Big fan of the outlaws!

I have my Oppo 93 hooked up via 7.1 and my outlaw 7500 via balanced cable to the 990. With New Mac Mini now being added to the rack and a few other goodies I really need the simplicity of HDMI!!!

Time to paint the room and everything must be unplugged and moved for safety. As I look behind my console the nest of wires that has exists is kind of crazy.

My old Harmony Remote is also in need to be replaced. Cracked screen and some dead buttons. Wife still figure the darn thing out!!!

Simple question: Will the new 975 plugged in via HDMI and simplified NOT degrade my sound? it is quite enticing to be able to replace dozens of cables and get some order back there. Its been about 5 years since its been moved and they oldest piece of technology is the 990!!

I don't critially listen to my 5.1 discs as I would like and I think for Movies the HDMI should be fine. My Mac Mini will be a base for my new Olive One music server which has its own DAC. The Oppo is now 4 years old and Im thinking the 975 can do a fine job processing in its place.

Anyone replace their 990 with the 975? I would be curious to read some impressions!

Thank you in advance!!!!

Before I comment, you should consider the source. I am one of the original founders of Outlaw, so to some this might sound like "shameless promotion".

In my opinion, the 975 delivers both video and audio better than the original 990, which in its day, was one of the best performing moderately priced processors out there.

Sonically, the 975 delivers noticeably better degree of clarity (without any harshness) My wife, (who hears a lot better than I do) instantly perceived this positive difference. Picture wise, the performance of the 975 is virtually flawless.

Keep in mind that in the eight years between the introduction dates of the two processors, there have been a lot of improvements in technologies and microprocessors and the differences between the two units reflect these differences.


My advice to you is to try the 975 for the 30 day free trial. When the 30 days is over, I believe you will choose to keep the 975 and retire your beloved 990 to another system.

Peter

When the two previous pre/pro projects failed I gave up and got an Oppo 105 whichs practically all the digital processing. It would have been great if only the 975 had the nice pure analog bypass my 990 has.

With a new Outlaw processor on the horizon I sure hope my 990 continues to hang in there. However, if it took a dive the cost to repair the 990 isn't really justified with the 975 available. I just skimmed the 975's manual and I'm a bit confused regarding the location of processing specifically related to my Oppo BDP-83 or their current BDP-103. Can all the BluRay and DVD video processing be done by the Oppo, sent to the 975 via HDMI and then left unaltered by the 975? If true, can the audio processing be handled by the 975 in that situation?

Page 22 of the manual notes that:
"the Model 975 can pass video through as “native” with no video processing at all"

That's how I have my 975 set up for operation with the Oppo 103.

When I first got the 975 I played with the various video settings using both a DVD and BluRay of the Avengers movie, albeit on a Panasonic BluRay player. I don't remember the results but I posted them on this forum someplace...

I ran my BDP-83 thru the analog outputs to the 990 for audio and HDMI to DVI to the 990 for video with the OPPO doing all the processing. You could also bypass the 990s video side altogether and just take HDMI straight to the display.

Thanks for reference to the manual EEMan. Nice to know I can have the video processing only done by the Oppo should I get a 975.

And XenonMan, I bypass the 990 video and run the HDMI directly to my display from my BDP-83. The audio is via the analog outs on the Oppo to the 990. This has been an effective arrangement for a number of years.

Back to the OP I also have a Harmony remote that is getting "long in the tooth" and while the family enjoys its functions it has been so long since I programmed it I'm not sure I remember how to do it! I'd probably just start over with a new remote should I add a 975.

I think you would be quite happy with the results. I have my OPPO BDP-103 run the same as EEman. Let the video pass through with the 975 handling all of the audio processing chores. My Dish Network receiver is done the same way.

I only have 3 SACD's so limited experience here. Listening to the OPPO connected via RCA and now listening via the HDMI through the 975 I find the 975 audio processing to be an improvement.

Waited and saved for a 990 replacement. When that failed to materialize I purchased the Marantz Av8801. Got a good deal and am very happy. If you can get one as they are being closed out everywhere I'm sure you can get a great deal.

AvFan, I replaced my 990 (which I will tweak and give to my daughter) with the 975 and am quite happy. As with my 990, I run the video output of my OPPO 105 directly to my Samsung DLP LED TV. As Peter noted, 8 years means lots of advances in codecs and components and the 975 IS better than the 990. With the return policy, you can't go wrong here.