RR2150 II

Update the RR2150 with a few modern conveniences such as:

• optical/coax inputs for 2-channel LPCM sources.
• front USB input for hi-res audio.
• network connectivity
• mobile app *or* publish the API so someone else can create an app
• dual-zone instead of A/B speaker (this would imply 4 amps though I suppose)

Basically...borrow a few ideas from this product:
http://nl.yamaha.com/nl/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/stereo-receivers/r-n500_g/?mode=model

-John

The RR2150 is primarily an analog device with some digital capability such as a USB input and bass management. Adding all the other features would make it primarily a digital device. The Outlaws already cover that part of the market with the 975 so I would not think the update would occur. As you can tell by the styling it was meant as a throwback device for those who still have mostly analog equipment such as turntables, tape decks, and older CD players just to mention a few. It also offers a killer tuner for those into radio.

There's always room for improvement. I think at least the addition of optical/coax digital inputs would help it compete against similar offerings from H/K and Yamaha. It's a digital world.

-John

Which specific primarily analog pieces of equipment are you referring to from H/K and Yamaha? The RR2150 was not intended to compete with the digital equipment usually available from most companies. Outlaw intended it to be an analog receiver not a processor of digital sources. It has a great tuner and a fine phono pre-amp with enough power to provide excellent sound from most speakers.

I guess we're just not gonna see eye-to-eye on this one XenonMan.

I see the market as the stereo receiver market, whether it's analog, digital or some combination of the two. I own an RR2150 and were I in the market today I would probably be taking a closer look at the units that have more digital inputs other than a single USB port. Heck, I might even give the hybrid digital amplifier units from NAD a serious listen. The critical distinction for myself is that it's a stereo receiver optimized for two-speaker sound as opposed to analog/digital specifically. All you have to do is add an outboard DAC to the RR2150 and it essentially becomes a digital system.

If you look back in the RR2150 forum posts, the various HK stereo receivers come up now and then as 'comparison' units. Intentional or not, the RR2150 does compete with these units.

Cheers,
-John

I Looked at the Yamaha and H/K sites to see what they offered and only H/K had a stereo only receiver with digital inputs priced at $1999. All the other offerings were devoid of any digital input at all, although most were priced less than the RR2150. I have 3 AV processors and they all run in stereo only mode if I want them to. They perform well in stereo but also give me the multichannel option when I want it. I would not expect to compare the RR2150 with my Onkyo HTC-260 even though they have similar power but the Onkyo is half the price of the 2150 and is 7.1 capable. The reason I would not think to compare them is that they are designed for two different markets. I also would not compare my F150 truck to my Dodge Viper as they are designed for different uses. I agree we just have to agree to disagree.

XenonMan,

H/K currently sells two stereo receivers in the under $500 range along with the high-priced HK990. The HK 3490 has two digital inputs:
http://www.harmankardon.com/estore/hk/us/shop/Amplifiers/-Receivers/cat370040

This is the upcoming Yamaha model I was referring to, it has 4 digital inputs and network connectivity, it's priced at $599:
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/stereo-receivers/r-n500_u/?mode=model

If you look on amazon.com for the RR2150 you'll see that in the 'Customers who viewed this item also viewed' category is the HK 3490 (along with other stereo receivers)
http://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Audio-RR-2150-OUTLAW/dp/B001ENW9RE

…and if you scroll down to the 'What other items do Customers buy after looking at this item', the HK 3490 is there again.

Here are some links to a couple of RR2150 vs HK receiver threads on Outlaw's forum:
http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubbthreads/ub...ite_id=1#import
http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubbthreads/ub...ite_id=1#import

I don't know what else I can do to convince you that these HK receivers (and a few others from mainstream brands) do indeed directly compete with the RR2150.

Heck, this review from audioholics also mentions the lack of digital optical and coax connections as a 'con'.
http://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/outlaw-audio-rr2150-receiver-review

I think the RR2150 is a great receiver, but think it would be even better with a few more digital inputs.

-John

As we have already agreed to disagree you do not need to convince me. As I originally posted, Outlaw will not be in the market to update their signature "throwback" receiver any time soon. For myself I would rather they focused their resources on creating the 975s big brother or maybe a receiver based on the 975 which is really what you want. Reworking the 2150 to compete with the big boys of electronics probably won't be a winning $$$ strategy in this market. They already got shutout by one of the big boys when they tried to deliver the 997/998/978 series of processors after 3 years of development.

The point of my most recent post was to illustrate that indeed HK and Yamaha have competing stereo receivers in the price range of the RR2150. And that both of these competing receivers have digital inputs.

From reading your post previous to that you made it pretty clear that you thought it was not the case that
a) HK and Yamaha have stereo receivers with digital inputs in the RR2150's price range (you couldn't find such information on their respective websites) and
b) these receivers are competition for the RR2150 (you felt it only competed with non-digital analog stereo receivers)

That's all…

-John

My earlier post was intended to point out that H/K and Yamaha offer stereo ONLY receivers without digital inputs. I have no doubt that there are many machines out there that have digital inputs but the RR2150 was never intended to compete in that world.

Interesting interchange folks... Just a few reminders:

The RR2150 has selectable crossover bass management - I don't believe the others do.

The RR2150 has been and is still on the Stereophile Recommended Components list for many years.

Nancy,

Yes, I agree, the bass management capability is a unique selling-point of the RR2150. I've owned one for about six years now, and it's been excellent. In fact I find the bass-adjustment particularly handy for increasing the bass for my outdoor speakers. Seeing as this is the 'New Product Suggestions' forum, I thought I'd chime in about a few features I'd appreciate seeing on some future version of the RR2150. A couple of optical digital inputs would be at the top of my list.

XenonMan,

I'm having a hard time following the logic of some of your recent posts:

This is just simply not true, H/K offers the $449 priced HK 3490 stereo receiver with two digital inputs. As well Yamaha offers a $599 priced stereo receiver with four digital inputs. I pointed this out in the post following yours.


I'm not sure which post you're referring to here either, I'm assuming it's not the above one.

Well, unfortunately, this thread hasn't really proved as fruitful as I would have hoped...time for a drink at the saloon methinks.

Cheers,
-John

Awesome...they took my advice

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/rr2160_about.html

I just got a kick out of reading this thread. As I read through I'd hoped you'd comment at the end in present day. Haha.