I might as well get this going? When will the model 970/1070 be updated? And what are the projected specs and/or features of the newer models?

The last bit of news I can recall seeing is from an announcement mid-summer last year:
To be honest, I'm wondering *if* there will be replacements for the 970/1070. I could be reading too much in to this note from the 997 announcment:
But I do find it a bit suprising there was no mention of the 970/1070 replacement in the 997 announcement, even if it was to just say work was still underway. On the other hand I'm guessing the 1070 did well sales-wise and the Outlaw's would probably like to have something to offer in the $1000 price range. Mind you, the 990/1075 B-stock combo sits at just $1275 --- would a $1000 receiver, even an HDMI-enabled one really be a better buy? Maybe they'll rebadge the S/N R-872 and make a few changes...

Oh well, enough speculation for now

-John

I wonder what's in store for a 970 replacement too. Based on what was said in the announcement, it doesn't appear that Outlaw will follow with a receiver based on the SN design, so maybe there will be another vendor that supplies a receiver (maybe with Audessey rather than Trinnov??) that will allow Outlaw to have a market niche. Who knows???

In my opinion, the 970 replacement should be the 997. In other words, retire the 970.

One alternative to reach those "entry-level" customers who don't want all the bells and whistles (and cost) of the 997 would be to release a model based on the 997 platform minus the balanced outputs and the Trinnov package. It is possible that all that may fit in the same size chassis as the 970. This should also be good for Outlaw Audio since the two models would essentially be the same and can be supported by the same service infrastructure.

Let me be the first to suggest calling it the 9970 (pretty clever, eh?).

I think that we will see a 970 replacement (call it the 977?) simply because of the 997's price point - Outlaw seems aware of the market interest in a processor that lands south of $1000, and it would seem reasonable that a processor with some scaled back features (particularly on the video processing and room correction fronts) could fit with that nicely. This platform could then be developed as both a receiver and a processor (do the receiver first, then just strip out the amps).
I doubt they'd recycle the 997 platform - they'd be more likely to develop around a Cirrus 49700 and go from the ground up to reach an appreciably lower price point.

I seriuosly doubt you will see a newer 970!

Why not? I think it's going to have to wait in line behind the 997, but a replacement for the 970 seems like something that would have a lot of attraction for Outlaw. It's a section of the market that continues to have little competition and steady interest.

Absolutely true. Tons of multichannel amps out there (including some outlaw units) don't offer balanced connections, and their owners won't always see the benefit of the addition of those features in the 990/997. On top of that, the 970 is probably the best HT deal in the marketplace, which is kind of Outlaw's thing .

Precisely. I think it is almost an inescapable fact that Outlaw (and a whole lot of potential Outlaw customers) would be well served by the development of some sort of 970 successor.

Those of us who have loyally stuck with the 1070 despite all it's quirks should be rewarded with a replacement...my $0.02.