I bought this amp 3 years ago and absolutely loved it. It started acting up a few months ago (the phono mm input started losing volume going from normal to very low). I switched to the mc input and it happened again. I bought a phono preamp, which I ran through a different input and soon thereafter the unit went dead and would no longer turn on. I contacted Outlaw Audio and, of course, it was out of warranty. They sent me a ticket for repair, however, I do not want to pay a significant amount for an item that I have lost confidence in. In short, I bought a Yamaha S801, which I like, but so far do not love as much as the RR2160 mk II. This is the first amplifier that I have owned that actually died on me. This is over 50 years worth of owning hifi gear. Just an aside as to the unit’s reliability. Hope your experience is better.
@@dennismaher8059 Outlaw is pretty good about getting you firmware updates too. But the 5 channel ampo I bought from them in the late 90's is still in my system. About a year ago I spent about $80 to get it back to "as new" and the tech was impressed by the quality of the internals.
That's the amp that got me into this rabbit hole. I've spent much more on this hobby that I anticipated once I purchased that amp from Outlaw. And I had the Mark 1!
I just picked up a pair of Outlaw 2220 Monoblock B-stock, $658.00 total with shipping. So far so good! Absolutely look brand new and no hissing with my ear directly on the chassis of the mono block and right on the tweeter and woofer of my T1+ Towers as well.
I bought an RR2160 MK II last year and it woke up my KEF LS-50's in a way the Yamaha R-N500 could not. The Yamaha has 80 WPC, which should be more than enough, but the improvement from the RR2160 MK II is dramatic. This is one of the few receivers with switchable record out. I like to rip analog sources to my computer while listening to another source. I looked at several other receivers and nothing offered this level of power, true analog subwoofer filtering and I/O flexibility at anywhere near the price. I totally agree with your niggles, but this thing sounds so good, that I really don't care.
I think it's important to know that Peter Tribeman is the founder of Outlaw Audio and formally worked with NAD. If you can get an interview set up with Peter Tribeman Randy, that would be cool!
I was just going to comment that this would be a great replacement if my NAD3080 ever craps out and I saw the Peter Tribeman name. I did some part time work for NAD back in the 80's when he was the big Kahuna. I bought a 3080 when I left. The styling is pure NAD, I love it LOL.
Outlaw Audio became famous in the 2000's for their subwoofers (along with HSU) and multi-channel amplifiers and their pre-HDMI 990 HT pre-amp was a benchmark. The 1070 HT receiver was also highly regarded. Also, their 970/1075 pre-amp/7 channel amp combo was budget friendly and extremly popular. But about 15 years ago Outlaw Audio was going to release a HT receiver based on the Sherwood Newcastle R-772 (with Trinnov room correction) and it was a desaster that almost caused Outlaw to go belly-up. They then became a Marantz distributor to help weather the storm before releasing the more modest 975/976 HT pre-amps. I give them a lot of credit for pulling the plug on an expensive but problematic product rather than releasing it to an enthusiastic customer base and totally distroying their reputation. The exact opposite of the way AT+T would have handled it! The 2150/2160 is a fantastic product all the way around!
I have one of their subs. The amp died - out of warranty. I sent it back to them and had it repaired. It's been going strong since then; pushing 20 years.
I've had the 2160 mkii for several years now. It's worked flawlessly and sounds very, very good with a variety of speakers - primarily Zu DW's, Boston VR towers and Elac Uni-Fi Reference towers. Of the several amps I have (including the Rogue Sphinx v3, Jolida 3502P with KT 120 tubes and older Sansui and Onkyo receivers) it's the only one that can make the Elac towers come alive. The Rogue has a better phono stage, but the Outlaw is no slouch.
I bought the first 5 channel amp Outlaw made, the 750, in 1998 or 99 and it's still in my system. A year ago, I had some caps and other things replaced after my local tech went through it and even though he wasn't familiar with the brand, he said, "That thing is amazing. I'll see you in another 20 or so years." Best $1.000 I ever spent on audio. I also had the earlier version of this amp and it was amazing. I sold it because it was that or my Yamaha CR-2020 and I miss it. I really didn't like the way the RR looked. Still don't. But it sounds so good, so who cares?
I've owned this receiver for two years for playing music only. I listen mostly to jazz, classical, and light rock on occasion. For speakers I have Magnepan LRS+, Rel T/Zero subwoofer, Cambridge Audio Azure 851N (for playing FLAC files from SSD), and Rotel CD11 Tribute. Good amp overall but it seems a bit under-powered with 4 ohm loads. I was also using a pair of Emotiva T2+ before I purchased the LRS and I had to turn the volume up to around 75% to get about 86db sound levels even though the Emotiva are a bit more efficient. The unit gets quite hot as well. I don't particularly care for the volume display, it seems backwards and negative db as you turn the volume up. I keep the dial at around -30db for a decent listening level which is not very loud. I have a 35 year old Carver receiver with less wattage that kicks this receiver all over the place as far as power is concerned, but does not have the modern features. The unit sounds good overall with a nice clear sound. Some folks don't like the looks but I think it's a very nice looking unit and very heavy and solidly built. Absolutely no background noise. I'll continue to use it and eventually sell it for an upgrade, possibly a Rotel 1592 MkII. great deal for under $1000
Ordered mine late on a Friday nite and it arrived mid day Saturday. Outlaw is based on the east coast and I live on the west coast. Very impressive, and the receiver is more so. Wonderful sound with my Magnapan LRS and any of my other speakers. The options thru this machine are enormous - using two turntables, two cd players, my gaming laptop, and a Emotiva 50 watt amp (via splitting the preamp signal), love the flexability.
Im thrilled that audio gear for 2 channel listening has new offerings. Im not into home theatre, just music. to have these new units coming on line gives me hope for the future. its great news.
I own the previous model which is basically the same minus a couple of new features. Glad you finally reviewed it since it is an excellent product that is not that well known. Great quality, sound and build. You didn’t mention that the remote is back lit with the same blue as the lights on the receiver . Just beautiful product.
I've had my Outlaw rr2160 for 5 years, and loved every minute of it. I would suggest setting an amplifier cooling fan system on top as it get rather warm just to insure longevity.
This receiver has so many options to expand on. It even has loudness control for low listening. You would have to go through the menu to toggle it on/off. The front plate has like 3 themes going on with it (retro, modern, stars and moon.)
@@tpr299 I can see where it is unique. But after seeeing it in my rack, It just didn't fit. Still, great value and one of the only receivers with a REAL amp in it. The only bummer is that it costs a fortune to ship back to Ouitlaw for servicing.
Its me! Im one of the guys lol. I bought this 2 years ago and wanted to hear your thoughts on how it stacked against the others you've heard. Cant wait to hear your review. I run two Klipsch RF8000s in the shop with it and it sounds great.
Bass management is something almost every other manufacturer skips, and I’m not sure why. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would like to use their KEF LS50s, for instance, with a subwoofer and not overload them with bass. Outlaw is the only company I know of that has addressed this issue, which is crazy.
You´re the man Randy ..... I like more and more what you do and I like what looks to me like somewhat focus change, not only dirt cheap stuff but looking towards products that provide a sensational price/value proposition, keep up that insanely great work 😎 Gotta love this channel 😍 Unfortunately in this case, Outlaw Audio is pretty hard to get in Norway or it will simply be too expensive over here due to excessive shipment cost 😔
A while back I was recommended Outlaw Audio's 2220 monoblock amps as beginner monos instead of the handful of cheap Chi-fi class D mono amps that have been coming out. I'd be very interested in a review of those if you can get your hands on 'em Randy.
Yes I bought one about 2019 rr2160 and a pair of Elac debut 6in. I was not content with the Elacs so I was going to. get the buchart 400 ,before dropping 1700$ I had a pair of cerwin Vegas Vegas e312 in storage and try them out ,didn't like like them by themselves but with the Elacs and them together saved me 1700 by playing both pairs got the sound I was looking for. Thanks for the review. 👍❤
Het Randy since you're on an integrated amplifier kick the NAD C316BEE V2 is worth a listen at $400. Classic NAD and a great unit. 5 paw rating from Purrito.
I'm a home theater guy so I have no use for the 2160 but I have Outlaw's 7125 amp, which is rated 125w @ 8 ohms with all 7 channels driven, and it tested over 140w! It is (was) their most affordable home theater amp, there's a newer model. It has massive current behind that wattage and doesn't peter out one iota on bass heavy sound tracks. I'm sure the amp inside that 2160 is no slouch either as evidenced by the weight of the huge power transformers and caps they build all of their amps with. Imho I believe their high end amps could give McIntosh a run for the money at a fraction of the price, sonically that is. 😮
I thought I had a good general knowledge of the audio companies out there that sell, direct like Emotiva, Schitt, etc. but, never heard of these guys, seems both you & the others in the comments like them alot! Would you have any interest in interviewing someone from Outlaw, I think it would be interesting!
@@peterlundskow4061 Steve Guttenberg did an interview with the owner that may have a link on their site but it is on RUclips. That helped me to choose this unit.
I am gritting my teeth a bit at the price, but I will say that this does seem like a far better value than those Advance Paris units. I would love to see the inside of one of these. I was hoping Outlaw had a lesser powered unit, like around 60wpc into 8 ohms, but, sadly, they don't. In fact this is the only receiver offering. Given the features it has and the connectivity on the back. I would say for $699, I would definitely buy it right now. But, $999? Hmmmmm, not sure. The main thing I do love is that it has the high pass filter for when you use a sub. Given the trouble you had moving it around, my guess that that it is built well. Looks pretty promising overall. I would love to see you pit this up against the Advance Paris A10 and do a sound comparison since the power output is similar. I bet they will be pretty close. As it is, I am finding the A10's price justifiable. For $2500, I think you are better off with a used McIntosh.
It also has HD radio in areas where HD radio is available. Unfortunately I don’t have HD radio where I live so I can’t try out that feature. The internet radio is fun because I can listen to blues channels from all over the world, and it indexes them. I compared the DAC in it with using my Geshelli DAC connected to it, and didn’t hear any big advantage. I thought the Burr Brown in the Outlaw seemed to have a wider soundstage. Outlaw says they were going for a retro look with the faceplate. I like that it is unique, and doesn’t look like every other thing out there.
Randy, see if Outlaw lets you review their 2220 Monoblock amps. They seems like great value for those wanting basic AB amplification with XLR input as an option.
@@nc3419 The 2220 power drove my speakers to a tighter and more clear presentation with a bigger sense of scale. Talking just SQ, to my ears in my system the Outlaw had a more neutral and open sound but not bright (and I use B&W speakers). According to ASR this could be the cleaner power delivery. There is no other product for the money I would rather have and I am a compulsive researcher/shopper. I hope they serve you well.
The weird thing ? They promote the Marantz AV7706 in their preamp/processor choice. That's the one I use as replacement of the Emotiva UMC-1. So what's the story with Marantz ?
I love Outlaw, I have the 976 prepro that is connected to 3 Yamaha P3500S pro amps with the balanced outputs. Great match, and it sounds amazing. Unfortunately, they have stopped developing products. Nothing is happening over there and has been silent for years. No advertising, no future products, nothing. There are things going on with the Outlaws that we don't know about, obviously otherwise they would be developing, advertising, and selling new products. Many of us fans would be buying them!
Yes, I had a model 976 preamp and loved it, until it started making random crackling and loud popping noises in my speakers. I tried different amps, different wall outlets, different interconnects, just about everything. I had an old model 990 preamp from Outlaw that I hooked up and like magic the crackles and pops stopped being heard. Outlaw made the 990 in America in the mid 2000’s. The 976 was made in China and not built with the same quality as the 990. The warranty had expired so I really wasn’t interested in sending it to Outlaw and paying for parts and shipping, not to mention bench testing fees and labor. They built the 976 with no ventilation holes on the top, but on the sides and that thing ran hot. Needless to say, I don’t have the same level of trust in their products I once had, and they stopped making home theater preamp-processors anyway. They seem to make super popular power amps, so maybe that will be their focus from now until… who knows.
Let me get one thing out of the way first. I love your channel. Having been infected with the disease of “Audiophilia” for 50+ years, I have been through every stage of the insanity. For those of us who have been around Outlaw Audio for many years, your comment about the Aesthetic design is understandable. Although it is not in the description that I could find, the model number is the giveaway. The RR in the model designation stands for: RETRO RECEIVER The ladies and gentlemen at outlaw Audio have a reason for everything they do, and every decision they make Again….. thanx for a great channel
How does it compare to the Advanced Paris x175 or the a10 . Wondering if I would be upgrading from my Outlaw that I own. Sound wise of course the Advanced Paris amp really look nice to me.
I have owned one for three years ,it works fine. My only gripe is the remote doesn’t work well and the volume knob doesn’t always show the correct volume.
Selling direct is actually expensive. Price points aside, manufacturers have to foot all the cost of reaching their customers when selling direct. Print, digital media, SEO, just to name a few are very expensive to do it right. No reps, distributors, dealers, etc., to share in the cost and time associated with direct to consumer marketing. They may even have to hire more marketing staff or pay for PR firms, etc. So, don’t assume a product should be half its list price when being sold direct. Just because an item is pricey even when being sold direct doesn’t mean it’s not a fair price. Chances are it’s still more than fairly priced when considering its performance to price ratio.
When we were kids, one time I flung a 3.5inch I think they were, floppy disc, the rigid ones, not the big floppy discs, like a frizby at my friend, it pivoted in the air flying around him and hit my mums acoustic guitar, taking a chunk out and denting it. It obviously hit with the corner of the disc, It was pretty darn obvious lol. We quick left the room and thankfully it was never mentioned.
I have the RR2150 and like it very much. I would not have paid $1k for a SS amp. The tuner needs an active antenna but is serviceable. The phono input could be better. I have had it serviced by them once, you have to have their OEM cardboard box to return it.
Inwa Amp. 29 dollars on Amazon. Has BzT and HDMI inputs. RCA and optical. Also. Received and impressed on the quality etc. pretty heavy etc. Mike Rohling
I am definitely considering this for my PC audio. The only thing I see missing which would have made this my ideal and that's a load of HDMI inputs and outputs otherwise it would have been perfect for running both my stereo systems. I really like this but whats holding me back is how can I connect my Apple TV 4K or Blu-ray player, I can't because of the lack of HDMI. I could connect my PC but...😥😭 I don't know how they can call it a receiver over an amp given the word is synonymous with A/V receivers and this is missing the V, video.
This company seems to fill the void that parasound left when they abandoned budget gear. Robust, good history, unique profile. Big fan. Not looking at the moment but I like what they’re doing.
Certainly a great amp for the price. Front panel is a little busy and the fact that loudness is buried in the menu somewhere is a bummer. Would like to see them build a stripped down analog unit, bass, treble, loudness, meters and take away all the digital stuff and fluff. It would be amazing!
Or an integrated without the phono stage or dac. Just RCA and XLR inputs/outputs with a variable subout/or at least pre outs would be enough for me. I would add my preferred source components. Not a fan of the looks but there's worse. As to SQ, only what I have read it seems to be a hard to beat at its price. Years ago, I had the HK 3490 which was pretty nice and inexpensive. This would have been the next move up I think. Versus the many other offerings by the usual subjects such as Rega, Arcam, Cambridge, Denon, Marantz, etc., it probably stackup very well. I wanted small but sufficient for my needs with a Keces E40. The next move up, I would consider Van Alstine CA-1/NP-1 among a few others I suppose. Don't know if I would buy this as it gets me back in the big and heavy boxes. But it seems to be well regarded and the design has been around for a long time.
@@ethimself5064 International radio stations accessed through the internet that play all kinds of music. The receiver has a cataloging system that lets you scroll through categories of music, or countries. You can use the presets to save favorite stations. I listen to blues stations around the world.
This is a important piece to my 100% used Hi-Fi system as its the ONLY thing I could find to match my Esoteric DV-50 multi disc player on my stand.....go ahead and look it up, you think the reciever is heavy? That player is 50lbs of aluminum!
My gut tells me that will not likey still be working 20-30 years from now like some other receivers i have owned. I just had a Sony intergrated amp start to go scratchy, built in mid 80's. BPC😅
I've had one for near 2 years. with KEF meta 50's. sub. it's a Receiver. does everything I want - lots of inputs of different types , Sub bass with variable settings , etc. looks darn good , solid 110 w per. the Only ? for me , unknown - reliability. I've never had a stereo amp last more than 7 or 8 years - good brands like Pioneer. ( my first stereo , New in 1973 with Dynaco 25 spk. AR T'table ). NAD , Carver , Sony ES.... oh - test review with tech. numbers... easy find ' Stereophile. 2017
You probably bent that knob flipping the thing around, haha. This is a good consideration, was looking at NAD 3050 also (well still am). Under 2k is my budget, prefer class AB, but not a deal breaker
I bought this amp 3 years ago and absolutely loved it. It started acting up a few months ago (the phono mm input started losing volume going from normal to very low). I switched to the mc input and it happened again. I bought a phono preamp, which I ran through a different input and soon thereafter the unit went dead and would no longer turn on. I contacted Outlaw Audio and, of course, it was out of warranty. They sent me a ticket for repair, however, I do not want to pay a significant amount for an item that I have lost confidence in. In short, I bought a Yamaha S801, which I like, but so far do not love as much as the RR2160 mk II. This is the first amplifier that I have owned that actually died on me. This is over 50 years worth of owning hifi gear. Just an aside as to the unit’s reliability. Hope your experience is better.
Yes, a life-span of 3 years is extremely disappointing! Horrible actually.
@@dennismaher8059 sorry to hear that.
Try a local tech. These things are built really well and not throwaway.
@@mannye a good idea.
@@dennismaher8059 Outlaw is pretty good about getting you firmware updates too. But the 5 channel ampo I bought from them in the late 90's is still in my system. About a year ago I spent about $80 to get it back to "as new" and the tech was impressed by the quality of the internals.
Outlaw Audio is audios best kept secret. Outstanding great sounding value products. I've had the 2150 for over a decade, used daily no problems.
Nice to see Bass Management in more and more amps. Make it standard!
That's the amp that got me into this rabbit hole. I've spent much more on this hobby that I anticipated once I purchased that amp from Outlaw. And I had the Mark 1!
I just picked up a pair of Outlaw 2220 Monoblock B-stock, $658.00 total with shipping. So far so good! Absolutely look brand new and no hissing with my ear directly on the chassis of the mono block and right on the tweeter and woofer of my T1+ Towers as well.
I bought an RR2160 MK II last year and it woke up my KEF LS-50's in a way the Yamaha R-N500 could not. The Yamaha has 80 WPC, which should be more than enough, but the improvement from the RR2160 MK II is dramatic. This is one of the few receivers with switchable record out. I like to rip analog sources to my computer while listening to another source. I looked at several other receivers and nothing offered this level of power, true analog subwoofer filtering and I/O flexibility at anywhere near the price. I totally agree with your niggles, but this thing sounds so good, that I really don't care.
I think it's important to know that Peter Tribeman is the founder of Outlaw Audio and formally worked with NAD. If you can get an interview set up with Peter Tribeman Randy, that would be cool!
Yes please pull in Peter 🤠😎
I was just going to comment that this would be a great replacement if my NAD3080 ever craps out and I saw the Peter Tribeman name. I did some part time work for NAD back in the 80's when he was the big Kahuna. I bought a 3080 when I left. The styling is pure NAD, I love it LOL.
Outlaw Audio became famous in the 2000's for their subwoofers (along with HSU) and multi-channel amplifiers and their pre-HDMI 990 HT pre-amp was a benchmark. The 1070 HT receiver was also highly regarded. Also, their 970/1075 pre-amp/7 channel amp combo was budget friendly and extremly popular. But about 15 years ago Outlaw Audio was going to release a HT receiver based on the Sherwood Newcastle R-772 (with Trinnov room correction) and it was a desaster that almost caused Outlaw to go belly-up. They then became a Marantz distributor to help weather the storm before releasing the more modest 975/976 HT pre-amps. I give them a lot of credit for pulling the plug on an expensive but problematic product rather than releasing it to an enthusiastic customer base and totally distroying their reputation. The exact opposite of the way AT+T would have handled it! The 2150/2160 is a fantastic product all the way around!
I have one of their subs. The amp died - out of warranty. I sent it back to them and had it repaired. It's been going strong since then; pushing 20 years.
Ah, Randy finally discovers this gem. Great value proposition!!
I've had the 2160 mkii for several years now. It's worked flawlessly and sounds very, very good with a variety of speakers - primarily Zu DW's, Boston VR towers and Elac Uni-Fi Reference towers. Of the several amps I have (including the Rogue Sphinx v3, Jolida 3502P with KT 120 tubes and older Sansui and Onkyo receivers) it's the only one that can make the Elac towers come alive. The Rogue has a better phono stage, but the Outlaw is no slouch.
I bought the first 5 channel amp Outlaw made, the 750, in 1998 or 99 and it's still in my system. A year ago, I had some caps and other things replaced after my local tech went through it and even though he wasn't familiar with the brand, he said, "That thing is amazing. I'll see you in another 20 or so years." Best $1.000 I ever spent on audio. I also had the earlier version of this amp and it was amazing. I sold it because it was that or my Yamaha CR-2020 and I miss it. I really didn't like the way the RR looked. Still don't. But it sounds so good, so who cares?
I still have RR2160 Mk1. Great unit
It's a beast, the phono on it is impressive too. Glad you finally got one in.
I've owned this receiver for two years for playing music only. I listen mostly to jazz, classical, and light rock on occasion. For speakers I have Magnepan LRS+, Rel T/Zero subwoofer, Cambridge Audio Azure 851N (for playing FLAC files from SSD), and Rotel CD11 Tribute. Good amp overall but it seems a bit under-powered with 4 ohm loads. I was also using a pair of Emotiva T2+ before I purchased the LRS and I had to turn the volume up to around 75% to get about 86db sound levels even though the Emotiva are a bit more efficient. The unit gets quite hot as well. I don't particularly care for the volume display, it seems backwards and negative db as you turn the volume up. I keep the dial at around -30db for a decent listening level which is not very loud. I have a 35 year old Carver receiver with less wattage that kicks this receiver all over the place as far as power is concerned, but does not have the modern features. The unit sounds good overall with a nice clear sound. Some folks don't like the looks but I think it's a very nice looking unit and very heavy and solidly built. Absolutely no background noise. I'll continue to use it and eventually sell it for an upgrade, possibly a Rotel 1592 MkII. great deal for under $1000
Ordered mine late on a Friday nite and it arrived mid day Saturday. Outlaw is based on the east coast and I live on the west coast. Very impressive, and the receiver is more so. Wonderful sound with my Magnapan LRS and any of my other speakers. The options thru this machine are enormous - using two turntables, two cd players, my gaming laptop, and a Emotiva 50 watt amp (via splitting the preamp signal), love the flexability.
Bass management alone makes this something worth looking at. Nice review!
I love seeing your little Amphions there! I've had my Amphions for 15 years now and LOVE their neutral sound!
Im thrilled that audio gear for 2 channel listening has new offerings. Im not into home theatre, just music. to have these new units coming on line gives me hope for the future. its great news.
I own the previous model which is basically the same minus a couple of new features. Glad you finally reviewed it since it is an excellent product that is not that well known. Great quality, sound and build. You didn’t mention that the remote is back lit with the same blue as the lights on the receiver . Just beautiful product.
I've had my Outlaw rr2160 for 5 years, and loved every minute of it. I would suggest setting an amplifier cooling fan system on top as it get rather warm just to insure longevity.
You had a COLOR television? Ohhh look who’s fancy.
For those looking for a deal they often have this on sale on black friday.
I like the bass management is selectable. the emotiva TA1 has a 90hz or nothing option. nice to see a few options.
This receiver has so many options to expand on. It even has loudness control for low listening. You would have to go through the menu to toggle it on/off. The front plate has like 3 themes going on with it (retro, modern, stars and moon.)
I love the receiver but I hate the look of it with a passion.
@@mannye I like it. Looks like art-deco from the 30’s, or 40’s. Most other stuff all looks the same … boring. LOL.
@@tpr299 I can see where it is unique. But after seeeing it in my rack, It just didn't fit. Still, great value and one of the only receivers with a REAL amp in it. The only bummer is that it costs a fortune to ship back to Ouitlaw for servicing.
I used mine strictly as a power amp for my Maggie’s.
And then strictly as a preamp with another power amp (Starke). It worked very well in each case.
Its me! Im one of the guys lol. I bought this 2 years ago and wanted to hear your thoughts on how it stacked against the others you've heard. Cant wait to hear your review.
I run two Klipsch RF8000s in the shop with it and it sounds great.
Same I’ve been wanting this review. The audiophiliac has a single video on it his final thought was , it’s got balls 😂.
@@crisjr6478 that's the review that helped me make the choice. I actually almost went emotiva, but they were sold out at that time.
Omg me too. I commented this on his Elac Uni-fi Ub5 video back when he had like 10 subscribers lol. Ub5 + rr2160 have been a dream pairing for me.
Wow - *full* featured receiver, for sure! Phono stage, even!
Bass management is something almost every other manufacturer skips, and I’m not sure why. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would like to use their KEF LS50s, for instance, with a subwoofer and not overload them with bass. Outlaw is the only company I know of that has addressed this issue, which is crazy.
That faceplate design would slay in 1998 😂
Love outlaw amps tho
You´re the man Randy ..... I like more and more what you do and I like what looks to me like somewhat focus change, not only dirt cheap stuff but looking towards products that provide a sensational price/value proposition, keep up that insanely great work 😎
Gotta love this channel 😍
Unfortunately in this case, Outlaw Audio is pretty hard to get in Norway or it will simply be too expensive over here due to excessive shipment cost 😔
A while back I was recommended Outlaw Audio's 2220 monoblock amps as beginner monos instead of the handful of cheap Chi-fi class D mono amps that have been coming out. I'd be very interested in a review of those if you can get your hands on 'em Randy.
outlaw has been around for a long time . they make great gear
My Yamaha av receiver does it all
90 watts across 7 channels
2 sub outs preamp outs for adding mono blocks. Network connection built in streaming.
Me too. N1000a looks much sturdier than this amp too. Sounds great.
Yes I bought one about 2019 rr2160 and a pair of Elac debut 6in. I was not content with the Elacs so I was going to. get the buchart 400 ,before dropping 1700$ I had a pair of cerwin Vegas Vegas e312 in storage and try them out ,didn't like like them by themselves but with the Elacs and them together saved me 1700 by playing both pairs got the sound I was looking for. Thanks for the review. 👍❤
Het Randy since you're on an integrated amplifier kick the NAD C316BEE V2 is worth a listen at $400. Classic NAD and a great unit. 5 paw rating from Purrito.
about time! my fav receiver...pue quality and it has it all!!
Amphions??! I LOVE mine. Can’t wait for the metal head take on them😂
I use an Outlaw for my house stereo and an Emotiva for my garage. The Outlaw is sort of the Swiss Army knife of stereo's.
I have the 2160…… Love It. Runs Maggys just fine….
I think it looks great and modern. I love the curves
I'm a home theater guy so I have no use for the 2160 but I have Outlaw's 7125 amp, which is rated 125w @ 8 ohms with all 7 channels driven, and it tested over 140w! It is (was) their most affordable home theater amp, there's a newer model. It has massive current behind that wattage and doesn't peter out one iota on bass heavy sound tracks. I'm sure the amp inside that 2160 is no slouch either as evidenced by the weight of the huge power transformers and caps they build all of their amps with.
Imho I believe their high end amps could give McIntosh a run for the money at a fraction of the price, sonically that is. 😮
Nice, thx Randy!
Thank you cheapaudioman EQ hook up loudness A and B speaker outputs Everything I’ve been asking for and NEW. Even 110 Watts
Thank you for introducing this amp. Spec wise it is superb👍
I have one and I love it. It’s Art Deco man!!…
You have to live with this amp to truly appreciate it. I use an external dac with wiim. Phono is excellent.
FYI, the link at the top of the notes is broken - needs a space....
The looks are Art Deco inspired.
🎶 More options than the stock market 😂
Randy thank you
Finally, a review on this I’ve had mine for the last two years and before I had the 2150 since 2008. They’re both excellent bang for the bucks.
Love your review, straight to the point. Kudos!!! Outlaws have a great speakers too. Please clarify needs to have a watch on each hand?
I thought I had a good general knowledge of the audio companies out there that sell, direct like Emotiva, Schitt, etc. but, never heard of these guys, seems both you & the others in the comments like them alot! Would you have any interest in interviewing someone from Outlaw, I think it would be interesting!
@@peterlundskow4061 Steve Guttenberg did an interview with the owner that may have a link on their site but it is on RUclips. That helped me to choose this unit.
I am gritting my teeth a bit at the price, but I will say that this does seem like a far better value than those Advance Paris units. I would love to see the inside of one of these. I was hoping Outlaw had a lesser powered unit, like around 60wpc into 8 ohms, but, sadly, they don't. In fact this is the only receiver offering. Given the features it has and the connectivity on the back. I would say for $699, I would definitely buy it right now. But, $999? Hmmmmm, not sure. The main thing I do love is that it has the high pass filter for when you use a sub. Given the trouble you had moving it around, my guess that that it is built well. Looks pretty promising overall. I would love to see you pit this up against the Advance Paris A10 and do a sound comparison since the power output is similar. I bet they will be pretty close. As it is, I am finding the A10's price justifiable. For $2500, I think you are better off with a used McIntosh.
Finally….love this and love outlaw 5 channel amp in my home theater
A reciever because it has a Tuna 🐟 in it !!! 🙃 Great stuff 👍
It also has HD radio in areas where HD radio is available. Unfortunately I don’t have HD radio where I live so I can’t try out that feature. The internet radio is fun because I can listen to blues channels from all over the world, and it indexes them.
I compared the DAC in it with using my Geshelli DAC connected to it, and didn’t hear any big advantage. I thought the Burr Brown in the Outlaw seemed to have a wider soundstage. Outlaw says they were going for a retro look with the faceplate. I like that it is unique, and doesn’t look like every other thing out there.
HD radio, use tunin
@@jamesschneider3828 hd radio sounds better. it's a shame more home units don't have it.
Randy, see if Outlaw lets you review their 2220 Monoblock amps. They seems like great value for those wanting basic AB amplification with XLR input as an option.
I really want to try the 2220. I'm also interested in getting their 7 channel amp to power a emotiva surround processor.
I purchased outlaw mono blocks and Schiit Vidar and returned the Schiit. I love my Schiit DAC but Outlaw 2220 were an easy choice for me.
@@blue6point62 Can you describe any differences in SQ and/or why they were a better choice for you over the Vidar?
@@nc3419 The 2220 power drove my speakers to a tighter and more clear presentation with a bigger sense of scale. Talking just SQ, to my ears in my system the Outlaw had a more neutral and open sound but not bright (and I use B&W speakers). According to ASR this could be the cleaner power delivery. There is no other product for the money I would rather have and I am a compulsive researcher/shopper. I hope they serve you well.
I am using one of their 7 channel amps in my home theater. Very pleased. Hint: keep an eye on their b stock section of their site for great deals.
I still have my old Outlaw 1070 receiver and it too is a 40 pound beast!
Never heard about that brand. Thanks for review. I am old so to me bigger is better.
Ha, me too. I bought my first stereo receiver (Kenwood) in 1968. The RR2160 Mk II may be the last I ever need to buy. 😀
The weird thing ?
They promote the Marantz AV7706 in their preamp/processor choice.
That's the one I use as replacement of the Emotiva UMC-1.
So what's the story with Marantz ?
I love Outlaw, I have the 976 prepro that is connected to 3 Yamaha P3500S pro amps with the balanced outputs. Great match, and it sounds amazing. Unfortunately, they have stopped developing products. Nothing is happening over there and has been silent for years. No advertising, no future products, nothing. There are things going on with the Outlaws that we don't know about, obviously otherwise they would be developing, advertising, and selling new products. Many of us fans would be buying them!
Yes, I had a model 976 preamp and loved it, until it started making random crackling and loud popping noises in my speakers. I tried different amps, different wall outlets, different interconnects, just about everything. I had an old model 990 preamp from Outlaw that I hooked up and like magic the crackles and pops stopped being heard. Outlaw made the 990 in America in the mid 2000’s. The 976 was made in China and not built with the same quality as the 990. The warranty had expired so I really wasn’t interested in sending it to Outlaw and paying for parts and shipping, not to mention bench testing fees and labor. They built the 976 with no ventilation holes on the top, but on the sides and that thing ran hot. Needless to say, I don’t have the same level of trust in their products I once had, and they stopped making home theater preamp-processors anyway. They seem to make super popular power amps, so maybe that will be their focus from now until… who knows.
Let me get one thing out of the way first.
I love your channel.
Having been infected with the disease of “Audiophilia” for 50+ years, I have been through every stage of the insanity.
For those of us who have been around Outlaw Audio for many years, your comment about the Aesthetic design is understandable. Although it is not in the description that I could find, the model number is the giveaway.
The RR in the model designation stands for:
RETRO RECEIVER
The ladies and gentlemen at outlaw Audio have a reason for everything they do, and every decision they make
Again…..
thanx for a great channel
@@yamaha6460 and it follows in the Art Deco style, from the 1920s, not the 90s.
Outlaw rocks. I had the beefy AV receiver they used to make. Too bad they have been largely steamrollered by the Emotiva juggernaut.
How does it compare to the Advanced Paris x175 or the a10 . Wondering if I would be upgrading from my Outlaw that I own. Sound wise of course the Advanced Paris amp really look nice to me.
I have owned one for three years ,it works fine. My only gripe is the remote doesn’t work well and the volume knob doesn’t always show the correct volume.
Selling direct is actually expensive. Price points aside, manufacturers have to foot all the cost of reaching their customers when selling direct. Print, digital media, SEO, just to name a few are very expensive to do it right. No reps,
distributors, dealers, etc., to share in the cost and time associated with direct to consumer marketing. They may even have to hire more marketing staff or pay for PR firms, etc. So, don’t assume a product should be half its list price when being sold direct. Just because an item is pricey even when being sold direct doesn’t mean it’s not a fair price. Chances are it’s still more than fairly priced when considering its performance to price ratio.
My comments were just based on the multiple companies that I’ve talked to you that sell directly.
What's with the Amphions? We getting a review of them soon too?
The only input the Outlaw Audio RR2160MkII doesn’t have is HDMI - we're not interested but good review
Finally an integrated amp that does it all!!
I’m from Sweden and I don’t think I have heard about this brand before, really interesting stuff 🎉
When we were kids, one time I flung a 3.5inch I think they were, floppy disc, the rigid ones, not the big floppy discs, like a frizby at my friend, it pivoted in the air flying around him and hit my mums acoustic guitar, taking a chunk out and denting it. It obviously hit with the corner of the disc, It was pretty darn obvious lol. We quick left the room and thankfully it was never mentioned.
How does this compare to the Advance Paris A10? Can you play two pairs of speakers (four speakers at the same time) on the A10 as well?
I have the RR2150 and like it very much. I would not have paid $1k for a SS amp. The tuner needs an active antenna but is serviceable. The phono input could be better. I have had it serviced by them once, you have to have their OEM cardboard box to return it.
I like the retro look of this integrated amp. I kind of wish more would focus on just making it sound good rather than fancy looks
Hi Randy great interesting video, long time back a tuner amp was was the way to go . Regards mark
Inwa Amp. 29 dollars on Amazon. Has BzT and HDMI inputs. RCA and optical. Also. Received and impressed on the quality etc. pretty heavy etc. Mike Rohling
100 watts with remote also. Mike Rohling again.
If you really think about it, it took 13.8 billion years for this amp to come into existence. It's finally here!!
I am definitely considering this for my PC audio. The only thing I see missing which would have made this my ideal and that's a load of HDMI inputs and outputs otherwise it would have been perfect for running both my stereo systems. I really like this but whats holding me back is how can I connect my Apple TV 4K or Blu-ray player, I can't because of the lack of HDMI. I could connect my PC but...😥😭 I don't know how they can call it a receiver over an amp given the word is synonymous with A/V receivers and this is missing the V, video.
The bass "boost" works best with acoustic suspension speakers. The effect is not as pronounced with ported speakers. YMMV
Yes! Gotta hear your opinion on this . What about Current?
This company seems to fill the void that parasound left when they abandoned budget gear. Robust, good history, unique profile. Big fan. Not looking at the moment but I like what they’re doing.
Size does matter?? That things HUUUUGEEE!
Interesting. I have Advance Acoustic Playstream A7. Not the same but very simmilar functionalities, price, but made on different ideas. Interesting.
Certainly a great amp for the price. Front panel is a little busy and the fact that loudness is buried in the menu somewhere is a bummer. Would like to see them build a stripped down analog unit, bass, treble, loudness, meters and take away all the digital stuff and fluff. It would be amazing!
They should sell a version without any phono inputs at a reduced price.
Not everyone has any plans of going vinyl.
Or an integrated without the phono stage or dac. Just RCA and XLR inputs/outputs with a variable subout/or at least pre outs would be enough for me. I would add my preferred source components.
Not a fan of the looks but there's worse. As to SQ, only what I have read it seems to be a hard to beat at its price.
Years ago, I had the HK 3490 which was pretty nice and inexpensive. This would have been the next move up I think.
Versus the many other offerings by the usual subjects such as Rega, Arcam, Cambridge, Denon, Marantz, etc., it probably stackup very well.
I wanted small but sufficient for my needs with a Keces E40.
The next move up, I would consider Van Alstine CA-1/NP-1 among a few others I suppose. Don't know if I would buy this as it gets me back in the big and heavy boxes. But it seems to be well regarded and the design has been around for a long time.
Or how about leaving out the amplification circuit!
That would only make it $5 less.
Wish I had found Outlaw before I bought my Arcam Sa20, but oh well.
"Grab a cup of of coffee or perhaps an energy drink." Please get yourself a lazy susan platter before you tear your rotator cuff!
Can't wait to hear what an Internet Radio is
@@ethimself5064 International radio stations accessed through the internet that play all kinds of music. The receiver has a cataloging system that lets you scroll through categories of music, or countries. You can use the presets to save favorite stations. I listen to blues stations around the world.
I wanted to buy it many years ago. Unfortunately they were not selling it in UK
This is a important piece to my 100% used Hi-Fi system as its the ONLY thing I could find to match my Esoteric DV-50 multi disc player on my stand.....go ahead and look it up, you think the reciever is heavy? That player is 50lbs of aluminum!
Randy, try out the internet radio if you haven’t yet. Fun to explore, and some of the channels seem to have excellent sound.
Question: 2 bass outputs? Are they both mono or if using on it's mono and using 2 it's stereo?
My gut tells me that will not likey still be working 20-30 years from now like some other receivers i have owned. I just had a Sony intergrated amp start to go scratchy, built in mid 80's. BPC😅
It’s what hifi might look like if we never fell for small class D amps and high functioning DACs. Not for me.
I've had one for near 2 years. with KEF meta 50's. sub. it's a Receiver. does everything I want - lots of inputs of different types , Sub bass with variable settings , etc. looks darn good , solid 110 w per. the Only ? for me , unknown - reliability. I've never had a stereo amp last more than 7 or 8 years - good brands like Pioneer. ( my first stereo , New in 1973 with Dynaco 25 spk. AR T'table ). NAD , Carver , Sony ES.... oh - test review with tech. numbers... easy find ' Stereophile. 2017
We need an Outlaw vs. Similarly Price Yamaha shoot out from the cheap audio overlord.
Probably depends on speakers, etc as to which sounds better. Amps should only amplify but there are sonic differences we hear.
I gotta say i went whith emotiva seperates. glad i did.
Dear Sir, how does this Unit compare to the budget amp king Monolith Monoprice 2100X(your video)?
Thanks.
You probably bent that knob flipping the thing around, haha. This is a good consideration, was looking at NAD 3050 also (well still am). Under 2k is my budget, prefer class AB, but not a deal breaker