Sorry Outlaw, this project was pulled unsuspectingly and unfairly. This must hurt, especially when you were so close to completion.

I would like to hear from the other company, get their side of the story, but as it stands now, the timing of their actions certainly screams calculated and deliberate.

I am excited about the new entry level processor which is something I have advocated for in the past. I think it will be a big seller if it comes to market as a low cost alternative. Concentrate on sound quality rather than features, folks in these parts will eat that up.

-Bob

Agree 100%

This is the time for Outlaw to rethink their niche.

Integra or Denon?

Purely speculative on my part of course, but I was thinking the same thing. Specifically, I was thinking D&M Holdings which owns the Denon and Marantz brands among others.

It would be odd for it to be D&M Holdings when Outlaw's still selling Marantz products. Plus D&M uses more than purely a brick & mortar distribution network. Same with Integra, if only because their parent company (Onkyo) would be the one calling shots like this.

To me, Outlaw not having a legal claim to the 978 design documentation is all-telling. I wonder if there were any valid contracts in place at all- other than perhaps a manufacturing agreement.

The Outlaw e-mail tries to make it sound like they were unwitting victims of a circumstance with no possible [or desirable] recourse. Sounds like there are several serious lessons to be learned [by Outlaw] here.

I would think a smaller company, perhaps one that is bringing a product to market soon. Could it be Anthem?

Like many others I had been waiting and waiting for the 978. I am in the process of moving and wanted a Pre/pro with HDMI and some other features.

Last week I decided I could no longer wait and ordered an Onkyo 5508, in fact it is supposed to be delivered today. I got a hell of a deal on it.

I will refrain from putting on paper the number of "blame/conspiracy" theories running thru my brain at this time. Hopefully more detailed info will become available.

You right this does seem odd. Peter is certainly experienced, there must be more to the story. Perhaps there was a settlement? I wonder if the beta testers will be allowed to speak out at some point? -Bob

Very sad news. As I posted about one month ago, I had serious doubts as to whether the 978 would be brought to market because of the competing new Marantz processors that are under way. But I was not expecting the 978 to be cancelled under such a conspiratorial real life scenario. From my perspective, I'll now be patiently waiting a few more months for the new Marantz offerings (AV7007 and hopefully AV8007).