What I've read about Sherwood's receivers amps is pretty positive (particularly at the R-965/R-972 level in their product line), but a separate power amp like the 7075 still offers the opportunity to provide better sound quality - and unless you have speakers that need some power behind them, the 75+ watts of power from the 7075 may be more than you'll ever use anyway. Certainly a 997/7125 combo will cost more while offering similar power on paper, but the 7125 will likely beat the onboard amp section of just about any receiver's amps unless you get into the megabuck receivers (the ones that Denon, Yamaha, and Pioneer Elite charge $5k for). At least, I hope those receivers can match the 7125's sound quality...

Advantages of the 997 over the R-972 (based on limited information currently available):

• balanced pre-amp outputs
• cost savings for someone who already owns separate amplification
• different support channel (unless you have a good local dealer who will take care of you, Outlaw's structure will typically be better for us average joes)

I'm one of a number of folks around here who has already invested in separate amplification (a Model 7500 and two Model 200's), so staying with a processor is very appealing for me. And folks who are just starting can buy a 997 with an amp like the 7075, 7125, or 7700 and expect the amp to last for many years - meaning that when they get the itch to upgrade the processor in a few years, they can keep the amp and just buy a new processor.

Yup..power amps stay current far longer than items like surround processors. I invested in a batch of Threshold power amps years ago and they are still going strong. Their sound is still as good as it gets as well.

I'm trying to recall how many surround processors I have gone through in the last 25 years...everything from an advent soundspace control, to a yamaha dsp 1, a Lexicon CP3, a marantz 870 dolby digital thing, plus some HK signature 2.0's... Down to my current Outlaw 990 and Integra 9.9 I think I'm forgetting one or two in that list as well.

Power amp technology is fairly mature while a surround processor is basically a computer ..and we all know how quickly today's latest and greatest computer becomes outdated.

My neighbor recently replaced a B&K 125W/Ref 20 system with Yamaha RX-Z11 $5K receiver. All I can say is that is the BEST testimony ever for separates. WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP. The sound is $#!^. He is trying to make it work...working on set ups but it is the harshest most fatiguing sound I have heard.

He has desroyed the BEST HT I ever saw!

While we're waiting...
Perhaps it's a good time to bone up on HDMI. GONK has a great link but it's a bit dated and does not mention the physical layer, the actual cable.

I've found this link to be very helpful in understanding why the HDMI interface is sometimes tempermental.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/hdmi-cable-information.htm

That is a good page - the HDMI cable certification/rating mess has come about over the last couple years, and I've never updated my FAQ with information about it.

I still have questions on the capabilities and limitations of hdmi cables...that link to the bluejeans cable site was very helpful. I am currently using a pair of 50 foot hdmi cables that are working perfectly between my HD cable box, my integra 9.9 processor and a 61" samsung tv.

I don't have a blu ray player yet so have never tried them with native 1080p, but they work fine with upconverted 1080p. These are the cables I bought for 35 bucks a piece or so.

50 foot HDMI cables

It's been about 6 months now since we first heard of the 997 and it's still not out. Sounds a bit weird to me.

^^^Have you read any of the info in this and other posts about the 997? It can't get here until after the Sherwood...

While it was nice that Outlaw gave us some prelim info 6 months ago about the upcoming new product, 6 months in the electronics world is a long time. Even in regards to televisions, new models (product lines) come out every year.....

I am one frustrated (and still patiently waiting) Outlaw customer. The tease is starting to become a little annoying.

But you have to recall, when Outlaw broke that news last fall they had been told the R-972 was due to launch before the end of 2008. They hedged their bets at the time of announcement, since delays are hardly unheard of, but that was still the plan at the time. The fact that the R-972 has gotten hit with another 4-5 months of delay since then is frustrating, and likely at least as much so for Outlaw as for you and me.