Outlaw 970 vs HK 635

[millerman 3732]

I'am using the HK as a pre amp only so I don't really need the power of the HK a VERY conservative 75 wpc and the outlaw 970 offers DVI switching which would be a good thing for me since my tv has only one digital input. So what do you guys think about the swap would there be anything to gain by going with the Outlaw or would there be more to lose by replaceing the HK?

[lanion]

I have a HK DPR1001 i am using as only as a preamp; in that configuration it adds a very noticable amount of noise to all channels if it is decoding a digitial signal. I do not know if they AVR line has this issue, but if it does that would be a major reason to upgrade.

[disneyjoe7]

Originally Posted by lanion

I have a HK DPR1001 i am using as only as a preamp; in that configuration it adds a very noticable amount of noise to all channels if it is decoding a digitial signal.

A little of subject but I thought HK was good, my Onk AVR doesn't make noise like that.

[millerman 3732]

I don't have any problems with noise.

[lanion]

Will, I've only owned their DPR series which is a little controversial -- and apparently didn't succeed in retail. Their current product line does not include any digital path recievers.

[josh_parsons626]

I would say get an Outlaw 990. Because it's a dedicated pre/pro. You can get the 990 and 7700 which is 300 watts @4ohm and 200 @8ohm in a combo for 3,000

[millerman 3732]

the 970 isn't?

[danger boy]

the Outlaw 990 es muy macho!


for only a couple hundred more clams.. you get alot better specs than the 970. Go to Outlaw Audio forums and read up on them both.

My nickname in the Outlaw forums is Skyblazer

[millerman 3732]

you think the 990 would be better than my HK 635?

[danger boy]

if you have external amps.. i'd say yes the 990 would be better. the HK is 75wpc. I know HK rates their receivers conservetively (sp), but that's not a whole not of power really. Yes it will run most any speaker out there, but to really hear what your speakers can do.. more power is needed.

I made a decision like this in March of this year. I too was stuck whether to go with another recevier or get a dedicated pre amp. I already had the external amps.. so it made the decision much easier. but which pre amp was my next decision?

Well the price of the Outlaw 990 kept me coming back to it.. over the B&K Ref 50.

There is no perfect receiver out there.. as well as no perfect pre amp. Unless you have bucoo bucks to spend. Then i'd look at Sunfire.

[Grimster74]

A month or two back I went from a Denon 3805 which was doing all my powering and processing to the Outlaw 990/7700 combo and I haven't looked back since. I can not explain to you enough what a difference it made in my system.

[faster100]

I also went from a denon 3803 to a sherwood p-965 similiar to the 990 and it just sounds better, not even for the bells and whistles.. it sounds better, and still has dsp modes and just about everything the denon had and more..

Yes, id say a blanket yes the 990 would beat most receivers.. except maybe flagship models and then it would be a toss up for features..

[millerman 3732]

Originally Posted by Grimster74

A month or two back I went from a Denon 3805 which was doing all my powering and processing to the Outlaw 990/7700 combo and I haven't looked back since. I can not explain to you enough what a difference it made in my system.

Do you fell like most of the improvement you heard was from adding the the preamp and amp or maybe most of the improvement came from adding such such a large amp to your system. what I mean to say is do you fell like adding the dedicated preamp made that much of an improvment over your denon?

[Grimster74]

Once I received both the 990/7700 I did a side-by-side on both, the 3805/7700 combo and the 990/7700 combo. When I had the 3805/7700 combo hooked up the only real difference I heard was the setup had alot more headroom. It pretty much sounded the same but it would just go louder. Once I hooked the 990/7700 combo up, everything sounded much more natural. With the 990, you don't get all those soundfield and DSP modes that most people don't use or atleast I don't. The biggest improvement I noticed was the surrounds are much more noticeable. I'm hearing things in movies now that I didn't even know existing when watching with the 3805/7700. The bass alone is much tighter and responds very quickly. The mids and highs are very clear and crisp. Before I thought I should space my front speakers further apart which causes a real problem in my room due to its width but once I got the 990/7700 fired up, that problem was resolved. I wish I could explain better how much of a difference adding dedicated seperates made in my room but beleive me, I haven't looked back since. The only thing I can tell you is if you order the 990, you have Outlaw's 30-day return policy to send it back for a full refund, chances are, you won't be sending it back.

[boxxkar]

Originally Posted by danger boy

the Outlaw 990 es muy macho!


for only a couple hundred more clams.. you get alot better specs than the 970.

Is the difference in specs related to the features of the 990 verses the 970 or do they also contribute to a sigificant sound quality difference between the two?

I've looked at the comparsion table between the two at the Outlaw site, but I am not sure if the 990 just has more features or if there is a big sound quality difference between the two.

[danger boy]

while i haven't heard the 970.. but do have the 990 pre... and looking at the specs.. it has more features. As for sound difference.. i'd say you should go to the Outlaw Audio forum site and read up on both pre amps... i can't remember what "bug" the 970 had.. and that's why i chose the 990 instead.

[tommyboy]

Originally Posted by Grimster74

Once I received both the 990/7700 I did a side-by-side on both, the 3805/7700 combo and the 990/7700 combo. When I had the 3805/7700 combo hooked up the only real difference I heard was the setup had alot more headroom. It pretty much sounded the same but it would just go louder. Once I hooked the 990/7700 combo up, everything sounded much more natural. With the 990, you don't get all those soundfield and DSP modes that most people don't use or atleast I don't. The biggest improvement I noticed was the surrounds are much more noticeable. I'm hearing things in movies now that I didn't even know existing when watching with the 3805/7700. The bass alone is much tighter and responds very quickly. The mids and highs are very clear and crisp. Before I thought I should space my front speakers further apart which causes a real problem in my room due to its width but once I got the 990/7700 fired up, that problem was resolved. I wish I could explain better how much of a difference adding dedicated seperates made in my room but beleive me, I haven't looked back since. The only thing I can tell you is if you order the 990, you have Outlaw's 30-day return policy to send it back for a full refund, chances are, you won't be sending it back.

I'm new at this stuff as most of you know, what I don't understand is why a dedicated pre-amp would make THAT much of a difference to an AVR when using seperate amplification. I thought all a pre-amp does is recieve signal from the source and send it to the amplifier. Maybe The DAC on the 990 would be better but with anything else, I just don't understand why there would be such a huge improvement...

The main reason I'm asking is cause I just bought the hk 240 just so I can use it as a pre-amp in the future. But now you guys are saying AVR isn't the way to go as a pre-amp.... I need to get out of this hobby now before I go bankrupt!

[okiepolkie]

Run away, run away......

Some quick reasons a dedicated pre/pro is "better":

-Higher quality parts are used throughout the system
-For most pre/pro's, there are fewer chances of interference within the system, since a high current amplifier is not "creating" noise.
-There are usually more setup features available

Since you seem to be on a limited budget, as most of us are, I think you went the right route by getting the HK.

It has a good amplifier section, so you can be happy with it for a while. The processor will decode most everything available now, as the new DD and DTS formats have just been released to the manufacturers.

For the most part, don't doubt the decision you made.

[danger boy]

Originally Posted by tommyboy

I'm new at this stuff as most of you know, what I don't understand is why a dedicated pre-amp would make THAT much of a difference to an AVR when using seperate amplification. I thought all a pre-amp does is recieve signal from the source and send it to the amplifier. Maybe The DAC on the 990 would be better but with anything else, I just don't understand why there would be such a huge improvement...

The main reason I'm asking is cause I just bought the hk 240 just so I can use it as a pre-amp in the future. But now you guys are saying AVR isn't the way to go as a pre-amp.... I need to get out of this hobby now before I go bankrupt!

Alot of us started with a receiver as a pre amp, then later realized that adding an amp does make an improvement.

If you are happy with your set up.. that's cool. No pressure to go out and go into bankruptcy just to "maybe" hear a difference.

From a receiver with pre outs and adding an external amp.. going to the next step up the ladder is a pre amp.. with that external amp(s). that's all anyone is saying.

Don't think you have to go out and buy a pre amp just so that you can satisfy the people in here. Do it if you want to reach the next level.. or stay with the gear you have and try to tweak it till it sounds good to you. not us.

[tommyboy]

Originally Posted by danger boy

Alot of us started with a receiver as a pre amp, then later realized that adding an amp does make an improvement.

If you are happy with your set up.. that's cool. No pressure to go out and go into bankruptcy just to "maybe" hear a difference.

From a receiver with pre outs and adding an external amp.. going to the next step up the ladder is a pre amp.. with that external amp(s). that's all anyone is saying.

Don't think you have to go out and buy a pre amp just so that you can satisfy the people in here. Do it if you want to reach the next level.. or stay with the gear you have and try to tweak it till it sounds good to you. not us.

As long as my hk will do fine as a pre-amp for a while when I get an amp and new speakers.

Back to the wpc ? again. You guys were telling me that getting a 200wpc amp would not do any damage to my speakers. I just want to get this straight cause I don't quite understand. My speakers are rated that they can't go higher than 150 wpc. As long as I keep it at volume that doesn't hurt my ears, It doesn't matter how powerful the amp is right?
So if I buy an amp that 500 wpc, it will still work with my Entry level monitors but would only be using 1/5 of the power. If you guys don't mind please explaining this if if I'm wrong on something...

[faster100]

amps never get near thier rated output unless they are clipping.. most times casual listening might use 5 -25 watts.. so you are fine with 250 or 500.. long as the volume isnt maxed out..

[tommyboy]

Originally Posted by faster100

amps never get near thier rated output unless they are clipping.. most times casual listening might use 5 -25 watts.. so you are fine with 250 or 500.. long as the volume isnt maxed out..

I know today isn't "retards ask stupid questions day", but then what is the real difference between RMS and peak power? I worked at circuit city not really knowing the answer to this question. All I know is that high current recievers are supposed to show RMS while non high current show peak power.