The Outlaw Model 7125 is a 7 channel power amplifier boasting 125W of output into an 8 ohm load, all channels driven (20Hz-20kHz, <0.05THD). Priced at $999, the Model 7125 is largely devoid of bells, whistles, and audio jewelry; in fact, aside from a single button/LED to view and control whether or not the amplifier is in standby mode, the front panel is entirely bare. In a world dominated by feature laden A/V receivers that ostensibly boast "a thousand watts of total system power", can Outlaw’s $1000 offering possibly offer anything of use? Read on to see my thoughts.
Executive Summary
The first thing someone relatively new to the world of audio should understand is that there is little comparison between most A/V receivers and a dedicated power amplifier such as the Model 7125. In the A/V receiver world, power is generally rated into one or two channels which a marketing department then spins into some outrageous figure. That’s not the case here. A quick peek under the hood of the Model 7125 yields a massive 1.6kVA transformer (and 20,000uF of capacitance per channel to boot), meaning that 125Wx7 isn’t some pipe dream thought up by marketers.
Of course, all channels driven into an 8 ohm load isn’t what truly separates an amplifier like the Model 7125 from a run of the mill receiver. The raison d'etre to make the move to a separate amplifier is performance into more difficult loads, and into a 4 ohm load, the Model 7125 can deliver a whopping 190W, again all channels driven (20Hz-20kHz, <0.05% THD). Quite frankly, there aren’t many AVRs with the cajones to deliver that kind of juice, regardless of price, let alone anywhere near the $1,000 mark. In fact, bench testing of the $1,100 Yamaha RX-A1010 suggests few midrange receivers can deliver that kind of 4 ohm performance with 2 channels driven (the Yamaha delivered 155W, full bandwidth, 0.1% THD).
So you get power, but what else does $1,000 get you? A quick glance at the front panel will tell you what you need to know: this is a simple power amplifier; there are no fancy VU meters, no intricate casework, no clip lights, etc. On the upside, build quality does appear to be top notch with a solid chassis, meaty binding posts, and unbalanced input jacks that don’t feel like they’ll rip out at the first tug. Of course given that the Model 7125 is built in the US by none other than ATI, the high standard of build quality isn’t a big surprise. Still, at the end of the day this is an amplifier that is meant to disappear into an equipment rack, not get shown off like a high dollar Classe.
Some Thoughts About Actual Ownership And Use
Those that follow my theater thread in the Pros and Joes section know I've got my hands on the Model 7125, so I can actually give some thoughts beyond a typical first glance. I will say that actually receiving and setting up the Outlaw was relatively painless. The Model 7125 came double boxed, and had further protection in the way of foam end caps. Being 51 pounds, it isn't exactly as simple as unboxing a DVD player, but it's not something the average guy should need a lot of help with either; if my recollection isn’t failing me, I don’t believe I uttered a single obscenity throughout the entire process. Connections were fairly straightforward; on the up side, the binding posts are fairly large and reasonably well spaced, and consequently the barrels of the locking banana plugs on my BJC speaker cables aren't anywhere close to shorting (this was a concern on my Onkyo receiver).
As far as actually using the Model 7125, it's a dead quiet amplifier in my system, which isn't a great surprise given the below average 28dB voltage gain and 119dB SNR (A weighted). In my listening thus far, there aren't any audible issues to report, i.e. hum, distortion, etc. However, I should note that this Outlaw does get fairly warm in use: for reference, it has 3.5" of breathing room on the top, the cabinet is reasonably well ventilated, and my speakers do spend some time around the 4 ohm mark in the audio band. While it doesn't get burning hot like my Onkyo receiver, it's not the icy operation of my Emotiva XPA-200 either. Consider yourself warned if you plan to stick it in a fully enclosed cabinet with no breathing room.
Summary
The Outlaw Model 7125 appears to deliver a heck of a lot of power for $999. While some might compare this with an entry level receiver that boasts about 1,000 total watts of system power, this amplifier actually has the robust power supply required to back up its claims. Of course, for just shy of $1,000, you're not getting anything that would qualify as a piece of art; what you do seem to get is a very powerful, well built, made in the good old U.S. of A. amplifier that can handle seven channels of practically anything you might throw at it. If you feel your A/V receiver is wheezing along to deliver the output you're looking for, this might just be the shot in the arm you're looking for.
So what do you guys think? Anybody (else) own one?
Anybody interested in a full review from Gene?
For those interested in my photography skills (or lack thereof), I also snapped a few shots myself as seen here:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/pros-joes-systems-gallery/84268-steve81s-theater-5.html#post972557
Quick Specs
Power Output: 7 x 125 watts RMS at 8 ohms, all channels driven from 20 Hz to 20kHz with less than 0.05% THD
7 x 190 watts RMS at 4 ohms, all channels driven from 20 Hz to 20kHz with less than 0.05% THD
Signal to Noise: 119dB "A" weighted
Frequency Response: 20Hz. -20kHz. +/- 0.1 dB at rated output
Power Bandwidth: 5 Hz - >125kHz +0/-3 dB
Damping Factor: Greater than 400 from 10 Hz to 400 Hz
Crosstalk: Greater than -90 dB from 20 Hz to 20Khz
Gain: Voltage gain of 28 dB
Slew Rate: 50v/uSec
Input Impedance: Nominal 50k ohms
Input Sensitivity: 1.00 Volts for Full Rated Output
Remote Trigger Voltage: 3 - 32 Volts DC at 5 milliamperes or greater
Dimensions: (HxWxD): 5.9" with feet x 17.2" x 16.2"
Weight: 51 lbs
Power Requirements: 115VAC, +/- 3%, 50Hz - 60 Hz. 1440 watts, maximum
