I don't hate you or any one else. I certainly understand that from your point of view it is merely realistic that the delays have eroded the desire to purchase the anticipation processor. That said I don't think I or others that continue to preach "patience" are being unduly positive.

I gotta tell you that the local bricks and mortar AV retailers in my neck of the woods are both cautious about adding too many cool toys yet enthusiastic about finding products that hit a profitable price point -- DACs and headphones are the latest darlings.

Outlaw can expand offerings and still work to deliver the promised processor..

My google search abilities have failed me. I cannot find the video. Plenty of the 7005.

Please post in a thread that makes sense.

Try this one:

Outlaw Audio Marantz 7005 and follow-ons

A release of the Marantz products listed above will pose a great difficulty for Outlaw to make any solid sales on the 978. Worse case senario is that, as some feel, the 978 will be cancelled. The more competition coming out with newer features out there the harder it will be to compete.

I disagree. The AV7007 will most probably not have XT32, and the AV8007 is rumored to cost in the neighborhood of $3k.

Outlaw still has a window, although it is admittedly getting smaller every day.

The unannounced Marantz pre-pro products are largely irrelevant with respect to the 978, as Onkyo/Integra (and others) already offer boxes with the same or more (and some better) features at around the same prices.

For me, personally, anything without balanced outputs and XT32 is a non-starter. The unit also needs to provide clean/clear function feedback over HDMI, super-imposed over the incoming video.

A Marantz AV7007 will definitely have balanced outputs as it's predecessor, the AV7005 does. As for XT32, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes with it since it's supposed to be able to run with the same DSP resources as XT. According to Audyssey, this feat was achieved by greatly optimizing the algorithms. Another rumor I read on the Dutch Marantz Forum website is that the AV7007 may be a few hundred dollars more than the AV7005. They mention another rumor of an AV9007 over the AV8007 and just below the very high-end Denon processor in terms of SQ. From what I understand most of the rumors come from the HIGH END Munich audio show held in May where Marantz was showing some of the new gear but none of the new processors. Those of you fortunate enough to know German or willing to try your hand at it can watch this show report on YouTube from the Marantz room. Sometimes company reps give their resellers unofficial insights into upcoming products.

Kevin I hope I am wrong and you are right. I very much like to buy the 978 but at a good price. I fear that good price may be gone. Heck I fear the 978 may be a gonner. The 8007 is way out of my league. I can afford it BUT it is not practical which is why I like Outlaw.

For me too. The XT32 is a must. All Outlaw needs to do is have equal quality and relevant features BUT at a good price. That is..at an Internet Direct price that people go to shop for.