I am a happy owner of a 1050. I have not kept up with receiver technology so i am a little out of the loop. What features or tecnology will the 1070 have vs 1050 that would make me consider upgrading.

It's a pretty interesting list, actually. Here's what comes to mind.

• DVI video switching
• component video switching, including cross-conversion from s-video and composite.
• more sophisticated digital bass management (four independently adjustable crossovers in place of the 1050's one adjustable crossover)
• bass management on 7.1 direct analog audio input (either an analog 80Hz crossover or the digital bass management)
• additional processing modes (DTS:ES, DTS NEO:6, Dolby EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx)
• more digital inputs
• front AV input
• Audio sync delay

There are probably a couple other differences that I haven't listed. Some may mean nothing to you, of course, but that's a decent start.

A couple more ideas came to mind while skimming the new 1070 manual - there's an RS-232 port for software updates, and there's Dolby Headphone. There's also more detailed control over speaker delays (each of the eight channels - including subwoofer - has a separate delay setting, assigned in feet instead of milliseconds), which could be useful in systems that have somewhat asymmetrical speaker layouts.

The top level answer is that although the 1050 was a great piece in its day, that day has somewhat passed. If you are satisfied with the sound and performance of the 1050, no need to upgrade.

On the other hand, the 1070 not only adds all the latest surround modes and 7.1 capability, it has modern conveniences such as lip sync delay and many more system/speaker configuration options than the 1050..,including the on-screen menu system not avaialble in the 1050.

the new features definately are something to ponder.
I like the on screen programming and addtional inputs.

A couple of questions:
1:what does lip sync delay do?
2:What is DVI switching?
3:i'm a little fuzzy on component switching
4 Here's a good question, Do you think Outlaw will offer a trade in program for the new reciever? I all ready know what the answer will most likely be, but hey! it"s worth a shot

1. Lip sync delay is used in conjunction with video sources that do significant video processing (which can often produce a delay in the video signal to complete the processing, leaving the audio a few dozen milliseconds ahead of the video). The 1070 offers a similar lip sync delay to the Model 990, with a separate delay setting for each input.


2. DVI switching allows you to switch between two different video sources using either DVI or HDMI video (the two digital video options) - HDTV's typically offer either one DVI or one HDMI input, but between upconverting DVD players (which take a DVD's native 480i video and produce 720p or 1080i video), HDTV decoders (cable, satellite, or over-the-air), and eventually HD-DVD/Blu-Ray/PS3 sources it is becoming pretty easy to have more than one source that uses either DVI or HDMI.

3. Component video switching was not included on the 1050 because of the cost associated at the time. Today it has become standard on surround receivers much above the $200 price range. In the video connection hierarchy, you start at RF (the "coaxial" cable TV connection), then go up to composite, then s-video, and finally component (which is the only way aside from digital video - the DVI and HDMI we talked about above - to pass progressive scan and HD video). If your display has a component input, it's your best bet (although DVI and HDMI can do as well or even better with the few sources that offer it).

4. Can never hurt to ask.

Oh, and the next logical question is "what's the difference DVI and HDMI?" DVI is a digital format for video signals that was first used with LCD computer monitors. HDMI was developed later as a unified digital audio/video interface, and it borrowed DVI's video structure while adding a high bandwidth pipe for digital audio. The audio side of HDMI is still being a bit tinkered with (currently it will carry DVD-Audio but not SACD; a future version will add SACD and new audio formats for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), but the video side is established and is pin-for-pin compatible with DVI. This means that the 1070's DVI switching works with both DVI and HDMI connections.

So, now that some of you Outlaws have replaced the 1050 with the 1070, what are the main things that have been improved? Aside from the newer processing modes, is the sonic performance a night and day difference? Can you still access all the functions via the front panel w/out the remote? Is there a noticable improvement in the amplifier(dynamics, etc.)?

In other words, if you have not really changed your basic system with a 1050(5.1 to 6.1/7.1), and can only think of upgrading to add analog bass management for SACD/DVD-A, is it worth it, or would an ICBM be the better route?

On the subject of the lip sync delay in my own personal tests with a standard DVD player over component inputs I tried switching the delay all the way and all the way down as was almost completely unable to notice any real difference. It might have been the source material I was using, but I honestly expected to notice as I tend to be rather sensitive to this sort of thing.

OK, I know this is a total newbie question, but I have to swallow my pride and ask it. I have a 1050, have had it for maybe 4 years.

I have no idea what the video connections are for. The manual tells how to hook them up, but it doesn't say why, why would I want to run video through my receiver? In my mind the receiver is for audio only, how does the video come into play?

Mainly, it is for convenience (actually, on the 1050 that's the exclusive reason, as there is no OSD). Let's say your TV has a single video input (as was true with the TV I used with my old 1050). You probably have more than one video source - DVD player, VCR, cable box, game console, ... You connect the video output from each device to the associated video input on the 1050 rather than running to the TV, and you connect the 1050's monitor output to the TV's input. As the 1050's active input changes (DVD, Video1, ...) the active video input is passed to the 1050's monitor output and on to the TV's lone video input. Even when you have more than one video input, this scheme can simplify the user interface by allowing a single act - selecting the input on the receiver - to set both audio and video to the correct source. That can make it much easier for family members who just want to be able to watch TV to use the system.