Nothing like more research - I was reading a manual of Parasound, for their amps, they provide a loop out feature - essentially, it allows daisy chaining of their amps, takes the signal and passes it on. According to the manual, this eliminates the need for a Y cable. Now, I wonder if the Outlaw amps have this same feature and, if so, great. And, if not, why not. . . the research continues.

Vertical bi-amping relates to using two amp channels to drive a single speaker (specifically, using one two-channel amp to drive the high and low frequency drivers of one speaker and a second two-channel amp to drive the high and low-frequency drivers of a second speaker). We're not really dealing with bi-amping of any sort here (we're not using two amp channels to drive a single speakers, but using one amp channel to drive multiple speakers). We are simply splitting the left and right pre-amp outputs in order to drive multiple amps - all it takes is a pair of Y-adapters, which should not be a detrimental arrangement if you use a reasonably decent Y-adapter. Of course, if you use a single amp and a larger distribution system downstream of it (such as the 8-speaker distribution block I found earlier today) or a single amp with two sets of binding posts that can be used simultaneously, you wouldn't need the Y adapter.

The 990's second zone is an analog pre-amp. By that, I mean that digital sources are not routed to the second zone output. You would need to make stereo analog connections from sources that you want access to in the second zone. The analog section itself is good - you'll also be counting on the analog output of the source devices (CD or DVD player, etc.), and of course the amp and speakers. If it were me, I'd use the 990's second zone to drive a system like this.

Parasound's two-channel amps do include a loop out, but Parasound's multichannel amps (and Outlaw's multichannel amps, and Outlaw's monoblock amp) do not include the loop outputs - mainly because their usefulness in home theater installations is limited.

gonk wrote in discussion: do not include the loop outputs - mainly because their usefulness in home theater installations is limited.

gonk is correct...and zone 2 as well as record out provides partial functionality of this...BUT...it would be nice to have a loop.

It would be a great addition to pre/pros. One could then have the option to do an A-B comparison with EQ, for example. The loops should be available for all channels except sub. You could A-B each one any time you wished. It is easier to correct for the room with EQ. Some of us don't have the lujxury of changing the room around or configuring from the outset. Some, in all fairness, don't like the idea of outboard EQ.

OTOH between the 990s outputs and amps inputs an EQ can be inserted and A-Bd'd, but ost EQs are not balanced EQs so this defeats the balance function.

Just some thoughts for discussion

I have the 990 running to a single Rotel RB 1070 (2-channel amp) into 8 listening areas, each area controlled by a Paradigm VC-150 volume control, and each area has two ceiling speakers. Something I discovered that I thought was important, is that the Paradigm volume controls actually shut off all current drain from the amp when turned all the way down, whereas many volume controls are constantly drawing power, but simply don't put out sound when turned down all of the way. Anyway, mine sounds good, no like the theater room of course, but it sounds great for background music and the like. Hope this helps some. I have never payed attention to see about the daisy-chaining ability of my amp, but on their website, the model just down from mine, the RB-1050, does allow for daisy-chaining. Hope this helps some!