Outlaw - 5 Channel Amp or 5 Monoblocks?

[ZoFo]

Are there any advantages to using all monoblocks over a multi-channel amp besides each amp having a dedicated power supply? I can see where this would be an advantage if you were driving ribbon / planner or 4 ohm speakers but are there any other real advantages? Also having 6 amps turning on at the same time is not good and my power conditioner only has on delayed / on “Amp” plug; do they make a staggered power bar for running multiple Amps?

I am making the move from AV receiver to Separates and have decided on the Outlaw 990 pre/processor but have not decided on the amp yet. I know they are getting ready to release a new 200W 5 & 7 channel Amp with balanced interconnects and I will wait for these to be released if I go the multi-channel Amp route.

Any of you using the Outlaw 990 pre/processor?

The speakers I am driving right now are Energy Connoisseurs; 3 C-C3’s in the front and a pair of C-3’s for the rear and will be adding a C-R3 rear for 6.1 soon.

 

[mulester7]

Are there any advantages to using all monoblocks over a multi-channel amp besides each amp having a dedicated power supply?

Also having 6 amps turning on at the same time is not good and my power conditioner only has on delayed / on “Amp” plug; do they make a staggered power bar for running multiple Amps?

.....ZoFo, cool handle, you answered yourself on the first one.....

.....on the second one, I need to bring AC from different outlets myself......

.....with amps....the first time I got a turn-on POP from my pre-amp with around 8500 watts of mixed impedences standing at attention, it came to me quickly, to make sure the pre-amp is the FIRST thing turned on, and the LAST thing turned off, luckily no casualties....fish were swimming sideways in the aquarium....the dog was stiff-legged and moon-eyed, leaning against the couch.....

 

[mulester7]

..........on the second one, I need to bring AC from different outlets myself......

.....hopefully this will initiate some responses....can I use only one wall outlet for these amps, using some kind of conditioner/strengthener?.......

 

[majorloser]

Most pre-amps will have a 12V triggger to turn on the amps. By daisy-chaining this output the amps will fire up after the pre.

Mono blocks vs. multi channel amps............again it depends on brands and models.

They also make power cords for small monoblocks that are meant to be daisy chained. One plug into the wall and multiple input plugs spaced evenly along the cord.

 

[Doug917]

I have read a few posts on different forums where people have issues with the monoblocks driving 4 ohm speakers loudly. I have not heard anyone complain about this with the 5-channel and 7-channel amps from Outlaw. I own 2 of the 755 5-channel amps and they are great. It's also much easier to plug in one unit as opposed to 5 or seven. The multi-channel amps are made at the same facility where ATI amps are made. It is my opinion that the multichannel Outlaw units are of higher quality than the Outlaw monoblocks.

 

[mulester7]

I have read a few posts on different forums where people have issues with the monoblocks driving 4 ohm speakers loudly. I have not heard anyone complain about this with the 5-channel and 7-channel amps from Outlaw. I own 2 of the 755 5-channel amps and they are great. It's also much easier to plug in one unit as opposed to 5 or seven. The multi-channel amps are made at the same facility where ATI amps are made. It is my opinion that the multichannel Outlaw units are of higher quality than the Outlaw monoblocks.

.....interesting slant on the mono-blocks, Doug....how much does the Outlaw 5 channel set one back financially?......

 

[DTRUTH]

I have five Outlaw monoblocks and haven't had any issues with them powering my 4 ohm speakers at loud volumes. Mine stay in standby mode until they detect a signal from the receiver once it's powered up.

 

[Doug917]

Mulester,

The old 5-channel unit (the 755) sold for $1149 when bought them. The normal price was $1299. The new 5-channel unit (the 7500) is supposed to be about $200 more than the 755 which should put it around $1499.

ZoFo,

I have a 990 on order right now. I am currently using a Yamaha 2500 as a pre/pro. I am going to have a shoot-out next weekend and see if the 990 can take down the 2500. I have heard very good things about the 990, so I decided I will see for myself if it can best the 2500.

 

[mulester7]

Mulester,

The old 5-channel unit (the 755) sold for $1149 when bought them. The normal price was $1299. The new 5-channel unit (the 7500) is supposed to be about $200 more than the 755 which should put it around $1499.

ZoFo,

I have a 990 on order right now. I am currently using a Yamaha 2500 as a pre/pro. I am going to have a shoot-out next weekend and see if the 990 can take down the 2500. I have heard very good things about the 990, so I decided I will see for myself if it can best the 2500.

.....Doug, while we're looking at 5 channels being taken care of, I sure wish someone could throw a really good price at us on five channels of Earthquake, and I'll quit with that....maybe........

 

[Doug917]

You just can't stop the mule!

 

[mulester7]

You just can't stop the mule!

.....shoot, the dog looked good compared to me the day of the pre-amp popping, Doug....buddy, now there's how to stop me "and" King Kong, haha.......

 

[ZoFo]

Let me know how it goes Doug!

Please post the results, I will be intrested in to see wat you think; is there a waiting period for the 990?

If I go with the 5-channel I will need to get a single monoblock for the rear channel, got a lead on a C-R3 and will order that tomorow.

Any idea on when the new model of the 755 will be available?

 

[Doug917]

ZoFo,

There is no waiting period for the 990. They said they were pretty stocked up when I ordered mine Friday. The 7500 series amp should be available within the next few weeks.

 

[tdeluce]

.....Doug, while we're looking at 5 channels being taken care of, I sure wish someone could throw a really good price at us on five channels of Earthquake, and I'll quit with that....maybe........

The five channel Earthquake Sound AMP is five 1,000 watt amps ( if a speaker
dips down to 2 ohms, each can output 1,000 watts ). BUT unless you
have special wiring, you will never yank anywhere near that amount from
the wall.

So I have an isolated 20 AMP circuit ( actuallly I have two of them but
one is dedicated only to the Earthquake 3 channel amp ) which should
be able to handle 3 kilowatts as long as it is not constant and which I doubt
will ever occur.

I would go for two Earthquake sound 3 channel amps each with separate
isolated 20 amp circuits before I would go with a single Earthquake Sound
5 channel AMP. For me, the surrounds don't need as much ( I am also
only 6 feet away from them rather 9 feet away from my LCRs ).

 

[mulester7]

The five channel Earthquake Sound AMP is five 1,000 watt amps ( if a speaker
dips down to 2 ohms, each can output 1,000 watts ). BUT unless you
have special wiring, you will never yank anywhere near that amount from
the wall.

So I have an isolated 20 AMP circuit ( actuallly I have two of them but
one is dedicated only to the Earthquake 3 channel amp ) which should
be able to handle 3 kilowatts as long as it is not constant and which I doubt
will ever occur.

I would go for two Earthquake sound 3 channel amps each with separate
isolated 20 amp circuits before I would go with a single Earthquake Sound
5 channel AMP. For me, the surrounds don't need as much ( I am also
only 6 feet away from them rather 9 feet away from my LCRs ).

....two Earthquake 3's for $2500-$2800....hmmm....one for $1250-$1399 and let the receiver power the back channels would be my go....or....a killer price on five channels of Earthquake....and I accidently deleted a PM, please hit me again, haha.....

 

[tdeluce]

....two Earthquake 3's for $2500-$2800....hmmm....one for $1250-$1399 and let the receiver power the back channels would be my go....or....a killer price on five channels of Earthquake....and I accidently deleted a PM, please hit me again, haha.....

I went with the Earthquake Sound 3 channel AMP and a couple
Outlaw Audio M2200s for the surrounds ( by the way, I have
had the Denon AVR-4802 powering my surrounds for a few years
but since I started using the Outlaw's to power the surrounds
less than a week ago, the speaker grills were blown off about
3/4 of an inch As unscientific as this is, I suspect the
Outlaw Audio M2200s are doing a better job than my 4802
in powering the surrounds ).

I am using the 4802 as a pre/pro will eventually upgrade to
a processor. I believe using a receiver to power your surrounds
and the an AMP for the LCR is also a very good strategy ( and one
I was using before I got the Earthquake amp ).

 

[mulester7]

.....you guys who might want to try amps on the front three....some have suggested getting used 2 channel slave amps for 100 bucks on EBay....to snag two two-channel amps would be good especially if you have 6.1....three sides for the front, and one side for two bookshelf rear speakers in series....doing that, could make the soundstage staggering, with outstanding, and astounding mids.....whew, the King's vernacular gits ruff sumtymes......

 

[rolyasm]

.....Doug, while we're looking at 5 channels being taken care of, I sure wish someone could throw a really good price at us on five channels of Earthquake, and I'll quit with that....maybe........

A little bird told me you should have your answer sometime Monday Mulester.

 

[mulester7]

A little bird told me you should have your answer sometime Monday Mulester.

.....Roly, may the little bird be blessed....come Christmas, mule may sport watts-potential of 15,000, and a baker's dozen of channels....but....it's about the "voice"....not bleeding ears....guys, you can try stuff with that kind of power base....like strap your present 4 K2's to hit small cannons and mini-barns....high and low centers above and below a screen, paralleled, for authority special....the "voice", that you can take as loud as you want....correct, I am a night owl when conditions allow....and, that's when I work 70% of the time, sooo, hello sunrise....signed, Dracula-mule, haha.....PS....I may not work again 'till Christmas, and they keep sending these regular checks....I mean, what's an Audioholic to do?......


.....edit....try to read at least the first few lines of the review by this guy Clint Walker....he's good....he made me explode early laughing....

http://www.federalstereo.com/federalstereo/earcingran5c.html

 

[surveyor]

.....Roly, may the little bird be blessed....come Christmas, mule may sport watts-potential of 15,000, and a baker's dozen of channels....but....it's about the "voice"....not bleeding ears....guys, you can try stuff with that kind of power base....like strap your present 4 K2's to hit small cannons and mini-barns....high and low centers above and below a screen, paralleled, for authority special....the "voice", that you can take as loud as you want....correct, I am a night owl when conditions allow....and, that's when I work 70% of the time, sooo, hello sunrise....signed, Dracula-mule, haha.....PS....I may not work again 'till Christmas, and they keep sending these regular checks....I mean, what's an Audioholic to do?......


.....edit....try to read at least the first few lines of the review by this guy Clint Walker....he's good....he made me explode early laughing....

http://www.federalstereo.com/federalstereo/earcingran5c.html

The mulester has provided a very tempting link here!
I use the Outlaw Model 770 and really like it.
Cheers