I've had my 1070 for almost a year now. It still sounds as great to me as it did when I first hooked it up. But despite repeated firmware updates, it's just too buggy in my system... freeze-ups, audio drop-outs, etc. It's worst with my Dish Network DVR, but this stuff happens occasionally with other sources too.

Is there any other receiver that sounds as good as the 1070? I can't afford much over $1000 or so. Separates are out for me due to space limitations. I'm considering the Emotiva DMR-1.

I'm hoping "Gonk" still hangs out here, because he appears to have knowledge of both brands.

My apologies to Outlaw if my question breaks forum rules... I'll understand if it's deleted. But I'm kinda desperate for suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Not sure if it will work for you, but the Onkyo 805 is less than your limit at crutchfield.com. Suprisingly it is also THX Ultra 2 certified. Not looking to break any forum rules, just trying to help someone out.

The DMR-1 is in the process of being discontinued, and as a result they have been dropping the price significantly. It is based on the Sunfire Theater Grand IV platform, with the balanced pre-amp outputs dropped and internal amps added. I haven't ever heard one, but it should be a pretty decent choice for a sub-$1000 receiver (especially if you aren't looking to dive into the HDMI generation just yet).

I think it would be a little sad if we resorted to deleting threads that propose alternatives to the 1070. I think everyone knows it's a little buggy and I could see how someone might give in. I resolved a lot of my audio-dropouts w/ my cable box by putting Auto-polling back on. I love the sound put out by my 1070 so I'm going to hang in there. A lot of people have been high on the Onkyo receivers just released. I wouldn't mind demo'ing one.

I agree - there is no need to fear thread deletion for something like this.

Receivers from NAD look interesting. Didn't Peter Tribeman work for NAD?

Peter was the main man for NAD USA. As an Audiophile, I hate receivers yet the 1070 is getting me through a very tough time in my life until I get my feet back on the ground. I am a former Systems Engineer making $100,000 back in 1999 and now I can't find any work and when I do, it is BS temp for really low pay.

I use Audiophile grade speakers (Alon 2 Mk2) as fronts and I have a really great DVD player (Denon 3930CI) which I had modified by Matt at SACDmods.com. These two Audiophile grade pieces in my system are way about the 1070 yet the 1070 performs way above is price point. Is the 1070 perfect, I say no. It is without doubt, the audiophile's pathway into HT.

The 1070 plays Music, not some fake crap that most receivers play.

The next Gen should be nice, HDMI 1.3 inputs, full HD Audio decoding, and good sound. I hope that add more power , say 75 x 7 channels and use less IC's and maybe better DAC's

I applaud Outlaw for making such a fine component to please a really fickle Audiophile like me.

I want to mention to all that the main man to ask for help is the one and only Jim P aka Gonk.

Liz out

Thanks for the replies! Frankly, I half-expected my post to have disappeared when I checked back tonight. It's great that Outlaw allows frank discussions of their products in their forum.

I especially appreciate Gonk's reply. I didn't know the Emotiva is based on a Sunfire platform. This is not good news, as I've never been particularly impressed with the Carver products I've heard and I think Sunfire is/was one of his products (?)

The bottom line for me is that the 1070 sounds really, really good to my ears and I'm afraid anything else I try won't measure up. Yet it drives me nuts with dropping the audio and freeze-ups. I sometimes have to unplug it from the wall socket for half an hour to get it going again.

I'm undecided what to do. One option would be to rebuild my entertainment center so I'd have room for Outlaw's separates. Their current specials are enticing. But my entertainment center is a built-in and I'm afraid it'd cost like $1000 to have it rebuilt. but maybe it would be worth it.

Upgrade the Firmware!

Yep, Sunfire is one of Carver's products.