The real MSRP for the Newcastle 972 is $1800. Some real dealers have indicated they are willing to discount. I do not yet know what the lowest real price is.

Places online claiming the MSRP is $2200 or something like that are BS places. They also claim to have 972's "in stock" when they really don't.

I would be curious if the Outlaw 997 has any Trinnov setting output (like to your PC to see what the processor is doing) or adjustment features that the 972 does not.

Oh, and MANY people claim they can hear the difference in expensive cables -- but despite many double blind tests online and in print I've never, NEVER, seen one where someone with a "golden ear" has been able to correctly identify the cables in a real double blind test.