Price and performance

Weak DSP modes

Build Quality Very nice! It is a good heavy unit with solid construction throughout. There is nothing cheap looking anywhere. The price belies the quality of this piece. I have not seen another piece of gear that is built as ruggedly at this price point, period! Gold plated inputs, beefy binding posts, everything on this receiver screams out more than the 599 msrp. Connections: The receiver has a goodly amount of connection ports for the typical home theater system. It has a 5.1 channel input for future processors, pre-amp outputs for using external amplification, 7 sets of analog audio inputs, a DC trigger output for external devices, 4 composite video inputs, 3 S-video inputs, 2 toslink inputs and a Coax input. Missing, but seldom found on receivers in this price range are component video switching, RF input for Laser Disc and a phonograph input, although with 7 analog inputs you should have no problem finding a spare one to plug your phono pre-amp into. Also included is a speaker impedance selector....very handy! Functions: The Outlaw 1050 is a Dolby Digital EX /DTS capable unit with power for the rear center (EX) included in the package. There is a night mode (compression scheme), AM/FM tuner, bass, treble and balance controls, and get this...a variable crossover point! Yes on a 600 dollar receiver you can have a 6 position variable crossover! That made me grin from ear to ear. All your standard tuning functions and test noise are here as well...a really complete package. Set-up: It was intuitive for me. I breezed right through it with just a few cursory glances at the manual. It is hard for me to judge how easy the set-up would be to a novice, I have set up home more theater receivers than the average enthusiast has had hot Sunday dinners! It seemed to be easy enough but I could not comment on how easy it would be for a newbie. So, how's it sound? In a word...great! No problems with any of the functions. A very smooth sounding piece. It did all the formats I threw at it fine and reproduced two channel audio very nicely. The standard selection of DSP modes are available to those so inclined to use them and there is a delay set up for speakers that cannot be placed as perfectly as we would like. They really haven’t missed much in this piece, I am still buffaloed at how it can retail for 600 beans. I'm not crazy about that green button on the front but that is truly a minor complaint. The manual was informative and the instructions seemed to be in plain English, as though they were written by someone that spoke English as their primary language. The remote was straight forward and I really liked the back-lighting plus...I couldn’t find a function that I could not access from the remote. The remote is pre-programmed for a large list of components but is not a "learning" remote, however the list of codes was 6 full pages long so I doubt that you would have a problem finding the codes for any current equipment.
Conclusion I don’t see how you could touch this receiver for the same money. It simply is THE standard to beat in the 900 dollar and lower price range in my opinion. I would have no problem recommending this unit to a friend and I would know that I would keep them as a friend! It is simply un-beatable in this price range in my opinion. I don’t know how they did it but the Outlaw 1050 receiver will allow many people have a great quality home theater receiver at a bargain basement price!

Similar Products Used:

Too many to mention

Superb Sound, plenty of power (don't be fooled by the 65W rating), 6.1 sound, quality customer service!

none relative to the price

Before this year, I would not have believed that "audiophile" equipment made a discernable difference in sound quality. That is until I heard a pair of b&w 808s plugged into a plain kenwood receiver. the difference an amazing set of speakers made for a standard receiver was remarkable. I started to wonder what they would sound like with a real set-up.

After the revelation I was no longer content with my all-pioneer set-up. after looking at the denon, marantz and other pioneer models an audiophile recommended that i look at the oulaw.

I bought the updated software version of the b-stock. $549

While deciding which model to get, I emailed outlaw and got a prompt response from the customer service people. What a nice touch to finally find a company that actually gives a rats-a$$ about the people who keep them in business!

I was wary of the low power rating and the fact that i couldn't audition the receiver before buying it. Reading other people's experience with the customer service at Outlaw made me feel fine about trying the unit out, and risking the cost of shipping if I had to send it back.

Well, I got it this morning (via 3 day fed-ex no less)

It is a swank looking unit compared to my pioneer and compared to the other mass-market receivers. i only wish they didnt have to make the power button green... (hair-splitting)

very easy to set up. all functions can be performed with the remote or directly on the front panel.

the remote;
the buttons light up when a button is pressed which is nice. a previous reviewer noted an audible hum when the buttons light up. I can only hear the hum but only when I hold it to my ear (maybe i got a quieter remote?). my minor quibble with the remote is that while there is a button to switch the receiver to dvd, there is no "dvd" button to tell the remote to control the dvd component. i wound up using a dvd code through an "aux" button which works fine, but i found it a bit odd to make a remote now-a-days without that...

The true reason I wanted to get the unit was for better sound quality and I can not stop listening to this receiver! I sounds INCREDIBLE. much clearer/detailed and more transparent than my pioneer. and the power rating is no longer a worry of mine. It lights up my cheapo pioneer speakers with ease and I start to worry about a call to the police long before the outlaw runs out of steam.

In short, i seriously recommend listening to the oulaw before buying the denon, onkyo, marantz, pioneer etc. units out there. I dont think you can do better for $599. I am truly impressed.

Similar Products Used:

pioneer elite 26, denon 3300 marantz 7000

Smooth, clean sound. Price, warranty, customer support.

Some might find it a bit underpowered. Especially, if you're running large floor standing speakers.

After weeks of research, and listening to the Denon and Onkyo, I've got to say that the Outlaw is the real thing. Not to knock Denon or Onkyo (they make some fine products) but in this price range, you can't beat the value of the Outlaw. The build quality, features, customer service (I got the unit in 2 days), not to mention great stereo and surround sound (none of the brash, exaggerated highend of the Onkyo or Denon)really warrant taking a look at this unit if you're in the $1000 or under price range.
Setup was easy, and besides the less than perfect remote (it will control other units, but it's layout is not the friendliest),the only knock i have is that the DSP's sound alike.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3800 & Onkyo 767

Price/Performance Ratio, clean power, high (WAF) wife acceptance factor (at least in my case)

None as of yet

Although I have only had this unit for a few weeks, I must say that it made an immediate and noticable improvement in my system. I had been previously using a Kenwood receiver due to limited funds and was seeking a cost effective upgrade due to my video equipment prchases. The sound now has a life to it that was not there with the Kenwood and sense of power without strain (I live in an apartment so I need not use all of the available power). At the price I paid through Ebay, this is easily the best audio investment I have ever made.

Another benefit that I could not forsee and one that would make this unit a bargian at twice the price is my wife's reaction to the unit. She once looked at my audio hobby as an annoyance and the equipment as a stack of black boxes that were "all the same". I can tell you with great pleasure that since installing the Outlaw receiver in my system, her audio enthusiasm has almost grown greater than mine. Thanks Outlaw!

Based on price/performance I would give it higher than five stars if possible.

Equipment:
Outlaw 1050 Receiver
Toshiba SD-6200 DVD Player
Mitsubishi WT-46807 HDTV Monitor
Jamo Classic 6 spakers with Def. Tech BP1X surrounds
Monster HTS-3500 Surge/Conditioner
Audioquest speaker cables
Better Cables (Coax audio and Component Video)

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood 1080VR, Yamaha rv995

Value

Lack of tone controls for center and surrounds.
Bass Management

This is my first DD/DTS receiver so I don't have much to compare to. I have a separate two channel system and bought this receiver for a separate home theater system.

When I first picked it up, I noticed that it has some good weight and therefore it must be well built. After that, I installed it and tweaked with the bass management options. I first tested it with two channel music and I was surprised why there was no sound coming from the sub. I have set the main speakers as large and sub on. Unfortunately, the sub only turns on when it is in Pro Logic, 5.1, or the other useless soundfields. Well, this didn't really bother me much since I would be using the Outlaw mainly for Theater. I listen to music on the other system anyways.

I wanted to tweak the center channel's frequency response since this was an option in my friends Sony ES receiver. I found out that the bass and treble controls on the Outlaw only controls the left and right front speakers. Oh well, that's okay since the adjustments would be small and I could live without the center tone controls. The reason why I wanted to EQ the center is because most MTM designs have a peak around 100Hz-200Hz. This is probably because of having two midrange drivers and one tweeter.

I set up the levels on the speakers using the Surround Test CD. I have the Center at -3, Fronts at 0, Rears at +2. All the speakers are set to small. This gave the smoothest transition in my system. I played the lobby scene from the Matrix DVD and was outstanded as how much power 65 watts could put out. I turned it up and it never sounded strained or compressed. I just stopped turning it up because I was afraid my speakers might get damaged and my ears too.

The surrounds do hiss, but I could only notice it when my ears are 4" away from the surrounds! Otherwise, there are no problems.

Overall, a very nice product and with the 6.1 channel, you have the option of adding a rear center surround. The Outlaw is the first to do this for $600 so there is no competition. Sound Quality is very good, it doesn't sound bright like the similar priced Harman/Kardon. I can only recommend this if you want the ultimate HT receiver for $600 and already have a separate system for music.

Associated Equipment:

Sound Dynamics C2
Sound Dynamics RTS-3
Paradigm Mini Monitor (rears)
Premier speaker stands
AudioSource SW15
RadioShack Gold Interconnects
RadioShack Gold 75 ohm video (use it for digital)
A nice comfy couch, some popcorn and soda.

Enjoy....

Similar Products Used:

Sony DA-555ES

PRICE/PERFORMANCE
Specifically:
Sound imaging, 6.1 surround, build quality(!), customer service, adjustable subwoofer crossover

5 channel stero would be nice, remote hums

Since Outlaw only sells over the internet, I had to take this receiver on its reputation. I was looking for a NEW receiver because the two receivers I bought refurbished from uBid (a Denon 1601 and Pioneer Elite 33TX) both broke within a couple of weeks. (Do not buy from uBid!) I have been very pleasantly surprised with the results, to say the least.

You can tell that the good people at Outlaw put a lot of thought and care into building this receiver. Look on the back: gold plated inputs and outputs, not the el cheapo ones you find on even good brands such as Marantz, Onkyo and Pioneer Elite. Then try lifting this SOB. It’s really, really heavy. Perhaps 50 lbs or more.

But the proof is in the pudding. I’m talking about sound. This unit sounds phenomenal both in 2 channel stereo and home theater applications. Mated with my Paradigm Mini Monitors (which aren’t very expensive speakers mind you) I am continually impressed by this unit. Listening to Beck’s Midnite Vultures is a revelation. It sounds like Beck is coming directly from the center channel speaker (even though it isn’t on!) while at the same time I hear some very detailed, crisp and discreet music coming from both the left and right channels. Over and over I hear a bunch of stuff I never knew was there. Awesome! I keep popping in CDs so I can hear them again for the first time.

HT applications never sounded better. While I think music is where this unit shines, I’m living my movies all over again.

The remote is a good one, and very customizable to boot. But the problem I have with it is that when you touch a button, the remote illuminates and emanates a very irritating hum. Otherwise, it’s great.

I couldn’t give this receiver a more ringing endorsement. For $555, shipped, it’s a friggin steal. You can see the benefits that I listed above: sound imaging, build quality, features, etc., but the only way to judge it is to listen to it. That means BUY IT!!! This is every bit the world-beater it’s advertised as.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 1601, 1801, Pioneer Elite 33 TX, 27 TX, old Sony Pro Logic receiver,

Plenty of clean, reserve power despite the 65WPC rating, build quality, price, customer service

Individual center and surround speaker levels can't be stored on different inputs

I decided to finally plunge into the DD and DTS arena and did countless hours of research to find the "best value". I definitely found it in the Outlaw 1050.

Pros:
-Ordered on Friday, received on Monday...great service!
-Outlaw T/S was VERY helpful and actually returned my phone calls!
-Build quality is EXCELLENT...at over 40lbs they should include a back brace ;-)
-Easy setup
-LOTS of power, despite only being rated at 65wpc
-DD EX...center rear surround makes a big difference in smoothing out rear panning effects
-All configuration can be done form the front panel(great incase you lose the remote)

Cons:
-You can't save individual surround and center levels settings to different inputs...I think this is a BIG drawback, every source ie. vcr, ld ,dvd has different levels so you have to manually change them for each.
-No AC-3 RF input..didn't expect it on $600 receiver but it would be nice
-Remote isn't the greatest
-Not much diffrence between the DSP modes
-no multi-room capabilty

Overall this is top notch receiver for the money but because of the lower power rating wouldn't recommend if you are driving inefficient speakers.

Similar Products Used:

JVC Pro-Logic Receiver

DTS, Dolby Digital 6.1, S-Video, Optical/Coax inputs, preamp outputs, Price

No composite/s-video switching, slight whining noise from remote when it lights up

This is one heck of a A/V receiver for the price. I paid $600.00 plus $40.00 shipping. I received it on time (which was rather fast). And their customer service is beyond reproach. I can't wait to purchase their Model 750 amp.

When I received it I couldn't believe how heavy it was. It was much heavier than my Pioneer. Also it was double boxed something I haven't seen many companies do. So far I was very impressed.

Hooking it up was a breeze and the owner's manual is one of the best I have read so far. Very detail oriented and instructional. If we could rate the manuals I would give this one 5 out of 5 stars.


I have older Klipsch speakers (KM series) and sub, an old Panasonic A100 DVD player and a 32" JVS TV with s-video input. My test DVD was IMAX Super Speedway. WOW!!! is all I have to say. The sound was immense and filling. I can't believe that it is 65x6. My Pioneer was 100x5 and it didn't come near the power and clarity that the Outlaw has. (although the Pioneer was Dolgy Pro-Logic only) Outlaw has really put some time and effort into this receiver. Next I watched Matrix and during the seen where Agent Smith and Neo are in the Subway station and they are firing their weapons at each other and they do a slow-mo and rotate around their bodies the sound was smooth with no gaps while hopping from speaker to speaker. You could actually hear the bullets whizzing and rotating around the room. Again WOW!

I haven't had a chance to test any CD's because I want to hook up my EQ first. I believe that Outlaw didn't use the sub-output for plain jane stereo.

Gripes: First is a slight whining sound from the remote when it lights up. But I can handle that. It won't detract from my rating. Second is composite/s-video switching. I really wish it had been included. Third is that I wish they had a few more audio-video connections or maybe could have added front panel audio/video inputs.
But again none of this will detract from my rating. It is a GREAT receiver for the price range.

I can't wait to see what else Outlaw Audio will bring out.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-604S

Price, Build quality. Customer service

Looks

PART II - THE TALE OF TWO RECEIVERS

THIS REVIEW REPLACES THE ONE I WROTE ON 7/4/00

First Off I must comment on Outlaw Audio's commitment to customer service and to making the best product they can. After reading my comments on various websites and the review I wrote on 7/4/00, Outlaw called me to find out why I felt the way I did and what I heard with the receiver I bought and how it was used in my system. After talking with them at lengthh about my unit, it was agreed that the unit sent was defective or damaged in shipping, this is not the first defective piece of audio equipment I received (various problems with new onkyo, denon, and sound dynamics) I was happy with the marantz 7000 I ended up keeping after my 5 receiver sound-off and was reluctant to accept another outlaw 1050. Outlaw assured me that they did not want to sell me the receiver, just seek my help in finding out the problems that I had so they could rectify any future problems for other consumers. I agreed to help being curious and had them send me a new unit which I experiemented with in every combination that could be imaginable. These are my results: WOW, IS THIS THE SAME RECEIVER????????????????

The new receiver sent sounded night and day different from the original, right out of the box. My wife and I were totally surpised having thought we would hear more of the same sound we heard from the first unit. Where the first one was thin, sterile and without punch, the new one was very dynamic, fuller, and somewhat forward sounding. It also was much louder than the first one sent. I wonder if something related to the amp was damaged in transport of the first unit. The volume was about 12 numbers lower than what I remembered it being in 2 channel as well as home theater. I was pleasantly surprised at what I was hearing. It actually made my nOrh 7.0 speakers sound more "alive" than the marantz. After hearing the outlaw compared to the 7000, my wife and I liked the sound of the 2nd outlaw better. The outlaw made the marantz sound veiled and non-involving. Needles to say, the marantz is going back.

I experimented with various speaker wire, crossovers, different speaker location, inputs, etc. The best sound I found for 2 channel was with all speakers set to small with the crossover at 60hz. This gave the system its most punch incorporating the sub (I use a hsu vtf-2, highly recommended.) I also noticed that when using the digital bitstream the sound is much louder (about 8 numbers)than using the analog connections. I also attached the analog interconnects through the 5.1 inputs to get a direct source (no dsp, tone controls, etc.) The sound was very clean and life like but missed a little on the bottem end (no sub in direct 2 channel, same as the marantz.)Depending on the type of music you listen to, the direct mode will come in handy when you want "pure signal." I also noticed the outlaw was able to "expose" poorly recorded/produced cds over the marantz. My speakers are very revealing to the source and bad cd's sounded worse on the outlaw than the marantz. You might think this is a bad thing, I don't. My experience in listening to higher quality amps (bryston, plinius among others)also show this similiar trait. I also liked using my dh lab t-14 cabble over my 12 ga monster cable. with the t-14 the mids and highs were a lot cleaner, the monster combination offered a little more bass but not as defined.

I was also surprised with the new units volume. It was much louder than the first unit and cleaner. It easily filled my 18x12 room never showing any sign of strain or distortion. This is one great amp. This is what I was initially expecting after having read the many positive reviews of outlaws 5 channel amp. The outlaw sounded much cleaner than the marantz at higher volumes. The marantz started to get thick and more distorted in the mids, the outlaw remained clean. I really was shocked at what I was hearing. I never imagined that I would prefer the sound of the outlaw over the marantz 7000 and the denon 3300 I previously owned.

In home theater, I did not test the 6.1 channel effects, just the DTS demo disk and a few 5.1 dvds. The outlaw preformed outstandingly. I kept checking the heat of the receiver having heard that a few other people were having excessivly warm receivers. My new unit did not get overly hot, it was just as warm as the marantz :) I also checked on hiss from the speakers which I had a problem with on the first unit. Once again I was pleasantly surprised with the 2nd unit had no hiss from my listening position. All amps will have some hiss, I had to go to the speaker and put my ear up to the tweeter to hear it!! The sound in home theater was excellent offering the same high quality seperation of sound that the marantz and denon also offered. The LFE channel was surprisingly louder with the outlaw over the marantz. Both sub channels were set at +8 and the outlaw was considerably louder. There was no channel bleed in from either unit.

Build quality was excellent as noted in my first review on the outlaw and the marzntz. I like the fact that the outlaw has gold plated connections as well as true 5 way binding posts. Tho outlaw weighs about 4-5 pounds more than the marantz.

I am now sold on the outlaw. Im glad I gave outlaw another try and am still shocked over the difference between the two units I demo from outlaw. This is a teriffic product and for $600 this receiver is a steal. I have found that dealing with "direct internet sales companies" have been a real positive experience. My speakers are nOrh which are sold only on the net( norh.com)as well as my sub (hsuresearch.com) These companies are small and will go way out of the way for customer service and to make sure you are totally 100% satisfied. They also offer you incredible value getting to buy products direct from the manufacturer avoiding distributor and retail mark up. Outlaw is another example of a internet only company that cares about its customers and offers a high quality product that should cost several hundred dollars more than it does. When was the last time onkyo or denon called you about a problem you were having with their products?

As always, these are my experiences in my system. Yours will vary. Try the products you are interested in your own home.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz 7000, Denon 3300, Onkyo 777, HK 500

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING AN OUTLAW 1050, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO LOWER THEIR PRICE BY $100. IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT EVEN AT $599! GOOD LUCK!