Makes you wonder why you would by a new "Navigator"?

AVFan,

Indeed. On the one hand, ATI benefits from increased production since it helps them generate economies of scale not available on low production runs. So they make just enough "premium product" to keep their dealers stocked and then crank out as many "white box" units as the market can handle. Typically, the people buying the bargain branded unit lose out on customer service, warranty, or some other value added component. In this case, the bargain brand also offers superb service and an excellent warranty. That's great for people who know about and purchase from Outlaw and probably not so great for an ATI dealer if it becomes widely known that their customers can get the same gear at a substantial discount online.

I wonder who makes the mono amps for Outlaw/NHT?

Cheers,

Don't know the company, buy "Made in Taiwan" is printed on the rear panel.

FWIW.

I got a firm price on a ATI 2005 for $1916 shipped.

That's $337 more than the 7500 shipped to me.

Sounds more and more like the 7500 is the "real" deal.

I'd say order yourself a 7500 and enjoy - if my old 750 is any indication, you won't be disappointed.

Ditto.
7500 has same ciruitry as my 7700.
Dead quiet wide open.
Sonically great. Outlaw improved the sound of my speakers.

And gonk still has his 950!!!!

Well, I still have my 750 (Outlaw's very first product), but my 950 has moved on to a new home.

Discussion on this end of the deal (you know what I mean) is that if I want to do this 7500 thing, the monos and unused center channel have to be sold first. The question being asked is if she will hear a $600 difference. Timing may be the key!

Yeah ATI makes amps for a lot of people. I know that Integra Research's RDA-7.1 is made by ATI (designed by BAT), as is the Monster amps and many others.

Sounds like there aren't a whole lot of companies that actually build solid state amps these days.

There are a number of good amplifier manufacturers still around that do traditional solid state designs. However, they are starting to get expensive for the really good stuff.

The future of the industry is in PWM digital amps. Some folks may scoff at that, but those same folks (or their fathers) were probably scoffing at solid state gear back in the 60's/70's and saying that EL34's or 6550's or KT88's were the be-all end-all in amplifying music.

Much like the current state of tube gear vs solid state development, we're seeing a shift in "high end" to the older more trusted technology and the masses are slowly catching on to the newer/cheaper/more efficient stuff. History tends to repeat itself.

Cheers,