When they handshake with each other there is no offering to have more than 2.1 sound.

Has anyone found a way to stream Netflix or Amazon from mac mini to the 975 with better than 2.1? Thanks!

That depends on the specific application in use. If you can't select 5.1 audio in the application's settings then it doesn't even offer 5.1. Both Amazon and Netflix have a setting for 5.1 audio in those app versions that support it. Not all app versions do.

If you can get 5.1 from the source great, because you can tell the 975 to use the 5.1 source. If you can only get a stereo source the 975 can still matrix the two channel signal to a 5.1 output using either the Dolby PLII or the Neo 6 matrixes to create a 5.1 signal. It is not as good as a real 5.1 source but it works OK. See page 39 of the manual. Hope this helps.

I can get those choices from my Oppo BDP-93 but not from my Mac.

Im not in front of the unit now but I get some PCM choice on the display and it can't be changed which is weird.

Thank you!!!

PCM is the Unprocessed signal from your Mac to the AVR. The 975 should discern the incoming PCM signal and allow you to decode it in the 975. There may be a setting on the Mac that allows you to output a bitstream (I doubt it) which would take the 975 out of the processing business. On PC machines there is a decoder that can be installed called CCCP which will allow you to use the PC as a movie server. If not, download the file to a USB and use the OPPO to do the processing.

XenonMan,

Thanks for the info. My Mac offers no adjustment in the settings for the 975. The reality is I can stream what I need and the sound is good enough.

I changed my Oppo to bitstream and am getting the ability to have "Neo" cinema and to my surprise it sounds good. For discs it also sounds quite good. Perhaps the Dac in the Outlaw is close enough to the dac in the BDP-93?

Part of my "rewire" and adding the 975 was to create a more convenient sourcing and viewing. I incorporated a Harmony Ulitmate remote which uses the base plus two more blasters and its quite a nice addition. No more having to aim the remote perfectly so everything can do what it needs to do (old harmony 850 remote).

Overall the system must be easy to use for wife and if so, it adds to overall enjoyment! Bottom line the 975 I think is in general on par with the 990 but with one major difference: I think my analog 2.1 experience is improved!

I think Xenon is on to something with the sugestion to run through your OPPO. My reason for buying the BDP-103 was to use it as a network hub.

I was surprised at how nice the 975 sounds. When I downsized I sold a Nelson Pass designed Adcom GFP-750 and a Dared SL2000A and expected stereo reproduction (2.1 now) to be a huge step down. Music reproduction is not up to the level of what I sold but much better than more expensive units I looked at when shopping. I did a demo of the Emotiva pre/pro and prefer the aound from the Outlaw.

Stephen B.

I'm curious which Emotiva you auditioned and what exactly did you like better about the Outlaw vs. the Emotiva? I've been mulling over getting a new processor for awhile and the XMC-1 is on my short list. I haven't really been considering the 975 since it is missing many features that I want.

I borrowed a XMC-1 from a friend while he was on vacation. I had almost three weeks to play around with the unit and try the various settings.

The Emo has flexible connectivity with more of everything than I need so things like balanced connections do not matter here. I use three HDMI in and a Toslink optical so the Emo had more of everything than I need. What connections I did use worked as they should with no hand shake issues that I noticed.

Emo uses Dirac room correction and think the one I borrowed had an older version than the current units but could be wrong. To me the room correction was heavy handed and did not do well with the lowest registers where my room could use a bit of help. I find most room correction to be overly aggressive and Dirac is no different. It does allow for some user input so someone more familiar with correction than myself could probably go in behind Dirac and make adjustments. My correction needs are all below the 80 hz crossover point I have set so other than automating the time alignment automated eq does not float my boat.

The Emo's input switching is faster. Both units seem to handle movie and tv audio formats well though the Outlaw seems to do a better job with the downmixing to the 3.1 format currently in use here.

For lack of a better term I found the Emotiva to have a harder sound when doing stereo playback leading to listner fatigue I do not notice with the Outlaw. For the $1,500 difference in price the Outlaw seemed a better fit for my needs.

Hope this helped. Trying to review gear is not my strong suit. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I will do my best to give impartial answers.