That's also my expectation and I think what most people around here are waiting for. I also hope that my doubts about the 978 not going into production turn out to be wrong. There aren't enough stellar values in this very expensive hobby.

But when one is tired of waiting and isn't being briefed on progress, the mind starts to wonder of possible reasons to try to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle. In some ways, it would have been better for Outlaw not to divulge anything until the 978 was near ready like Marantz that is keeping tight lipped about new products until their introduction into market is eminent. But then Outlaw would have lost potential sales; sometimes you're damned if you and damned if you don't.

Gentlemen, isn't speculation much of what this thread is all about?

Personally, I thought it funny that after all the grumbling in this thread, we receive an email from Outlaw not announcing anything about the 978, but another manufacturers product. And that the recent discussion brought up the 7007. It would be ironic if the announcement was about a new Marantz product.

I too hope Outlaw gets the kinks worked out of the 978 as I suspect that it is still in beta testing and Outlaw is just having a tough time getting the last 10% finished.

As long as Outlaw continues to hawk newer versions of competitors equipment I think the 978 will stay in the background. Every time they bring out a new processor made by someone else the 978 slips by 6 months or so. I think the Outlaws way of communicating the delay is to offer another processor or AVR to take our minds off the upcoming announcement of delay.

Wow. I guess I can sorta understand venting one's frustration but there is just no correlation to the timelines / release schedules of firms like Marantz and the work that goes into custom engineering. Pages ago in this thread someone suggested that every product is just a collection of generic designs. That was shot down in a lot of ways including the details in the March update, the fact that no other firm in Outlaw's space has been able to bring products to market faster and the general re-alignment / repositioning that other firms are making with their offerings.

I appreciate the venting aspects of posting, heck I share many of the same frustrations. Fact is there is nothing to suggest that Outlaw's "sneak peek" email offer has anything to do with even a product in the same broad category as the 978 or Outlaw's ongoing offerings from Marantz. That is why I created threads for those things in the Marantz 7005 area and the Annex offerings respectively.

It is no fun being a "scold" and lord knows some folks post count is a lot higher than mine but can't anyone see the value in having some order?

In the absence of any significant communication from Outlaw, speculation is all that is left.

Heck, they're doing fine, right? I'm sure people are lining up to buy $400 clock radios with an iPod dock or a $450 power strip...or a $50 HDMI cable. Are you shizzizzling me?

Best,

And every time the 978 keeps staying in the background it will become less and less relevant. If Outlaw does indeed offer the Marantz AV7007 then honestly why should I care about any 978 they may or may not plan to release. Let's give it until Christmas (AGAIN) and see where they go with it.

At this time I really am in no dire need for a processor however I believe that there are people who do want to make an upgrade and I think we have all been patient.
With all due respect. Christmas? You might as well say next year.

Then I am going out on a limb here, and I hope that I am dead wrong on this, but then more like next year than this. If it is going to be sooner than Christmas it has to be September. They have to get the thing out or it is from Christmas to who knows to never.

The bigger problem (if it even sees the light of day) is going to be "who is going to buy it?" If I was the management of Outlaw, THAT would be my over-riding concern.

Best,

Outlaw is not in as bad a shape as some of you believe.

Although the final cost has not been posted, if I remember correctly there was some discussion in the range of $1300. For those of us who have Outlaw processors, we will receive $200 discount as part of the Outlaw "Loyalty Program". That brings the cost down too $1100.00 if we use the $1300.00 price as a starting point for discussion. What else is available on the market that has or will have the 978's video and audio processing as well as MultiEQ XT32 on board? I can only think of the Onkyo 818 at the moment and that is an AVR. Denon, Marantz or Yamaha are not offering anything in their 2012 models that will offer as much value in the $1100 range.

Also, Outlaw arguably caters to the "Enthusiast" market not Joe and Jane out Sunday shopping looking for a "sound system" for their new widescreen. They are well known for their amps and that alone attracts a lot of attention. Once word is out that they have a new processor available, past customers as well as potential new customers will have a look. When they compare the 978 to whatever else is on the market at the time, the 978 wins.

Finally, I don't believe that it is as far off as some believe and I expect availability to be late summer or early fall. So, everybody please back away from the ledge, it's going to be alright.