Thinking back on this subject, I am starting to wonder... The R-972 remains remarkably scarce, to the point that it doesn't actually appear to be shipping in any meaningful quantity. One person on AVS got his hands on one last week, but otherwise the silence really is pretty significant. Particularly for a product like the R-972, which has been a subject of significant interest for a couple of years now.

If the announcement last month was not accompanied by a true product launch, and if the 60 day time frame is based on more than merely "contractual" limitations (if the factory is still working on the R-972's launch and can't divert resources to the 997), that 60-day countdown may not have started yet. I'd think that Axiom would have the R-972 on their web site the moment they had inventory to sell, but they don't even mention it currently. Maybe we haven't seen the start of that particular clock?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I re-read the last few posts (particularly my own) after making a stop by AVS this morning, and I started feeling like the R-972 still wasn't quite there yet - which means that the 997, delayed both by the factory's need to shift gears and by Outlaw's need to be able to evaluate and perhaps adjust the final product to meet their needs, may still be too tough to pin down.

Hi, gonk. Excellent analysis. I was not considering that the factories would be the same, and if that is true, the second "release date" (the one based on realities and not the contractual obligation) may be, as in Star Wars, "far, far away", regardless of when they have the contractual freedom to release the 997. I hope not, but we will have to just wait and see.

The two will be built in the same factory - Sherwood's parent company (Inkel, I think, although they were called Etronics when the 990 launched) owns the factory and both units will come off the same assembly line.

I'm about ready to say screw it and get a Denon receiver to use as a pre/pro.

It's certainly an option.

I feel your pain. I got an Onkyo 805 to use as a pre-pro last January during the short wait for the 997. I love my Outlaw amp as well as my old 990. I very much want to wait for the 997. I have been very tempted to pull the trigger on an Onkyo 886 but have resisted. But if no word on the 997 by November, I may have ot re-examine as well. Crossing my fingers!

Well, let's hope Outlaw plans to extend an additional "thank you" discount to everyone who signed up on the e-mail pre-reservation list last year and have continued to wait!

According to an AVS forum users thread for the R-972 it looks like these models are coming out with functionality bugs that still need to be worked out. Risk of being a 1st release adopter? Maybe, but after putting out that kind of money to have it still have functionality issues is gotta be really frustrating.

Maybe in addition to working out software issues this situation might help S/N to better handle new product release procedures.

But then I'm not particularly used to waiting for new home theater products like this model and the 997 to be released in this fashion, so maybe this is a fairly standard situation. Someone on the thread also mentions a previous S/N model having bugs worked out after users have purchased them. I am aware that these products aren't going to be perfect, hence the USB and/or RS-232 ports built into the back of them, but it sounds like the R-972 is really buggy at the moment. Not sure that's the best condition to sell a new product when first impression, it seems, might make a significant difference in the success of a product.

It also makes me glad that Outlaw doesn't plan to release the 997 until it's good and ready.

And that concludes my random rambling for the day; thanks for listening.

What the current situation (with Outlaw, SN and, honestly, the rest of the consumer audio industry at present) tells me is that these pre/pros and receivers are becoming profoundly complicated pieces of digital circuity.

Perhaps the consumer HT industry needs to start rethinking it's "planned obsolescence" strategy of introducing new formats, circuits, processing modes, and connectors to motivate buyers to replace their equipment. If they don't, it will become impossible for anyone to get out hardware in a timely way. (Note that the video console industry is starting to think this way. It appears that the PS3 and Xbox 360 may have extended lifespans, compared to the five-year cycle that has been the norm.)

As far as the 997 is concerned, my attitude is that it's ready when it's ready. And when it's ready, I'LL be ready.

I'll be purchasing either the 997 or the UMC-1 Emo pre-pro when it is released.
Which ever one has the lease reported bugs will be the winner of my hard earned $$