I'm using a Blue Ice pro amp. Its a two channel amp with balanced as well as RCA imputs, level controls, no imput bridging. (doubt if any pro amps has this feature) Sound quality is a subjective thing. The blue ice does sound better than the older NAD amp and two Emotiva BP1 amps that I was using before. I'm very happy with it, but then I have never tried one of the Outlaw amps either. The unit does have two fans, one that pulls in the air and the other that exhausts it. It was pretty quiet when running, but I disconnected the intake fan and now it is totally silent and is barely warm to the touch after two hours of heavy use. It also put's out plenty of power!