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Outlaw 950 Pre-Pro

Category: Preamps

First off, I am a compulsive upgrader, and have a terminal case of the "grass is greener" syndrome.

Due to this malady, I have owned the following pre/pros over the years (all paired with either Sherbourn 5/1500A or EAD Powermaster 1000):

Lexicon DC-1 (good sound, flawless operation)
Aragon Soundstage (terrific sound, one of the best)
Acurus ACT-3 (best under $1000 until Outlaw 950)
EAD Encore (great on music, lacks HT dynamics, buggy)
EAD Ovation Plus (superb on music, weak HT dynamics)
Sunfire TGII (Great dynamics, terrific music performance. All in all, the best one of the bunch. Only reason sold is needed money more than the unit.)
Bryston SP-1 (deathly quiet, ruthlessly dynamic, painfully exposing on music)
Anthem AVM20: (outstanding HT, uninvolving music)

A recent downturn in personal fortune had me sell all my gear and settle down with a receiver (I chose the Denon 4800) for HT and my Jolida 202A integrated tube amp for music (breathtaking on female vocals and Jazz).

Good lord, the Denon was a big step down. As receivers go, a fine unit, but my ears were used to some very pretty sounds by now.

I couldn't settle for the Denon, but didn't really have the cash to get back into separates. Then again, thanks to Outlaw, I did.

I grabbed a 950/755 combo from Outlaw's site (thanks to the miracle of Mastercard) and I was back in business.

Here's what I found:

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU CAN NOW GET FOR $899!

I thought I'd use this set-up until my cash flow improved, but now that it has fattened up, I feel no need to step back up to the supposed high-end stuff. The Outlaw 950 has terrific dynamic range, flawless operation, and PLENTY of features for the price.

All the latest formats and setup choices are there. I'm hooked on DPL-II conversion for TV and any other mono or stereo source, and should I choose to step up to 7.1, the Outlaw is ready.

It even sounds pretty good with music. (Again, with the Jolida, not an issue for me, but nice nonetheless.)

It's an outstanding value, and IMHO, far more than most people need to get EVERYTHING the creators of the source intended for you to hear. Just make sure to pair it with a capable amp, and you'll be nothing less than thrilled.

Strengths:
Crisp, dynamic sound in all formats. 7.1 capable, every current sound format represented. STUNNING value.

Weaknesses:
Remote ergonomics a little funky. Not the prettiest thing in the world.
skraggle
chucke
3 posts
 
Sean, I am in a similar boat. I am looking to do home theatre and would like good quality 2 channel sound. I have heard the same about Outlaw, Sherbourn, Atlantic Tech. being the same unit. I am considering the Rotel RSP 1066 as a pre-pro. Would I get a bigger bang for the buck with the Adcom? Thanks. Chuck
sean
6,231 posts
 
The Adcom is only a two channel active / passive preamp with an HT processor loop built into it. As such, you can use the Adcom for listening in two channel and then switch in the Pre-Pro for use as needed for HT use. As to this approach offering good bang for the buck, that would be a matter of opinion. Just bare in mind that if one were to invest in the Adcom and a separate Pre-Pro, this would require two more sets of interconnects. One set to go from the Adcom to the Pre-Pro and then another set to go from the Pre-Pro back to the Adcom. The added cost of two sets of high quality "commercially prepared" interconnects could reduce this from being a "good approach" to somethine less ideal. Obviously, this would depend on how much one felt the need to spend on these interconnects. Adding up the cost of the Adcom and two extra sets of interconnects and putting that towards the cost of buying a better Pre-Pro might get you better performance and a lot less "cluster". In the end though, it is all a matter of personal preferences and individual likes / dislikes. I don't know of too many Pre-Pro's that offer the same sonics as a good two channel preamp though. Sean
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hoots
4 posts
 
I'm currently using the Outlaw 1050 for HT and swapping cables to a Scott 222c for 2-channel. I'm thinking of restoring a Scott 130 preamp and tweaking my Dynaco ST-70. Here I would use the 1050 for processor, center and surround amps and use the ST-70 as main amp.

For two channel I would swap the interconnects from the OUtlaw to the ST-70 and replace it with connections from the Scott pre-amp to the ST-70.

My speakers are 96db effecient.

Other suggestions? ARe there sub $1k tube preamps w/HT bypass & phono?
davidbaerg-6dfc
1 posts
 
I use the 950 in bypass mode with a denon 2560 and theta pro prime2 and get better sound than using a digital input of the 950. It is much more spacious and better defined. When i want to listen in prologic2 music mode i use a coax instead of analog inputs as it coverts back to digital therby adding another chip into the scheme. using adcom 5503 and 555II for amplification and paradigm referance speakers. The outlaw shows no glitches and is very dynamic and absolutely noise free.
foster-4f57
1 posts
 
I've had an Outlaw 950 now for about three months. Comparing it on 2-channel with my McIntosh C-42 preamp, it seems to be very good (although it won't take a phono input). Also, I've tried A-B'ing CD's played on my California Audio Labs Delta through a MSB LinkDac, vs. the internal Outlaw processors. The MSB provides somewhat more defined bass and slightly better imaging, but not a lot.

The FM tuner is the pits compared to separate high-end tuners. (I use an Accuphase T-106, McIntosh MR-71, or Citation 14 primarily.) I live in Alexandria, VA, and the Outlaw will not reliably get WBJC in Baltimore, 50 miles away, with a folded dipole antenna--unlike all my others and even my Adcom GTP-550II tuner/preamp.

Also, I've recently moved my two Hurricane amps to a different system, along with several Scott Lab 280 tube monoblocks which I was using for the other channels in home theater. Replaced them all with a new Adcom GFA7605 5 X 125 watt amp. Sounds fabulous with the 950, particularly playing multichannel SACD's.
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