Just a week or so ago I posted about adding a dedicated amplifier to my current setup. Well after many days of researching I think I'm going to purchase both the 990 and 7700 combo and just be done with it. My question here today is about the 990 pre/pro. Has Outlaw worked all the bugs out of the software update. Just don't want to spend this kind of money on something if all I'm going to do is download a buggy software. I just keep seeing where alot of people can't get the auto-config to work properly. Thanks in advance.

grimster,

Can't help you about the updates. I'm still on the fence.

What I would like to ask is that if you go that route, please try the 7700 with your 3805 and then replace the 3805 with the 990. I would like to know what you think about how the 990 compares to the 3805. I have the 3805 and a Monster 3250 3 channel, but thinking about the 990 or 970.

Bug

I agree, the 990/3805 comparison would definitely be interesting.

At this point, there are several features that people have expressed an interest in but that Outlaw has not yet implemented. As far as bugs, they've made a pretty thorough pass through. Bass management had some bugs in certain arrangements, but that has been resolved at this point. Auto-setup has given folks some trouble, but Scott posted instructions that should resolve that trouble in general - basically, he said to make a first pass through your bass management settings before firing up the auto-setup. There may be firmware updates in the future, of course, but at this point I think the focus for those would be improving or adding functionality rather than fixing bugs.

Gonk

What functionaliy inprovements would you like to see in future updates? What do you think outlaw will be focasing on?

Do you think that the 990 is future proof? will it be able to do dts HD and dolby digital HD through a software update or maybe even a hardware upgrade. (change or and a card)

Gonk

What functionaliy inprovements would you like to see in future updates? What do you think outlaw will be focasing on?

Do you think that the 990 is future proof? will it be able to do dts HD and dolby digital HD through a software update or maybe even a hardware upgrade. (change or and a card)

Outlaw hasn't ruled out auto-EQ, which is a popular choice (although not one that I've felt a burning need for based on some information I've looked at). The biggest functionality improvements I wanted are in place (sync button displays sync setting on the front panel; surround modes display the current mode the first time you press them). I wouldn't mind seeing an option to select analog bypass for the 7.1 input, although from my listening tests I don't feel a need to use it myself.

I think the 990 is very future proof. The DVI switching gives you a way to handle multiple DVI/HDMI video sources. The new audio formats offered by HD-DVD or Blu-ray will be available at multichannel analog outputs indefinitely because of the sheer size of the installed user base that needs those analog outputs. My HDMI FAQ spells out all the nasty details of delivering any sort of digital signal with the new audio formats (Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD). It would take a significant hardware upgrade to add HDMI v1.1 or higher to get even the decoded PCM of those formats (or the only barely official v1.3 to get bitstreams). An upgrade doing just that for Anthem's AVM's costs about as much as a complete Model 970 - there's a lot involved under the hood that was basically too uncertain to try to include in the 990 when it was developed.

Hey guys, when you order this combo does the combo come with the remote trigger cable that runs from the pre/pro to the amplifier? Pretty dumb questions but just trying to get everything in order so when I do order the combo which should be next week I have everything to hook it up.

Not a dumb question at all - and it'll help your planning to know that Outlaw includes a trigger cable with each of their multichannel amps. It'll be hiding somewhere in the box with the 7700.

Thanks gonk, I've made the decision to go ahead and order the BALANCED connectors also that way I can do a side by side compairason of the two types of connections. Looking forward to the new make over in my home theater.

Grimster, I'd be interested in your comparison between the RCA and balanced connectors between your 990 and 7700. I'm considering the purchase of balanced connectors for my 990 and 7500.

Rob