Well, after much more research, I figure I may end up going with the Denon. I finally realized all the reviews of the 1050 were from over 2 years ago. Technology has moved on in that time. Even the original Stereophile review was not the deciding factor I thought it would be. Still, there's hope yet. I may be about to undergo a relocation that may mean the whole HT thing will be on hold for a while. Maybe Outlaw will have a successor to the 1050 with DPL II, DTS ES and "kosher" DD EX by then...