The stereo analog inputs on the Model 978 will certainly have bass management, although Outlaw will likely offer an option to disable it (and all other processing that requires an A/D/A conversion process). Whether you want to use this feature with your analog source depends on the source and the transparency of the Model 978's A/D/A capabilities. For most sources, I suspect that this process will be very close to transparent - but in those cases, it could be ever better to simply rely on a digital audio connection if one is available (either coaxial, optical, or HDMI).

The multichannel analog input is less certain. Past Outlaw products have offered it, but most processors and receivers do not - and the emergence of HDMI as the de facto standard connection for "high resolution" audio sources makes it harder than ever before to justify the added cost involved in implementing any bass management solution for the multichannel analog input (either analog or digital). For the case you mention, this uncertainly probably doesn't factor in to the equation anyway.


We don't know what DAC's Outlaw may be using. Someone around here theorized that they could be ESS Sabre DAC's like those in the BDP-83SE or the newer Sabre DAC's in the BDP-95. An analog section equal to the BDP-83SE would be great to have. What I'm seeing of the BDP-95 suggests a step up from the level set by the BDP-83SE, though, so matching or beating that could be a very tall order indeed. Of course, something that could rival the BDP-83SE and had sophisticated bass management and room correction on top of that could easily be enough to justify not spending the extra money required for the BDP-95 and "settling" for a player with a less extreme analog section.