Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Outlaw power amps

Hey guys,

I'm planning (budgeting) my next purchases for the basement home theatre. The system will include either M60s (already have a pair upstairs) or M80s (most likely). Surrounds will be QS8s hung from ceiling and a VP150. I will probably go for a 5.1 set up, moving towards a 7.1 later on.

For precessor, it's looking like the Outlaw 990 unless a newer model is introduced by the time I'm ready to buy (still have to finish trim, doors, ceiling).

Now my question is regarding power. I'm really considering Outlaw and they have pretty good discounts when buying more than one component. My initial thought was to go with a stack of M2200, but am now wondering why 7 x M2200 is cheaper than the 7200 or 7700. Furthermore, besides the balanced inputs, are there any advantages in choosing the 7700 over the 7200?

Thanks,
R

You might want to check with Outlaw or in their forums on the differences between the two. Currently, I have five of the 2200s and couldn't be happier. The only drawback is that you have to accommodate multiple power supplies.

Given the price range of what you are looking at and that you have some time to decide/wait, you may want to look at Emotiva's new XPA line. The XPA-5 and the XPA-2 would run you $800 each and the buzz so far is good. They start shipping in March, but you have to get on a waiting list.

Axiom also sells the Sherwood A-965, which is priced below all the above and is a 7 Channel amp.

Of course if you want unlimited powaaaa and have the coin, the Axiom A1400-8 is the way to go.

Rocky,

I would suggest that you get the Onkyo TX-SR805 rather that going with the Outlaw preamp and all of those monoblocks. The Onkyo is THX Ultra 2 certified and in the recent Home Theater magazine had no trouble driving a 5 channel B&W setup. The B&W's were not nearly as efficient as the Axiom's (B&W's were only 85db's I think). If you use your m60's as the main's the Onkyo should have no trouble driving your seven axiom speakers.

Why go with the Onkyo instead?

The Onkyo is on sale right now (at Crutchfield) for $799 vs the Outlaw for about $3000. The Onkyo can accept the new high def audio as bitsteams while the Outlaw preamp cannot. The Onkyo has Audyssey multieq while the Onkyo doesn't. I think that the Onkyo has a 1080p scaling and switching if I remember correctly while the Onkyo does not. If you decide that you want to go with m80's as your main's then just buy two outlaw monoblock's to drive the main's and let the Onkyo handle the rest of the channels if you are worried about the 4 ohm load. This total would bring you to about $1300 vs $3000! That is an extra $1700 in your pocket and I bet you could not tell the difference in the sound quality of the two different setups. Furthermore, the Onkyo has more features.

- Nick

To reiterate what Nick said...

To me, the Outlaw 990 seems like pretty old technology right now. I don't think I'd consider buying a processor that didn't have full HDMI 1.3 switching, the most current codecs and a room-correction feature. Even if you don't need/use all that stuff today, I just don't feel right about investing in outdated technology.

I agree with Tom. For preamp, you may want to check out the Integra DTC-9.8. It has HDMI 1.3a repeater with internal decoding of all 4 High Rez formats. No other pre-pro (save for the upcoming Marantz-$3000- and Denon-?7000 units)offers internal decoding of all 4 high Rez formats and also no other pre-pro offers as much value for the money ($1600). Kal Rubinson wrote an article in Stereophile in January and Hometheaterhifi.com also reviewed it a month ago; both reviews were outstanding. It has balanced as well as unbalanced outputs. The problem is finding one.

John

I have the 990/7500 outlaw setup. As for the amps, the 7500 has all the power I need in a 5.1 setup in a 2300cu/ft room. Trust me I like things loud and clean. The 7700 will have all the power you need. As for the 990, it is a little behind the times for the hdmi outputs. As an owner, the outlaws have taken their time on developing and testing the products with great support for the customers(as with the axiom family). Im sure the new pre/pro 990? will have the new features that people are looking for. I for one am waiting on the new 990.