks, only when digital connects and disconnects (really noticable when I change TV channels). This is not as noticable when I use non-balanced connectors. I use cheap $10 ea. xlr connectors. Can some one recommend decent xlr cables, not so expensive I have to remortgage the house?

Outlaw will have their own balanced cables somewhere along the line -- or at least they have said so. Maybe if you hang in there for a bit they will appear. Given Outlaw, I bet the quality will be great and the pricing very value oriented.

Well, I just bought a B&K Reference 50 for some reason. I am very happy with my 990 evaluation right now but found a deal I couldn't refuse. I will let everyone know how the comparison turns out. Anyone care to speculate or have experience with both?

The one thing about B&K I like is the hardware upgrades for reasonable prices. Yes you have to send it back and it takes a while for them to be available but I like the idea of having an upgrade available in a couple of years because I always seem to get the itch around that time. This way I could just send away and get the unit updated for around $500 and have some new stuff to play with.

To be honest, I am tired of looking around for a pre/pro that offers everything. I just want to find one and stick with it for a while.

Is your B&K Reference 50 the series two (S2) model?

I have both a 990 and a Ref 50 S2 (in different systems). I can't stand all the relay clicks and speaker thumps generated by the B&K. My Outlaw is completely silent when switching, but it misses the first half-second of audio when I load a CD. The B&K has the best remote and allows me to verify the surround mode without changing it. I hope the Outlaw is easily upgradable via website like the Newcastle. I hate the idea of having to ship the B&K back and forth. I'm keeping the 990 and not sure about the Ref 50.

You probably don't have to be worried about the 990 being upgradeable via downloads, at least for software related issues. That's why there is both a serial and USB port on the 990, and I seem to recall that the Outlaws were specific about the use of those ports for both upgrades and remote control.

Of course, no brand can avoid the "back and forth" if the upgrade invovles hardware. B&K is famous for that -- some of their upgrades have cost more than the entire price of a 990!

The Ref 50 is a great piece, but for the price you're doing the right thing in keeping the 990!