What is the competition for the 975

I have a 950 and seven M 200's. I haven't really paid much attention in a while. I would prefer not to buy a receiver and bypass its amplifier. But I'll list the three I've seen, as I think it's worth discussing.

NAD T748 $700
Marantz 5007 $850 (Audyssey MultEQXT)
Onkyo TX-NR818 $1200 (Audyssey MultEQ XT32)

Is there anything between the 975 and the Marantz pre/pros?
Marantz AV7005 $1200 (Audyssey MultEQXT)
Marantz AV7701 $1700 (unless I'm missing something, this is hard to justify vs. the 7005)

Other than a lack of auto calibration is there anything the 750 is missing versus the competition, feature-wise or sonically? I have a RS sound level meter and that calibration DVD in my basement, and I'm not afraid to dig them out. I've read that some swear by the auto calibration and some that wouldn't touch a unit without XT32. For those who have calibrated manually and used auto calibration do you think it is worth 2x the price? And is XT32 worth going with a receiver vs. a separate pre/pro?

Scott-
I am basically in the same position you are; I have had a 990 since the beginning.....and I am getting the upgrade bug again (just purchased a Samsung plasma). I am basically keying on the same units you listed (AV7005, TX-NR818). I will wait a little while and see what the reviews on the 975 look like.

Scott,
I have an Onkyo TX-NR5009(used as a preamp only), which has Audyssey XT32. My last pre pro was an Onkyo PR-SC886, which had Audyssey MultiEQXT. I found that I get better results with a careful manual calibration than using either of these expensive room calibration systems. Even though I have Audyssey, I have it turned off. I would not pay for it again.

The only things that I can see that you are giving up from a more expensive processor are:
1. Balanced outputs, which are unnecessary unless you have noise problems or an exremely long run.
2. A phono preamp section. With the price of this unit, you could buy an excellent external phono preamp and still save a lot of money.
3. Automatic room calibration, which I expressed my opinion of above.

I think this product is a winner. I can't judge the sound quality, not having heard it, but I expect it is very good. If I had not already invested in a good preamp, this unit would fit the bill for me and I could have saved a small fortune.

For a different perspective consider this: http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubbthreads/ub...91555#Post91555

Thanks, I had looked at the beginning of the thread and stopped reading because it looked like it was all complaints about the delays and cancellations. There is some interesting info in there.

An entry level separate pre/pro should be different from an entry level receiver. We're gong to have to wait for reviews to learn about the sound quality. At this point, it seems that if you want a separate pre/pro, there really is no option for less than double the price. If Outlaw adds USB/ethernet, gold plated RCAs, balanced outputs and auto-eq, do they then have a $1,000 or $1,200 pre/pro? If I had amps with balanced inputs and balanced cables, I'd want to stick with them. I could see that being a deal breaker for some, especially if they bought the amp and cables from Outlaw. Since I didn't, it's not an issue for me. I really hope to see a review of the 975 vs. the Marantz 7005, that would be perfect. With both manually set up, and with the Marantz using the auto-eq.

I really wish it had a zone 2. Fortunately I really like my Yamaha which has turned out to be a fine pre/pro with my Outlaw amp. Maybe next time Outlaw. -Bob

Zone two is easy to get with a speaker selector box. You just can't run both at the same time.

Since this thread is asking for 975 competition, wouldn't Emotiva's UMC-200 directly compete? Seems like it's a bit more money.

Keta,

I didn't realize the Emotiva UMC-200 was out. But indeed, the UMC-200 would be a direct competitor to the Outlaw 975. Feature-wise UMC-200 lacks analog video inputs but does have 7.1 analog audio inputs, eq capability and multi-room support. It the sound quality and usability/reliability is up there it should be a good battle of the welterweights.

Here's a link with a bit more info:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/processors/emotiva-umc-200-pre

-John

Looks about $50 more than the 975, but it has an eq feature. It also looks to use the same Crystal CS-497024 chip as the 975 as well.

Thanks, but we need simultaneous which allows music to cover the whole first floor at a reasonable listening level. -Bob

Audioholics has a first look on the 975 by the same reviewer that did the Emotiva UMC-200 preview. I don't believe either unit has shipped yet. The UMC-200 has auto-eq and multi zone which were already pointed out. It also has USB that accepts the Emotive dongle only. On the downside it only has HDMI input and output, and my cable box doesn't output HDMI. There are component to HDMI converters available, but they add to the cost and the complexity of the system. I'm looking forward to reviews of both.

ScottH,

On Monday hometheaterreview.com plans to upload a full review of the Model 975 (the first official evaluation anywhere of this processor). We are told that the review will focus on audible performance and generalized comparisons to other processors that the reviewer (Andrew Robinson) presently has in his system. He already alluded to this in one of his teaser posts. Like everyone else, we are waiting impatiently for his final conclusions.

Peter

I think the apples and oranges have gotten mixed.

Zone 2: the ability to play the same, or a different, source in another locale. "Or a different" is what makes it different from...

Speaker selector switch: which allows the same source material to be fed to multiple sets of speakers. A good selector switch will protect against the possibility of a low impedance being presented to the amp, thus allowing multiple speakers to be driven off the same amp at the same time.

In my rather simple family room HT I combine both. I have a Pioneer receiver with Zone 2 capabilities. I have a four (pair) speaker selector switch connected to the Zone 2 speaker output - with two pairs currently attached. Off Zone 2 I drive a stereo set-up (with sub) in my dining room, and a pair of outdoor speakers. While they are limited to the same source material, it can be the same, or different, from what's playing in the family room. Even off the low-powered Zone 2 receiver outputs, I've never had any problems driving them all to good clean listening levels at the same time.

The lack of Zone 2 means only one source can be played at the same time.

The lack of Zone 2 does not mean that you can't drive the same source material to multiple pairs of speakers using a good (but not necessarily expensive) speaker selector switch.

Or did you guys mean bananas and mangos?

Interesting idea Jeff, for our needs we only need the “same” source played on two sets of speakers. That way when we walk through our first floor the music can be heard at a somewhat consistent and reasonable volume level. I can do this easily with my Yamaha using zone 2 but like you said a decent speaker selection box would work as well.

A few questions:

1) Zone 2 does allow me volume control which is a nice feature which I assume the speaker selection box would not provide.
2) I cringe at creating additional connections between my amp and mains, although this is something I could test.
3) Recommendations for a good speaker selection box?

Thanks for the input,

Bob

What Jeff describes above is exactly what I use in my NC home. Zone 2 on my outlaw 990 feeds two channels on my 7500 which then feeds a speaker selector which feeds 4 pairs of speakers around the house (garage, deck, master bedroom and front of house) I can run any or all at the same time. Strawberries and Kiwis for me.

Bob,

Google "TC-9 4 Way Stereo Speaker Control" to turn up multiple hits (Amazon.com and eBay) to the unit that I am using. In fact I own two of them: one that's installed in my family room HT as previously described, and another that I pull out and use when doing multiple speaker demos etc.

It's a very rugged little box; very solid. The selector toggles work and feel very high quality. For convenience I wish it had binding post connections instead of spring clips, but given everything else about it (and the typical $35 asking price - or so) it's a small quibble.

It lacks level controls of any type - but again not expected at that price. However I seem to recall seeing models with such controls, from the same company, back when I bought this one, for slightly more coin. I could be mistaken.

Hope that helps.

Jeff