I was looking at the spec sheet trying to figure out if the amp needed a trigger or would turn on with "music" like the mono-blocks.

I didn't see the same sort of words in the description as with the mono-blocks. It looks like you need some sort of trigger voltage to turn it on.

Comments/ Thoughts?

Historically, all of Outlaw's multichannel amps have trigger turn-on only. If you are using the amp with one of their processors or receivers, that's fine, since they all have the trigger jack.

If you are using someone else's receiver or processor (SHAME ON YOU!) you can turn the amp on by buying a small "wall wart" type power supply, plug it into a switched outlet on your receiver or processor, and plug the power side into the amp.

If there is no switched outlet or amp trigger jack you can get a "current sense" box, plug the recevier or processor into that, the sense box into AC and then use the trigger jack on that box to control the amp.

Easiest way is to just buy a 990 with your amp!

Pod: thanks! That's what I thought!!

I have looked very hard at the 990 and right now I have mixed emotions about it. As I posted on another thread, I think that the DVI versus HDMI was a mistake. Having said that, I am currently in the market for a HD TV. Depending on the TV, audio inputs/ outputs, potential lip sync, and video lag, I'm not certain just how important having HDMI on a receiver is to me. It may be a very moot point.

I will most probably wait and see what happens in the audio market. I currently have an old 150 watt per channel Kenwood receiver that I am seriously thinking about replacing in the next year or so. One near term possibility is to add two or three of the monoblocks for the fronts and, perhaps the center.

But, I'm still considering all options.

Rat:

If you are going to get a new video display (HDTV), as most of us will HAVE TO within the next 36 months as we ramp up to the "analog turn-off", you'll find that something along the lines of a 990 will be KEY to your system, for the lip sync delay, if nothing else. Don't fixate on the HDMI stuff we're batting back and forth in the 990 section here. Use the DVI switching in the 990 with one of their DVI to HDMI cables on the output and you'll be just fine. An optical or coax digital cable from sources for digital audio will be just fine.

By the time the HDMI thing DOES settle down, it's a fair bet that the Outlaws will strike with something that accomodates it. They guessed right when they were among the first with 6.1 in a receiver, and from all appearanced, the 990 and their amps are among the best buys around. If the HDMI thing STILL bugs you, you can buy 990 with one of their ampps and either use the TV's switching or buy an external HDMI switcher. (You'll find that the latter will give you NO benefit over using the dual-format cables and the 990 at this time.)

Pod: well, I have been doing a lot of research into the HD TV, especially the Samsung 6168. This model has 2 HDMI inputs as well as an assortment of component, coaxial and other inputs. So, the two channel DVI switch really doesn't do much (anything) for this TV.

The potential lip sync/ video delay issues are currently being studied by those just receiving this new TV. It is really a shame that they couldn't get a "straight" answer from a company rep. My current opinion is that both of these issues must necessarily be solved in the TV's intrinsic processing. Trying to do it in a separate receiver or pre processor may work, but you may need to program several settings depending on the source and/ or source material. Hopefully, this will be sorted out in the next few days.

The Samsung 6168 has an optical output to connect to external audio equipment. The consensus is that cable or over the air tuner will transmit 5.1 audio through this port. There are questions as to whether the data coming in the HDMI ports will be retransmitted as 2.0 or 5.1. Again, this should be resolved in the next week or two. It does not appear that HDMI inputs or outputs are required on the audio gear. May be a non issue.

Like I said, I haven't made up my mind, and the 990 isn't entirely out of the question. I'm not in a rush. It may be 6-12 months, or longer before I decide.

Right now, my number one issue is whether lip sync will effect my viewing pleasure if I purchase a Samsung 6168.

One nice thing about the 990's AV sync settings (which you likely have already noticed, but is still worth noting here) is that each video input has a separate sync setting - so if the DVD player introduces more delay than the HD cable box, you set the DVD input to one thing and the cable input to another. Obviously, if the source experiences different delay under different circumstances (such as a local TV station that can't seem to get their HD broadcasts to sync up correctly most of the time), this is less effective, but nothing short of a fix at the source is likely to help there...

More on sync:

A lot here depends on your source. If you are using the set's internal tuner you may still have delay depending on whether or not you are watching a native HD source (OTA or via a direct QAM cable connection with the CableCard) or something that is upscaled either at the station, or within the set when used with an external SD or analog source. Add a DVR, external cable or satellite box, or any other source, and there is more than a fair chance that transmission path issues, upscaling in the Samsung or any one of another few issues will throw the sound and image out of sync. I've heard that older Samsung models did induce a fair amount of delay because of the scaling/processing they used.

THAT is why, DVI, HDMI or anything else aside, you'll want to run the audio into something such as a 990 that has lip sync delay, and as noted by His Supreme Gonkness, set it individually for each input on the 990. HDMI ain't gonna help you there -- if you use the tuner in the TV, you wouldn't want to run HDMI back to the 990 ANYWAY. As you correctly note, an optical or coax cable is best for that AND BESIDES, that lets you have an analog back-up as well.

Man that looks nice. Can't wait for them to update the 770

Back to the first half of the this thread... I am kind of hung up on the lack of balanced inputs on the the 7125 and the fact that they are provided on the 990. 99.999% of the people have the amp and pre-amp nect to each other(please do not write saying your amp is in the apartment next door, I really do not care)assuming this are balanced outputs/inputs worth anything?

Balanced outputs have been requested by folks in the saloon from time to time for years now (if you look back through the "New Product Suggestions" forum), which is presumably why they showed up on the Model 990. How beneficial they are for most users is a matter of some debate, of course - as can be seen by reviewing the various discussions in the 990 forum back around the time it was announced. If you look at the amps that the 7125 is likely to be competing with (Sherwood A-965, Rotel RMB-1075, ...), you will not find balanced inputs typically. Personally, I don't see a problem with leaving balanced inputs off of the 7125, but I can understand where some people will want to be able to use the 990's balanced outputs.