Any one know what month its coming out and i'm guessing besides 1.3 hdmi it will include DTS master and Dolby decoding right?

No idea, they've just said sometime in probably mid 2008.

Maybe we should start a pool?

It will be HDMI v1.3 (otherwise it would have probably been here months ago) with support for all the latest audio formats (DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and so on and so forth). As for when, the best information we have comes from the " double down " promotion's announcement a few weeks ago. That would suggest that replacements for both the 990 and 970 are in the pipeline, but that it'll be another month before they are able to get their hands on the final layout and/or chips for the DSP. Considering all that would need to follow after that or be revised to accommodate it, their announcement suggests early spring as the soonest that either processor could enter production. My guess is that it'll be May before we should hope to hear of the first v1.3 processor being ready - and it's impossible to say whether the 990's successor will be the first one or not. I actually wouldn't be surprised if the first one out of the gate was the 970's successor (assuming that there really are multiple processors in the pipeline), as it might require less design work and testing (assuming features like video scaling and audo setup/EQ may be less sophisticated).

I will be first in line for a Model 990 that has HDMI 1.3 inputs.

I call the second!

But only if it has an adequate amount of HDMI inputs (it needs a minimum of 4, preferably 5) plus all of the audio options.

It sounds like it should have all of the audio options, at least (based on the "double down" announcement). I would agree that 4 HDMI inputs is the starting point for any HDMI v1.3 processor in light of the number of HDMI-equipped sources now available.

Well, theres not much in a "processor only" out there (with HDMI), unless you rob the bank and get an Anthem.

The Integra DTC-8.4 prepro is out there and supports HDMI 1.3 and is $1600.

Although I think most of us here will just wait to see what Outlaw delivers.

I recently (and finall) connected my HD-XA2 analog outs to the 990 7.1 analog in to see what all the fuss regarding TrueHD and DD+ was about...I'm hooked, sounds awesome, and I can't believe I waited so long to do it. I really don't feel the need for HDMI switching anymore...on the audio front anyway. The video front is a different story; I'd definitely like to see at least two HDMI outs on the 990 replacement.

Yeah, if they want to compete with Onkyo/Integra, they'll likely want to have two HDMI outs.

At this point that's the only prepro currently available in the same price range as the 990 that has HDMI 1.3 switching...at least that I'm aware of.

I, too, will wait to see what the Outlaws come up with. Doubt if it will have a Gennum processing chip, but probably not needed in my application as the JVC RS 2 has this feature.The upconversion of 480i souces to 1080p wont apply since I will fed it Blu Ray, HD DVD and 1080i satelite sources.I just want a processor to replace my Outlaw 950 that can handle all these new lossless audio applications.

I'm sure if it does do upconversion that whatever chip they choose will be up to the task.

Question is if upconversion is necessary or not to do overlay of volume and other controls onto any video output. I know that takes a bit of video processing.

That's definitely one weak point of my RDC-7.1 prepro...the fact that the volume readout on the front panel is so small and that I have to be on a 480 source in order to see what the volume is.

I'd say that any next gen prepro should be able to output settings and other info to any video output.

The Integra you speak of is DTC 9.8 ? I dont recall a 8.4. I remember the 9.8 came out last summer and people are still on a waiting list.Of course, us Outlaw 950 owners can identify with that!

yeah, DTC-9.8, my bad.

There is an 8.?? it's a professional model.

Yeah but I was speaking specifically about their DTC-9.8 prepro. One of the few prepros out there that can do HDMI 1.3 and is less than $2000.

Thanks Bloggingitguy: I did a little research with AVS Forum. Its a nice unit and well worth the money, but almost inpossible to find. If "the Outlaws" come up with anything close to it, I , like others, will jump all over it.

It is largely the same as the Onkyo Pro 885 as well, which is similarly impossible to obtain in this calendar year.

So any chance we would see specs on this thing by the end of this year. Like to compare . . .

BB

Saw the Onkyo 885 available from a company called Troxell for $1306. I'm tempted!

Man this is frustrating. Why did they go with DVI when the 990 first came out? It would have easily been worth the extra money. Now I have to think about upgrading only a couple years after getting my 990. I'm having problems as it is hooking up additional components (namely a PS3/BD player), via the DVI connections. Does Outlaw plan on offering a discount of any kind to current 990 owners?

They went with DVI because at the time it was essentially compatible with the HDMI spec at the time and they felt that DVI was the better connector...which it is.

They couldn't possibly give you an HMDI 1.3 spec preamp when the 990 first came out.

And you have gotten good use out of the unit since you bought it, right?

If you want to upgrade, just sell it on ebay or Audiogon when the new one comes out. Most people don't need HDMI and will jump at the chance to get a quality piece like the 990 for a discount, even if it's used.

They went with DVI because HDMI in early 2005 would have been v1.0 (in other words, no better than the optical and coaxial jacks adjacent to it) - in which case there would not be lots of very confused and ticked off people discovering that their HDMI connections were actually little more than DVI ports without thumbscrews. Anthem didn't get HDMI v1.1 worked into their processors until a year later, and that was the first version of HDMI to really be useful with the new formats.

As for the other question, the answer is "yes" - Outlaw announced back in October that they would give all 990 and 970 owners a $200 discount off of a next-generation surround processor during the first six months that the new processor ships.

Personally, I decided to go with the Onkyo as it has all I'm looking for and I dont mind waiting till Jan. Many people on AVS Forum have reported good service from Troxell and the price is around $1300(hard to beat) I like the rackmounts for my Slim 5 application.I have a 950 which will find a home in another roon. Sadly I paid over $300 for a Zektor DVI Switcher that is useless with the new HDMI setup.Its a must to have with all these new audio offerings and the 990's ommission of HDMI was something that worried me then. I'm sure they will come out with a great product, but the Onkyo/ Integra is too good to pass up and can be in my theater in a reasonable time, about the same time as i plan on adding the JVC RS2, while my Outlaw 950/Zek switcher will feed my JVC HX 2. Okay! You guess it, I like JVC projectors...a great film-like image. The component switching in the 950 is superb, as I used prior to DVI switching and saw only marginal inprovement.The Outlaw video cables are the best Ive ever used, alone with AudioQuest.

When you do get it, please let us know what you think of it.

I 'll do that. In the meantime, go to http://www.avsforum.com and scroll down to "amps, recivers and processors" and click on either Onkyo/Itegra models and read the reviews from owners...hundreds of pages and mostly positive. Good viewing!