SR6006 - $1199 from Outlaw
Audyssey MultEQ XT, Dyn EQ, Dyn Vol, DSX
HDMI 1.4a
7.2 pre-outs
110 watts per channel
Bluetooth wireless audio
ethernet
DLNA 1.5
actually available

Outlaw 978 - $1400ish?
MultEQ XT32 instead of just XT
better DAC
no amps
no bluetooth
no ethernet
no DLNA
not actually available

Hm.

Oops, I see the SR6006 is not linked from the Outlaw Products page yet.

Here's a link:

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/SR6006.html

Why offer a competing processor if you are about to release your own flagship model 978? Hmmmm...

Back on Feb 5th I posted this:

"If all is not well, then I expect to see some more great Outlaw deals on Marantz pre/pro's and receivers."

Of course "great deal" would not apply but it is evident from this announcement and Scott's most recent post that we are a long way off.

That's a nice catch. Maybe Outlaw is going to throw in the towel with the 978 after all. It's still a Chinese made product, but the 978 would have been made there too. The Marantz has all the "creature comforts" you'd expect on a modern home theater receiver and is competitively priced. Given the choice between these two, I'd take the Marantz 6006 over the proposed 978 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

Also, this appears to be the same unit (in a Marantz box) as the Denon AVR-3312CI that I mentioned in another thread as a potential competitor to the 978. Interesting.

Best,

Or maybe that evil yellow horde that is intent on burying the non-existent US consumer electronics industry shoved the Marantz down the throats of the Outlaws...


Any chance that the Outlaw's "retail internet channel" strategy is a little different than their "exclusive product" strategy? You know, offering options at various price points?

Nah, that does not sound dire enough for any doomsayers....

I don't want a receiver, but this has me concerned. What "affordable" (less than $2,000) pre-pros are now available that would be good alternatives to the 978? Without researching, I'd say that there are none that would have the audio component (DAC's, etc) quality of the 978. I'd think you'd have to go to the well-heeled buyers' cost level for such audio quality.

The annoucement offers this tidbit:

"Offering the SR6006 is only the start of many exciting things the Outlaws have in store for you in the weeks and months ahead, but we couldn't wait to begin offering the SR6006 today as a great AV Receiver that doubles as a superb virtual processor. "

And it begins with a pretty unambiguous "why now" --
"SR5005 has been a great seller, both for its value as a high-performance AV Receiver as well as its ability to serve as a "virtual processor" thanks to its full set of preamp outputs. Unfortunately, the SR5005 is now no longer available, and its successor model does not have the preamp outputs needed for use with our high-power Outlaw amplifiers. However, the Marantz SR6006 does offer 7.2 preamp outputs, and we are pleased to announce that the Outlaws are now able to bring you what many view as one of the best values in today's market for a fully connected receiver that is also capable of serving as the front end for systems with higher power external amp..."

Really? Throw in the towel? PUHLEASE...

I am starting to think that the big boys in the audio/video market have the inside track as far as new product development. There must be too many hoops to jump through for little companies like outlaw. It's too bad because I was really interested in the 978. Unfortunately I fear that if outlaw ever does release the 978 it will be outdated and they would not be able to recoup the money spent on r&d. Maybe that's the strategy that other big companies are using against outlaw, i.e. make them jump through so many hoops, so by the time they do release a product it has no chance at success.

It's a sad day.

Ritz, your right the Marantz 6006 is basically the same as the Denon 3312. The Denon is available for $100.00 less and if you are seriously looking for a interim unit, you would have to seriously consider the Onkyo TX-NR809. The 809 has everything the Denon and Marantz has but arguably a better processor (HQV Vida) and that can be had for around $700.00.