Dear Outlaw:

Although 2005 is almost over, the Outlaws are not done with their new product introductions and other product news. As promised recently when we announced the availability of the Velodyne SMS-1 through Outlaw Audio, there are two more new products to be shipped this year, and it is now time to let you in on our secret. In addition, we are pleased to bring you important news about other Outlaw products.

Everyone is busy at this time of year, so we’ll get right to it.

Introducing the Model 970 Preamp/Processor

This is one of the most important and interesting product announcements we have ever made. Important for the value it brings to our customers, interesting in that it is a first not only for Outlaw as a company, but for the Outlaws themselves.

What do we mean by that? Normally, companies introduce products, submit them for awards, and hope to win awards after the product has shipped. Never in their combined history of over 100 years in the consumer electronics industry have any of the Outlaws been involved with a product that garnered a review so spectacular that it won an award before the first unit shipped. That has all changed with the introduction of the Model 970 Preamp/Processor.

As long time Outlaws know, our initial plans to replace the Model 950 included both a higher end unit and a value priced model. The Model 990 became the higher end unit, thanks to a comprehensive feature list that includes balanced outputs, a high-quality phono section, state of the art DACs, renameable inputs, multi-room capability, auto-setup, DVI switching, USB audio capability, RS-232 control, audio up-sampling, upgrade capability through either the USB or RS-232 ports, dual subwoofer outputs, lip sync delay, complete bass management and much, much, more. The Model 990 has since become our most successful product ever.

As we shifted to development of the Model 1070 receiver and the RR 2150 Retro Receiver, our line-up still lacked a budget priced processor. Then, one day we were struck by something obvious: Why not take the Model 1070, remove the amplifier section, fine-tune the software, tweak the hardware a bit, and offer it as a value priced surround processor?

That is exactly what we’ve done, and the result is the Model 970.

Anticipating shipment a bit earlier than this month, we promised the folks at Audio Video Revolution the first review rights to the Model 970 and sent them a production-level sample. Had everything gone as planned, the product would have been out by now, and the review would follow. We’ve seen the review, and it is very, very good. So good, in fact, that when Audio Video Revolution put their list of the “Top 100 Products of 2005” together, the Model 970 ranked 26, higher on the list than many competitive processors with significantly higher prices. Good news for us, except for the interesting problem of having the list posted here before the product shipped. This chain of events found us in the unique position of winning an award before we were able to tell our customers about the product!

The complete review will appear soon, but now that the cat is out of the bag, we’ll give you the headlines. The reasons why the Model 970 was ranked so high all boil down to three short lines:

1. This is a great sounding product, a match for anything in its price class and well beyond.
2. It has a comprehensive feature package gain, unmatched not only in its price class but (with the exception of our own Model 990) by many models with considerably higher prices.
3. And then there is the price: $699. Of course, we will have “combo” packages that make the unit’s effective price even lower when purchased in combination with any of our multi-channel power amplifiers.

If you are looking to get into separate audio components on a budget, or upgrading a system that doesn’t require the additional features of the Model 990 (such as a phono section, balanced outputs or multi-room capability), the Model 970’s $699 price makes it an incredible value that is simply unmatched by anything in the marketplace. Take a look at the Model 970’s feature list, and listen to the purity of its sound and you will quickly understand the incredible value the Model 970 presents. The only product that even comes close is our own Model 990. Just compare the Model 970’s feature list to competitive products, or those costing considerably more:

o An advanced DSP engine based on the highly regarded Cirrus Logic CS 49400 DSP processor.
o All current digital formats including Dolby Digital EX™, DTS®, DTS-ES™ and DTS 96/24™. Available matrix processing modes include Dolby ProLogic® IIx with parameter control for music modes, DTS Neo:6, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone and 5,6 and 7 channel stereo modes.
o Extensive analog and digital bass management including four-way digital crossover.
o Choice of “true-analog” 80Hz crossover, digital four-way crossover, or wire-to-wire bypass for the 7.1 “direct” inputs, for perfect management of DVD-Audio and SACD® sources.
o Analog bypass mode.
o High-quality video, glitch-free cross-conversion, from composite or S-Video to component video, for simplified connections. On-screen menus available on the component outputs up to 480P.
o Independent delay settings for all channels.
o Lip Sync delay up to 200 mS (individually adjustable for each source), to compensate for loss of audio sync caused by digital video sources and displays.
o Two-line front panel display to allow setup and operation without the need for an on-screen display, or when HD video sources are in use.
o RS-232 port for software/firmware upgradeability.
o A complete suite of inputs and outputs to meet virtually any system configuration:
o 2x1 DVI digital video switching, easily integrated with HDMI using Outlaw PDH interconnect cables
o 3x1 component video switching with 100MHz bandwidth for unparalleled HDTV compatibility
o 4 audio/video/S-Video inputs, including front panel inputs
§ 4 optical digital inputs, including front panel input
§ 4 coaxial digital inputs, including front panel input
o Coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
o Front panel headphone jack with level control and Dolby Headphone mode
o Audio tape recorder output
o VCR audio/video recorder output
o IR in/out jacks
o Trigger jack for amplifier control
o All jacks and connections color coded
o High quality Alps tuner section with direct access tuning and 30 memory presets
o Backlit, programmable 8-device remote control
o Compact form-factor with thick aluminum front panel and removable “hatch covers” for the front-panel inputs. Industrial design and form-factor compatible with new Outlaw amplifiers.
o Removable power cord

No matter what aspect of a surround processor is most important to you, the Model 970 delivers. It delivers on features and it delivers on sonic performance.

What is also important to everyone this month is delivery timing. With that in mind, we will begin taking orders immediately, without our normal reservation list process for new products. Shipments will begin this week on a first-come, first-served basis. We’ve brought in as many units as the factory could produce, but the initial supply is limited. If you are interested in a Model 970 for holiday delivery, we strongly suggest that you order now.

As we said, we’ve never won an award so early in a product’s life, but then again we’ve never had a product that presented such an incredible value as the Model 970. If you have been looking for a budget priced way to enjoy home theater separates, the Model 970 was designed for you.


Introducing the Model 7075 Amplifier

Our current Model 7125 is a perfect companion to the Model 970, delivering 125 watts of no-nonsense power (8 ohms, 20Hz- 20 kHz, all channels driven, less than 0.08% THD). The “combo” price for a Model 970 / Model 7125 combo is $1599, a savings of $100 over the individual prices.

However, while planning the Model 970 we realized that it would be great to offer affordable separates to a new group of customers. The solution is another great new amplifier from the Outlaws, the Model 7075.

As its name implies, the Model 7075 is 75 watts per channel, with seven equal-power channels. Made in the USA, as are all of our multichannel amplifiers, and carrying the same high level of award winning performance that all Outlaw amplifiers deliver (8 ohms, 20Hz- 20 kHz, all channels driven, less than 0.08% THD), the Model 7075 is sized and matched to the Model 970. If room size and budget are both a bit tight, this is the perfect pair for those just stepping up from a receiver to separates or for anyone looking for a high-performance, budget-priced system.

Priced at $699, or available in combination with a Model 970 for $1299 or a Model 990 at $1699, the Model 7075 is still a few weeks from availability, but we do expect limited quantities by the end of the year. In recognition of that, anyone ordering a Model 7075 (in combination with either processor), who can accept a split shipment of the processor and amplifier will be sent the Model 7075 with no shipping charge for the amplifier, as soon as it is ready. This lets you enjoy the processor immediately with an existing amplifier, and saves the cost of the dual shipment.

Software Upgrade for the Model 1070

Bringing things full-circle, during the development and extensive beta testing of the Model 970 we made some improvements to the original operating software base of the Model 1070. These changes address a number of suggestions made by you, our Outlaw customers, including “surround mode stickiness” so that your “last chosen” modes remain.

With multi-channel audio products becoming increasingly software intensive, we realize that it is important that you have the ability to upgrade them in your own home when necessary. That is why ALL of our current multi-channel receivers and processors feature software upgradeability, a feature unmatched in our price range.

Thus, we are pleased to announce a software upgrade for the Model 1070 that takes advantage of the RS-232 upgradeability. Available to all Model 1070 owners at no charge, it will be available within the next week through a link on the Model 1070 section of our web site. All you will need is a standard serial cable and a compatible computer with a serial port running Microsoft Windows® 98SE or above. The installation is quick and easy, using the “Outlaw Software Loader” that is provided in the upgrade package


RR 2150 Retro Receiver News

For a product that was in development for an admittedly long time, even the Outlaws have been surprised by the incredible response to our RR 2150 Retro Receiver. As some of you might know, orders outran our initial supply, but we have a new shipment and this amazing stereo receiver is back in stock for immediate delivery.

For those who think that stereo “music listening” is dead, listen again – using an RR 2150 with your favorite speakers and vinyl, CDs, the RR 2150’s tuner or even the output of a compatible computer through the on-board USB port to hear how good music can sound. The first reviews of the RR 2150 will hit the stands just after the first of the year, and all we are allowed to say now is that the reviewer was simply blown away by the Retro Receiver’s performance. As in the past, great reviews and word-of-mouth will combine to create great demand for the RR 2150. If you want to give yourself a great holiday gift, order one today.


Other Outlaw News

At this point we’d simply like to remind you that, other than as noted above, all current Outlaw products are available for immediate shipment, including the Model 1070, Model 990, Model 7125, RR 2150, both LFM subwoofer models, all cable and interconnect products, and our special arrangement to bring you the Velodyne SMS-1.

Open issues

This has been a banner year for the Outlaws, particularly when it comes to new products. Only the Model 7500 and Model 7700 are still waiting to be shipped, in terms of “announced, but undelivered” products. We hope to be back to you within the next two weeks with news on that, as well as one more new Outlaw introduction before 2005 fades into history. In the meantime, remember that our “trade-in / trade-up” program for anyone ordering a Model 990 and Model 7125 package remains in effect. That gives you the option to have a high-quality system today, and the ability to trade-in the Model 7125 towards either of our high power, balanced input amplifiers once they begin to ship. Click here http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000021 to read our “Mid-Fall” Newsletter with complete details on the amplifiers and the trade-in / trade-up program.


Enjoy the season, and we’ll be back to you at least one more time before the end of the year.


Best Regards,

The Outlaws