for the benefit of hdmi 1.4 there was a loss of other things personally I'g go the 998 if I were you..

Waiting for the 998 might be a long wait at this point since no one has any idea when it might hit the market. The Onkyo and Marantz/Denon stuff is available as soon as you get back and hopefully the 978 will be too. Keep us updated on your choice as we are always interested in new systems.

He may mean the 978, which is still an somewhat uncertain wait.

I am waiting to see 978 in the market. It will be nice to see 998 be introduce to rest of us but I doubt it will be anytime soon. Meanwhile, I am looking into if it is worth while to implement Audyssey DSX wide/height channel into my HT room. From installation stand point, it will not be too difficult to install height channel speakers but wide might be little difficult for my setup. Of course if I get 978, that is not even option.

My current 990 is still working without problem but I really do need to update HDMI capability soon. Room correction is very interesting concept and would like to see if it is improvement in my system. I have my money saved up for next pre/pro upgrade for a while and I really thought 978 was going to be my next upgrade before I left for this deployment earlier this year. Meanwhile all the big electronic giants introduce their next pre/pro like every year it seems like.

Emotiva UMC-1 was another one I closely followed. Even though it shared its many faults and difficulties updating its firmware but at least Emotiva can call it it's their own pre/pro unlike Outlaw's current situation. They do have many very loyal happy customers for UMC-1 even with well documented bugs among other users. Their next pre/pro is XMC-1 but it is anybody's guess when it will actually be available to consumers. UMC-1 has been on the market for over a year now and with their latest firmware, it should be fairly solid without too much glitches.

So if I have a chance to purchase my next pre/pro now, following products are my list to consider:

Integra DHC 80.2 / Onkyo PR-SC5508
Marantz AV 7005
Denon AVR 4311CI
Emotiva UMC-1

Audio performance is my priority and would like to stick with separates instead of receivers but Denon 4311ci makes strong candidate since it can process surround sounds with all 11.2 channels engaged if you wish. From its general concepts of 978, I really like how they concentrate its audio performance instead of bells and whistles. I will be perfectly happy to stay with my current 7.2 channels HT if I can have a pre/pro that concentrates on sound quality foremost thus waiting for 978 to be available. Who knows when 978 will be ready but I am still hopeful it will be ready within couple of months. Once I have a chance to purchse my next pre/pro, I will update here with my initial impression with the product.

I just ordered the Integra 80.2, it will arrive on Monday. Man I really wanted an Outlaw but I have waited as long as possible; June is half over with no release date and what's worse no comment on this product for months!

I have upgraded my entire Home Theater and really need the HDMI connectivity, my new TV arrives in a week and I would have to get multiple HDMI inputs ISF Calibrated without a HDMI processor so I had to make my move. I still have my 7700 and never plan on replacing it so there will always be an Outlaw product in my rack.
For someone who just dropped 2 large on a state of the art Pre/Pro I should be more excited and Integra makes a fine product, but it's not an Outlaw and Outlaw's products & Internet Business Model got me started in high-end Audio & Video so its actually mixed in with a little sadness.

I am right behind you. If this is not released by the time my house closes i will be doing the same. I won't look back for 5-10 years. Heck I have a denon from 2006 now.
sigh.

I've been waiting for about that long for an Outlaw pre/pro with HDMI switching...so my denon has you beat by about 6 years.

Add me to the list of those who have bailed - I did kind of hedge my bet by picking up a used AV 8003, so it won't be a heartbreaker if and when Outlaw "cowboys up" and starts selling a pre-pro again, and I just can't resist. I also have a 755 and 2 200's, so probably won't be leaving the Outlaw family for a while, but enough is enough - delays are not nearly as bad as silence, and that's all I've heard for several months. Rock on, gunslingers...;-)

I have been one of the most ardent proponents of the 978 from the get-go and am still holding out for it but the continued deafening silence from Outlaw is really quite baffling. Frankly, I'm beginning to suspect that Outlaw wants us to gradually come to the conclusion that the 978 has been cancelled, so it will be less of a shock when they announce that such is indeed the case.

If I'm wrong, PeterT or Scott, tell me so. It's time.

LOL well my prior denon was from 1997, i only picked up the current one to tide me over till the successor to the 990 was introduced back in 06. then i was going to put this in the garage for music. sigh....