I’ve had the 1070 for one week, and I’m very pleased with it so far. Sound quality is excellent: neutral but detailed through my Ascend CBM-170/Hsu STF-2 5.1 system. Build quality is very good for its price, and it has more than enough power for my midsize room.

I compared the 1070 to an H/K AVR-635 (too warm) and a Panasonic SA-XR55K (too bright), and I preferred the sound of the 1070 (just right). Given the fact that you can buy a AVR-635 *AND* a XR55 for about the price of a 1070, this might be an unfair comparison. I’m also using a BFD to EQ my sub, so the AVR-635's EzSet/EQ wasn’t a factor in my decision.

Things I like about the 1070:
• Sound quality
• Build quality
• Layout of the back panel, which is extremely clean and sensible
• Number and flexibility of inputs
• Size of the unit (it’s slightly shorter than average at 5.9”)
• 80 Hz analog crossover on the 7.1 inputs for DVD-A and SACD (I love this feature, and it is basically what convinced me to audition the 1070. Does any other receiver offer this?)
• Great customer service from Outlaw


Things I dislike about the 1070:
• It defaults to Dolby IIx-Cinema when the input isn’t a surround source. I would prefer to select the default mode, ideally for each input. It would be great to see this changed with a future software update.
• The front panel looks nice but could be improved. I like that you can access all settings from the front panel buttons, but these buttons don’t offer good tactile feedback. And the LCD screen is WAY too small.

But, despite these minor gripes, I think the 1070 is a winner.

Thanks for reading,
Matt