Marantz SR5015 vs Outlaw 976

At present I am running my Home Theater set up with an Outlaw 770 amp and a Marantz sr5005 used as a pre-amp (purchased from Outlaw). I am thinking of upgrading my pre-amp to either the Outlaw 976 or the Marantz SR5015 receiver (to use as a pre-amp). I have a 7.2 system and have no intention of doing an overhead atmos set up.

The Marantz is a bit more money but which is a better fit.

JohnF

Here are a few thoughts in no particular order:

The Outlaw Model 976 is pre-amp only (Marantz SR5015 includes amplifier channels), so for the money more dollars are going into the pre-amp stage with the Outlaw.

If you never intend to add height channels then there is no benefit to Atmos decoding as the 7.1 channel Atmos mix is exactly the TrueHD bitstream.

Your Outlaw 770 amp is single ended which of course works with either pre-amp, but if you ever wanted to go balanced/differential then the Model 976 has those outputs. Even if only your subwoofers have XLR inputs you can run longer runs without interference out of the Model 976 (2 x subwoofer XLR outputs).

The Marantz supports eARC while the Model 976 is just plain ARC which may matter to you depending on how much streaming app/content you drive from your TV or its inputs.

The Marantz has some creature comforts and additional features (Network, Audyssey MultEQ XT, Airplay 2, 8k). The Model 976 has never received a firmware update and you can read the forum for its known irritations.

If you are interested in sound quality for dollars over having the latest features then the Outlaw may be for you.

Thanks for the response. Ironically, when I upgraded from my Outlaw 950 some 8 years ago It was Outlaw that suggested the Marantz SR5005 to use as a pre-amp and that's what I did (Outlaw was selling it). I agree that in principle part of the cost of the SR5015 is for the amp part while the Outlaw cost is all pre-amp.

A question I raised before involves video in that can one hdmi input (from a Tivo or blu ray player) go to two hdmi outputs (TV/Overhead projector). I asked Outlaw support and their answer was maybe. I had to buy the 976 to find out. I have just asked Marantz support the same question and I am still waiting for an answer,

The other issue involves 976 technology. It is getting old. Is there anything newer (990?) on the horizon. Decisions.

John

The Outlaws appear to have been badly burned on the development of their Atmos based processor(s), it's unclear if they have a development pipeline anymore. They learned a hard lesson more than once about announcing product while in development.

At the same time, Monoprice appears to have moved into an Outlaw like role partnering with ATI to produce private label amps and also an Atmos processor (HTP-1). There are many brands that appear to be using a similar platform, although they're all likely to hit a wall as the DACs in that platform are AKM and the factory burned down...

The market has really changed - receivers and processors are quickly going out of fashion as the TV manufacturers embrace soundbars, powered wireless speakers, and built in streaming apps. Physical media is on the outs. The market seems to be split into TV based integrated solutions or high end multi-channel custom installations - far from where Outlaw made it's mark.

I fear the Outlaw 976 may have gone the way of the Oppo players.

I agree with much of what you have to say though the projector market seems to be doing reasonably well and people (such as myself) want a great sounding audio system. This mean 5.1 or 7.1 or 5.2.1 (atmos).

This means a high powered receiver or yet better, separates. I have been looking at pre-amps other than Outlaw and prices are 2-4 times higher and that's what keeps me coming back to the 976.

I wish I knew someone I could borrow one and see if it solves my video issues mentioned above.

John

The 976 can certainly output the signal at both HDMI outs at the same time. But, if you have a 4k signal it would be reduced to 1080p at both outputs. That's the only limitation I'm aware of.
Don't know about the Marantz.

Thanks for your response. I read the 976 manual and it appears, as you state, that both hdmi outs could support a video image but my responses from Outlaw support would not say this for sure. To take this issue further, could the 976 take any hdmi input and output through both hdmi outputs. At present both my TV and projector are not 4k and I would not be playing an image at the same time-either one or the other. I still have gotten no response from Marantz about the ability of the SR5015 to output images on both hdmi outs. Because of the covid they do not take take in person calls.

However, it may be a moot question because both the 976 and SR 5015 are "Out of Stock" with no date of availability.

John F

Both HDMI outputs are available from any HDMI input. As long as the video is supported at #'s 5 and #6 HDMI ins, which are not HDCP2.2, then you'd be able to send them out through both outputs just as you would with the HDMI #'s 1 through 4 inputs.
I haven't looked, but there may be third party sales of 976's somewhere. I'm guessing the current chip shortage is hitting the market right about now. So we're seeing more and more out-of-stock models.