Hello Videodrome. I have seen your very insightful posts in other threads. Thanks for your suggestions. I completely agree that Outlaws are some savvy users.

That being said, I hope that nobody infers from those comments that it takes some higher degree of technical know-how to own and operate Outlaw gear or that you have to deal with the no-sound issue as a badge of geekdom honor.

I am a computer scientist/systems analyst for a DOD contractor but even we get tired now and then and want to take a break from having to hack everything.

So please, I know everyone means well. Heck, I like Outlaw gear (my 7125 is not going anywhere). But I can't tell my wife that "honey, you are just not smart enough" or "it doesn't work all the time, but that's good for the money".

My system:
Samsung SP-P4231 42” plasma display
Oppo DV-970HD Universal DVD Player
RCA DTC210 HDTV Tuner
Outlaw 970 preamplifier/processor
Carver m1.5t amplifier
Outlaw 7125 amplifier
Monster Power Center HTS3500 MKII
Polk Audio RTA-12C vintage speakers (1 pair)
Polk Audio CSI-5 center speaker
Polk Audio RC85i surrounds (4)
Sunfire True Subwoofer MK IV

Not to insight a riot but more importantly just an observation. Looking at your equipment list I notice you have direct tv HD box. I really think that is your problem. I have a DTV hr10-250 and it has magor issues. I'm running the new firmware and yet i get no audio, hiss and pops all the time. It has alot to do with the source going from HD channels to regular channels, or switching source from say a dvd to watch tv. I have been wrestling with this issue from day 1.
I hope this helps I know how fustrating it can be spending big money (700 bucks is a 2 week salary for some) and not having said equipment work flawlessly.

I still have the no audio as well. The software has helped but I still get it several times a week. I also get a distorted signal periodically.
Frustrating!

Thanks iadfilm, I too suspected that the HDTV tuner was part of the problem. I noticed that if I unplugged the S/PDIF connector on the preamp side, there was always a signal (light) being sent from the tuner even in standby.
However, I ruled that out weeks ago when I removed the HDTV tuner entirely out of the equation. I simplified my system to the Oppo->Outlaw970->CARVER m1.5t->One pair of speakers. I experienced the no-sound problem the very first time I turned the system on and tried to play a music CD. As a matter of fact, even the remote went wacky and wouldn't respond. To verify the problem was not the Oppo, I replaced the 970 with a CARVER C-1 preamplifier from my other system and everything worked flawlessly.
I also tried turning polling off and that had no effect whatsoever.
So yeah, I do think the HDTV tuner fits the profile of problematic sources but I don't think is the smoking gun.

BTW, I almost exclusively experience the no-audio problem when the 970 is coming off standby, not when changing sources or channels. It's really a problem when my kids want to watch a movie and press the "watch a movie" button on the remote and no sound comes out. In my HT setup, turning on the 970 triggers two amplifiers and a subwoofer to power up after a 1 second delay. Needless to say, cycling power to the 970 via the "fix no audio" button I programmed in the remote is really exercising my gear. Worse yet, the kids and the wife have gotten trigger happy pressing the button and tend to jump the gun even while the Oppo screensaver is showing the "loading" icon. In other words, they are not Outlaws like us.
I was hoping my days of having to train the family on how to use the gear were over...

garcianc2003:

No, I did not mean to imply that the 970 is an esoteric piece of gear. Far from it. I guess what I was trying to convey in my rambling post, is that I've become somewhat inured to bug issues simply because I have owned equipment over the years that has tended to be more fickle and less set-and-forget. Granted, the 970 is not in that camp. It was designed as a set-and-forget piece and should perform as such.

Sorry if the other post came off negative or haranguing, as that was not my intent.

No sweat Videodrome, I know you as a fair and stand-up guy from your other posts. I just didn't want anybody else to get the wrong impression.
I am dealing with tech-support as you suggested.
Thanks.

[dreaming]

Is there any chance Outlaw will allow those of us who are still suffering from the "No Audio" bug (and others) to trade in the 970 for the 990. For a fee of course, but not the difference.

[/dreaming]

That would be very tempting.

I just bought my 970 znd I would trade my 970 for a 990 in a heartbeat. For a small price of course 100 bucks + shipping

I also have the no audio problem even after the software upgrade. It only happens when power up the 970 from standby.

I contacted Outlaw and this is the last email I got from Outlaw on September 13, 2006 regarding the no audio issue:

"We are committed to resolving this issue, however I do not know exactly when our engineers will have the next revision ready. We will have an announcement as soon as we post the update.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Best Regards,
Steve"


It's been frustrating...