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#78031 - 01/02/08 03:36 PM Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
64met Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/21/07
Posts: 22
Well... I have a decision to make.... which amp... 7700 or MPS-1? I am by no means an audiophile... I just want to buy my FIRST amp right the first time and not have buyers remorse! The two amps appear to be very similiar in their specifications and from a $ stanpoint I can pick up the Outlaw for about $300 more than the MPS-1... not that big of a deal... just want an amp that is future proof for a while. I have found both companies tech support to be fantastic as I have called w/alot of pre-sale questions. I am torn! Any help/suggestions for a NEWBIE??

Thank you!

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#78032 - 01/02/08 05:00 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
butchgo Offline
Desperado

Registered: 06/22/07
Posts: 373
Loc: Southern Oregon coast
64met,

I would go with the 7700 in a heartbeat.

I struggled with the same decision for a long time and I finally went with the 7500 for my application and have no regrets.

Outlaw has been around for a long time and they have proven themselves over this time period.
Emotiva is an up and coming company and they appear to make some fine equipment but think Outlaw is the way to go.
_________________________
Epson 3500 3D projector
93" Carl's Place Flexiwhite DIY screen
Outlaw 976 Pre/Pro
Outlaw 7500 for center and surrounds
2- Emotiva XPA-1Ls for LF/RF duty
2- Outlaw LFM-1 EX subs
Oppo BDP-105 Blu-ray/DVD/SACD player
Outlaw LCR (Snell Labs) for center channel duty
Tekton Lore monitors L/R
4- Emotiva ERD-1s surround speakers
Monster HTS3600MKII power center

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#78033 - 01/02/08 05:14 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
64met Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/21/07
Posts: 22
butchgo.... Thanks for the reply! Quick question... I hear the Emotiva amps run very cool; not getting hot. How does your Outlaw run? In looking at your gear.... mine is very similiar...

RTi10's; CSi5; and Fxi3 (just 5.1 now) How does your Outlaw work with your RTi10's?

Thank you!

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#78034 - 01/02/08 05:15 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
64met Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/21/07
Posts: 22
And, I just upgraded to the same sub as well.... man that thing kicks A**!!!!!!!!!!!

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#78035 - 01/02/08 05:21 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
BloggingITGuy Offline
Desperado

Registered: 02/20/06
Posts: 446
Loc: Beaverton, Oregon
I'd actually try both. The Outlaw 7700 has a tendency to have noisy transformers. When I tried mine they could be heard a-humming from listening position 8 feet away.

On the other hand, the MPS1/2 won't have that problem since the transformers are much smaller, but it does have one fan for each channel, so you may run into fan noise.

BTW as far as I can tell the MPS1 and MPS2 are the same exact unit just with different face plate, so you may want to look at the MPS2 instead since it is a bit cheaper.

But yeah, I would get both and try them against each other. The Outlaw is a good amp, but I couldn't keep it over the B&K 200.7 I also tried because of the noise the transformers were making (not ground loop hum btw, but actual "mechanical" noise from the transformers).

Sure, if you try both you will be out a bit of shipping money for sending one back, but you will have much higher peace of mind. How much is that worth to you?

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#78036 - 01/02/08 05:30 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
gonk Offline
Desperado

Registered: 03/21/01
Posts: 14054
Loc: Memphis, TN USA
Is the MPS-1 still available? Or are you looking at the MPS-2? I haven't made it by Emotiva's forum since problably November some time, but I recall that they discontinued the MPS-1 last fall due to the cost of manufacturing the complex faceplate. At the time, I thought that the MPS-2 replaced it at the same price point and they started selling off the remaining MPS-1 stock at a somewhat higher price point. Either way, it's the same underlying hardware. I recall that the MPS-1 experienced a fair number of DOA amp channels - I remember reading posts from one person who went through eleven amp modules until he got seven that work. Both Ultimate AV and Audioholics reviewed it and found that the output was not up to the levels specified. Here's an excerpt from the Ultimate AV review (specifically the measurements section ):
Quote:
Driving all seven channels into 8Ω, the MPS-1 delivered 169Wpc at 20Hz and 175Wpc at 1kHz (to the nearest watt) before clipping (1% THD+noise). The channel measured, in position #1, failed during the 20Hz test and did not recover.
Audioholics turned in similar comments:
Quote:
I was able to achieve a maximum unclipped power of 175wpc into 8 ohms with Vin=1.65V Vout=37.39V unbalanced and about 255wpc into a 4 ohm load with Vin = 1.42V and Vout = 32V. Once I exceeded these measurements, the clamping circuit kicked in rounding off the signal and dramatically increasing distortion. Based on this, I would rate this amp to be a 175wpc into 8 ohms and 270wpc into 4 ohm, not 200wpc / 300wpc 8/4 ohm respectively like Emotiva rated in their literature.

When I informed Emotiva on my findings, they suggested that my test conditions were preventing me from achieving their published ratings due to line voltage sag. I respectively disagree since I was only testing one channel and monitored my line voltage to be a constant 124Vrms throughout the entire test. In addition, this was the first amp I tested that did not meet its power specification.
However, please note this is also the first amplifier I tested with a thoughtful limiter circuit which does make it a bit tricky to accurately test.
Emotiva presented some arguments why the reviewers' measurements were wrong, but both publications stood by their measurements.
_________________________
gonk
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Reviews: Index | 990 | speakers | BDP-93

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#78037 - 01/02/08 07:50 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
BloggingITGuy Offline
Desperado

Registered: 02/20/06
Posts: 446
Loc: Beaverton, Oregon
I don't know, gonk...they are still selling the MPS-1 just at a higher price point than before.

I think both the MPS-1 and MPS-2 use the exact same amp modules, so if they do have quality issues with them still, he'll have the same problems with either amp chassis.

As for the measurements, both reviewers also said very good things about the performance of the amp, so who knows.

If he's seriously looking at both though, it's in his interest to try both, in my opinion.

That way he'll know for sure which one was the best.

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#78038 - 01/02/08 08:46 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
butchgo Offline
Desperado

Registered: 06/22/07
Posts: 373
Loc: Southern Oregon coast
64met,

Actually I am driving my RTi10's with 2 Outlaw 2200 mono blocks so I can't really answer that question.
One of these days when, I have nothing better to do, I am going to do some switching around and then I can see if there is any difference in sound between driving them with the 2200's as compaired to driving them with the 7500.

We have watched long movies, like LOTR, at fairly high volume and even then it does not get more than barely warm so problem there.
I have it installed in a TV stand with about 1-1/2" above it and lots of room around it and no fans.
By the way my unit is dead quiet even with your ear just a couple of inches away.
I love the look of the 7700/7500 amps. All you see is that big black face with one little blue light on the power switch. Plus it looks really good sitting next to the 990!

The LFM1-EX is an incredible piece of equipment isn't it? I upgrade to the EX from a Polk PSW505 and could not believe the difference. The Polk was a good sub but no in the same league as the Outlaw.

What pre/pro or receiver are you running?
_________________________
Epson 3500 3D projector
93" Carl's Place Flexiwhite DIY screen
Outlaw 976 Pre/Pro
Outlaw 7500 for center and surrounds
2- Emotiva XPA-1Ls for LF/RF duty
2- Outlaw LFM-1 EX subs
Oppo BDP-105 Blu-ray/DVD/SACD player
Outlaw LCR (Snell Labs) for center channel duty
Tekton Lore monitors L/R
4- Emotiva ERD-1s surround speakers
Monster HTS3600MKII power center

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#78039 - 01/02/08 10:34 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
64met Offline
Gunslinger

Registered: 12/21/07
Posts: 22
butchgo,

I am using the Onkyo 805 right now; and the one thing that is making me lean toward outlaw now is Scott in support; man this guy is INCREDIBLE! I have sent him three-four messages today as I have been anquishing over my decision and each message has been responded to in just a few hours! That is service!! For no other reason, this might be what gets me to pull the trigger on the outlaw! Of course, the 30 day trial is nice to! I will keep you posted; thanks again for your help!

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#78040 - 01/02/08 10:38 PM Re: Outlaw 7700 OR Emptiva MPS-1???
BloggingITGuy Offline
Desperado

Registered: 02/20/06
Posts: 446
Loc: Beaverton, Oregon
Yes, Outlaw's service is hard to beat. Don't know how it compares to Emotiva's though as I've never tried one of their products and have never dealt with them.

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