I currently have the 950/755 products and plan to upgrade to the 997. What are the sonic advantages if I also upgrading to the 7500 amp?

You might want to look at my 7500 review (in my sig) - it compares the 7500 to the 750, which is an older and slightly less powerful version of the 755 amp.

I never used the 755, but had the 7125 for 3 years before upgrading to the 7500. The difference between those two were like night and day.

FAUguy...I am contemplating this exact decision, 7125 v 7500. What is your system make up and what are the differences you noticed?

I have both the 7125 and the 7500. The 7125 is out for repair at the moment. The 7500 has taken its place. My speakers are very efficient and to tell the truth I have not noticed a big improvement over the 7125. I bought the 7500 for my second home and plan on powering some less efficient speakers with it which is why I went with it to start. Indy, your speakers are very similar in efficiency to mine. The 7500 will likely be more power than you will ever use. It will only provide about 2db extra SPL and with 96db efficiency to start you will be deaf before the amp is maxxed out. Its transient response is similar to the 7125. Compare the specs between the 2 amps and you will likely be happy with the cheaper one.

I have heard the 755 (mine) and the 7500 (someone else's) and haven't found anything that jumps out at me as being "different." However, that's with two completely different systems/speakers/cables/etc. My understanding is that the 7500 is basically a 755 with the addition of balanced inputs. I'm sure I'll be corrected if that understanding is mistaken.

Best,

I think there are some more changes than that, as the addition of balanced inputs also trickles down to the amp channels themselves (a "differential design" there, which the 755 did not have). It is a related design, though.

I have a 755 and 7700.
Also in different systems, and different room configurations.

So...just wondering the substantive differences including sonic and the advantages of "differential" vs non-diff.
TIA

In a studio environment (where they actually make this noise that we like to reproduce...hehe) balanced wiring with XLR connectors are generally used. In theory, they're more resistant to induced noise/hum on longer runs. For a short run (typical of a home environment where the amp and pre-amp are likely next to each other) using a good quality unbalanced connection should be just fine and may also offer a bit more voltage gain....which I believe is the case on the Outlaw amps. Unless you've got a very noisy (in terms of EMI/RFI) environment at home, it probably won't make any difference.

Best,

IndyScammer, I had both the 7125 and 7500 for a short while and did a back to back comparison. It wasn't a blind comparison, since I was the one changing the cables. My speakers (ML reQeusts) are considered difficult to drive and I noticed a significant improvement when going from the 7125 to the 7500. The 7500 was the first amp I used with my speakers that didn't sound compressed. I went back and forth several times between the 7125 and 7500 to confirm the differences and it was quite noticeable each time. I was bummed I heard the difference because I hoped I could go with the less expensive 7125. I'm very pleased with the 7500 and do not foresee needing to upgrade that beast.

A few weeks prior to the 7125-7500 comparison, I ran a similar test between the the 7125 and my Classe CAV-75 and chose the 7125.

I have no experience with the 755.

Rob

Thanks candyman. I've decided to chance the lower power for the lower $$$. Probably can't swing the bigger amp and still get into a 997 when it is ready.

With my speakers being efficient and all other folks happy except in situations like yours I'm going to chance it. Besides it will give me an excuse to upgrade later.

BTW...Palladia ROCKS! Just hit a 5.1 mix of a Greenday concert as I was channel surfing. Recorded with ON STAGE perspective....however, vocals are mushy and dispersed. A track off "Bullet in a Bible" DVD. Palladia is cool.

I have the 990 processor with B&W 804S speakers.
The 7125 did an OK job, but when I changed to the 7500 I noticed:
More detail in the music
Smoother highs
More defined bass (not muddy)

Those were the most noticable changes. I had it like this for a few months last summer before changing out my MIT brand RCA cables to Oracle 3.2 XLR. Once I did this, music became even more alive with detail and instruments had pin-point locations.

I know people that have spent thousands of dollars more for HT equipment (minus video) and most of them think my setup sounds better.
Why is that? They go blindly into a dealer and believe everything they are told without researching it first. Then they don't try other brands and take their time.

Thanks for the info FAU! I envy those B&W's...just no way to afford those at my current point in the money/life continuum. As posted earlier, I think I've decided to chance the lower power amp with my speakers. I really won't be allowed to play it at 125W anyway except when the boss leaves me alone.

I've actually demo'ed my Klipsch set up against an AR/B&W set up and the Klipsch 2-way just didn't hold up. I doubt that I could tell the difference.....I will probably upgrade some day in the far distant future. Klipsch rocks on the movie soundtracks though.

Too bad the 7125 does not have balanced inputs....that is my one real concern and could force an upgrade again some day.

The lack of balanced inputs to the 7125 shouldn't deter you from getting one. The balanced cables are not a big advantage unless you use them over long runs. Since most amps are within 10 feet of their pre-pro there is no objective reason to get balanced cables. With the efficiency of you speakers the XLR connections won't be heard anyway.

With your efficient speakers, you'll likely be happy as a clam with the 7125. The amp is quite conservatively rated and well built. And, if you're upgrading from receiver based power, you'll definitely be pleased with the improvements.

Rob