It didn't seem like they were ready to release the 978 with the last info at all. At the time I thought it looked like October\November at the earliest. It could be 6 to 8 months away, an update won't bring it any sooner, I wish it would.

This is correct. Scott was pretty clear in his post and here it is for those of you who have not seen it:

Next Steps and Timing

When the bugs are sufficiently cleared the product must be run through outside certification tests at Audyssey, Dolby, DTS, HDMI and others. In addition, regulatory testing needs to be completed for FCC compliance on emissions and for safety from an “NRTL” (National Recognized Testing Laboratory) such as UL, CSA or ETL. These things typically take from two to three months in total, depending on the waiting queue at a specific lab and on whether or not anything surfaces that has to be fixed and then re-tested.


Assuming it was ready for testing some time in April and the testing is approximately 3 months, I imagine that August or September they may be available.

There isn't much for Scott to say until then that he hasn't already stated. For him to come on and post the same thing every month would probably irritate more than sooth.

So I would expect the 978 to join the world in a few months and you will also see the return of Gonk, posting daily, at the same time. Coincidence?

I don't work for Outlaw, but here's an example of regulatory tests from one of our products. Some tests can be done in parallel and some can't - depends on development status. Not for discussion - just to let you know that it can be complex.

Country Reg. Logo Standard Remark Quotation Sample Lead time
1 E.U Safety CB/Demko IEC60950-1, 2005 0 4~6W
EMC CE EN55022/EN55024 1 2W
2 America/Canada Safety cULus UL60950-1, 2007 2 4~6W
EMC FCC FCC Part 15B/ ICES-003 0 2W
3 China Safety CCC GB4943-2001 1 After CB 4~6W
EMC CCC GB 17625.1 GB9254
4 Korea Safety - -
EMC KCC K.22 K.24 need local agency 1 4~6W
5 Singapore Safety - -
EMC - -
6 Australia & New Zealand Safety C-Tick need local agency
EMC C-Tick AS/NZS CISPR22
7 Japan Safety - -
EMC VCCI V-3 V-4
8 Mexico Safety NOM IEC 60950 need local agency 1 After CB 4~6W
EMC -
sub-total

Remark
9 HDMI "HDMI/HDCP Compliance Test 10GD
( Pre-Test)" "*1 HDMI Port/ 1 round test
(not include debug fee: $200/h)
* assume brand owner have HDMI and HDCP member"
"HDMI/HDCP Compliance Test 10GD
(Sony ATC Test)"

March 21st is when that message was posted and no-where in that message was there a hint of a date as to when the 978 would be compliant and ready to roll off the production line. It clearly states that another two to three months of testing is in order. It means to me that perhaps the 978 will not be ready for shipping prior to September and possibly later if testing proves the 978 to come up short.
For their sake I hope they are right that they intend to be around for many years in the future.
I consider the testing and re-testing of the 978 as another "consumer protection plan" one that we will all be in the end glad that Outlaw has put in place since it's beginning.

Ritz's personal evaluation of Outlaw comes perfectly clear as the truth of the state of the company. I am perturbed by how Emo is IN and Outlaw is OUT. There seems to be no expansion on the company. Even when and IF the 978 comes out then what next. The 978 will not be enough to keep the company in a noteworthy position. They need to be coming out with other products to complement the Outlaw line. I love their amplifiers and Emo is not in Outlaw's league but I would like to see something new and more than the 978.

Yes the company is a "dead man walking".

I wonder if Outlaw is preparing to close up shop in the next year or so if the 978 does mediocre in sales.

Sharkey I am also feeling the same way. I doubt a September release and another Christmas will be approaching and fingers crossed since Outlaw is disengaged from it's loyal followers in providing any information. It is as though they don't care if they fail or not.

I don't know ... I see a lot of comments frustrated or angry or disappointed with Outlaw over the 978 (and 998).

I guess I don't understand that. It's not like there aren't competitors out there that you can't buy from in the interim, or even instead of these units.

The 978 (and possibly someday the 998) will be ready when they're ready, and not before. I'm sure Outlaw knows they are losing potential customers the longer they delay. But I'm also sure they are working as fast as they can behind the scenes to get a relatively bug free experience into our hands as soon as possible.

Yeah, even I'd appreciate more communication from Outlaw, but the bottom line is that when they're ready, they'll be ready.

Kevin, I agree, but I still don't understand their silence. I don't understand how you let your customers get so frustrated when a few strokes of the keyboard would appease them. How hard would it be to say they're waiting for UL results or that Audyssey needs them to tweak a few things? It just seems like a PR misstep to me.

Yup ... I won't disagree with you there. What's one of my favorite sayings? You can never over communicate with your customers.

This whole forum is almost certainly in the category of "huge PR misstep" when it is dominated by people who vent their frustration by predicting the demise of the firm...