Much of the cost difference you will see in Outlaw vs Emotiva amps is due to the way both companies build their amps. Outlaw has been partnered with ATI for about a decade now (the Model 750 was released in 1999, I believe) for all of their multichannel amps, and ATI is a California-based outfit for both design and manufacturing. If you want a fun chuckle, check out the Secrets of Home Theater review of Lexicon's $10,000 7x300W power amp - that amp is built by ATI for Lexicon, and it bears a number of striking similarities to Outlaw's $3,500 Model 7900. There's clearly some real value in Outlaw's power amps. However, US-made power amps will invariably cost more than the Chinese-built amps that Emotiva is offering. [/QB]
I wasn't aware of your previous row with Emotiva. Ignoring the actual brand names, I would take issue with the US vs "somewhere else" production being better or worse (ignoring the politics). As long as the device is competently designed and it is built with parts per the design spec, who cares where it is made?
I've never purchased an Emotiva product, but I am thinking of evaluating one of their XPA-5 amps. The price is very compelling (half the cost of an Outlaw 7500) and if it sounds as good as my Outlaw/ATI 755 then it really doesn't matter to me who's name is on the faceplate. Like most consumers I just want to get the most bang for my buck when I buy a theater system. I don't see why both companies can't operate in the same "direct to consumer" space. They're both effectively fabless design houses and I suspect most of their gear (with the noted exception of some of the amps) probably being made in the same place(s).
Best,
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