The Outlaw's History
1998: Our Founding
A bunch of studio rats, gear heads, and consumer electronics experts sit around a table at an unnamed audio show. We discuss our experiences - in total, having been involved in the design and manufacture of over 150 different audio and/or video products - many of which were industry award winners - all for other companies.
We bitch about the state of the audio industry, its mark-ups and corporate interference. We contemplate the untapped potential of the internet for direct-to-consumer sales. We quickly realize that those of us sitting around the table could be some of the first to use this platform to offer the best values in the industry.
Outlaw Audio is formed.
It seemed fitting for the name of our new company - a company that would break all the conventional rules of retail commerce.
1999: Outlaw's First Power Amplifier
Not too many years prior, the only audio power amplifiers available to the consumer were stereo designs. However, as the popularity of home theater grew, many manufacturers began to offer 5 and 6 channel amplifiers based on existing lower-power amp designs. These worked fine with Dolby Pro-Logic decoders because Pro-Logic decoders “phase steer” their signals, and never demand high power from all channels at the same time.
The creation of the then new Dolby Digital® and DTS® formats separated the wheat from the chaff. These new digital formats offered 5.1 channels of full-range discrete audio and were not only capable of demanding power from multiple channels at the same time, they frequently did, requiring a power amplifier capable of high power with ALL channels driven.
The Outlaw design team, fully aware of the deficiencies of the market's crop of amplifiers, went to work with one of the industry’s premier amplifier manufacturers to design the Model 750, five-channel power amplifier. The Model 750's high-current power supply, separate taps off of the transformer for every amp channel, copious amounts of filter capacitance, and impressive specifications lead to Outlaw being known as an audio amplifier company.
2001: First pre-pro, AVR, and Bass Management
Outlaw Audio introduces the Model 950 pre-pro and the Model 1050 AV Receiver.
The Model 950 was the only surround processor available for under $900, and was one of the few units at any price to offer Dolby Digital® Surround EX®, Dolby ProLogic II®, the complete suite of DTS-ES® and DTS Neo:6® processing and decoding, and Cirrus Logic’s Extra Surround™, in addition to 5 Channel Stereo and 7 Channel Stereo modes.
Designed to meet the needs of the audio enthusiast, the Model 950 was the first product at any price to include Cirrus Logic’s new Triple Crossover circuitry, allowing the high pass filter for the front left/right, center front and surround speakers to all be set separately.
The Model 1050 holds its place in history as the first 6-channel DD/DTS AV Receiver.
The innovations continue in 2001.
Outlaw releases another groundbreaking product:
The Integrated Controlled Bass Manager, better known as the ICBM
By implementing a true analog crossover ( a low pass filter for the subwoofer + a high pass filter for the speakers), the ICBM found itself at home in both theaters and recording studios.
Before digital bass management was commonplace, we introduced the analog version.
2004: Outlaw's First Subwoofer
In 2004, we looked to the market and saw the lack of value driven, performance oriented subwoofers on the market.
We decided to build a subwoofer, but knew it would have to be something we'd be proud to own. We ended up with three musts:
1. A product that played down to 25Hz with complete authority. This meant not heavily overemphasizing certain frequencies, resulting in "one note" boom.
2. The sub had to be able to reach substantial output levels ensuring they would be a match in most systems, no matter the speakers.
3. "Home Friendly". That meant it couldn't be gargantuan in size, and that the cosmetics would not result in the objections of non-audiophiles.
We ended up with a dual ported, down firing design with a solid, punchy bass response and a cabinet finished in satin black with a smoked plexiglass top: the LFM-1.
2005: Outlaw's First Stereo Receiver
Our first stereo receiver, the RR2150 is brought to market.
Most of us are music guys, first and foremost, and this was a true labor of love. This lead to us incorporating a multitude of features we personally wanted in a stereo: defeatable tone controls, an external processor loop for being able to insert a EQ or compressor with the press of a button, trigger controls for use with external amps, a separate record output bus, and switchable A/B speaker outputs.
We also recognized that speaker designs had shifted and that sub/sat combinations were more popular than ever. We integrated similar circuitry from our ICBM design to accommodate this, and as a result, the RR2150 was the first two-channel receiver with built-in analog bass management that allowed you to integrate virtually any subwoofer with your bookshelf speakers.
With art deco looks and performance that punched well above its weight class, a classic was born. To its credit, the RR2150 was in production for 11 years.
2007: Outlaw's First Speakers
Having released both a subwoofer and a stereo receiver, hardly a day went by when by our customers didn't ask when we would release a pair of loudspeakers.
We were increasingly pitched pre-existing products by original design manufacturers located in the US, Asia, and Europe due to the rising popularity of our stereo, the RR2150. Unfortunately, none of the proposed products held up to our standards, and we turned them all down.
Eventually, we ended up meeting with the old team who previously worked at the now defunct Snell Acoustics, a company that was also based in Massachusetts. We collaborated with a team of their best speaker engineers, led by the legendary Joe D'Appolito and worked to craft a uniquely Outlaw pair of speakers. the Outlaw BLS.
2012: Outlaw's First HDMI Based Pre-pro
In late 2012, we released the Model 975 surround processor.
We knew a basic processor, that focused heavily on simplicity and performance was an area largely left unaccounted for in the Home Theater marketplace. We made the conscious decision to focus on simplicity, value, and a sleek, slimline design.
We incorporated multiple HDMI inputs (1080p), HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC), and a wide array of legacy video connections allowing integration of older gear through composite, component, and s-video.
With the inclusion of all the then current, legacy audio decoding and upmixing matrix(s), a 32 bit processor, and 192/24bit DACs, we brought an affordable, high value performing processor to the masses.
2017: Outlaw's First 4k/HDR Pre-pro
By 2017, we had known for a few years that we wanted to offer a high-end 4K/HDR preamplifier. For most of that time, we worked quietly behind the scenes researching what could be done to maximize performance for the dollar.
By eliminating video upscaling and additional unnecessary video post processing (by now most televisions included this and did a pretty decent job with it), we freed up costs to focus on serious audio performance: balanced XLR outputs, high end DACs, op-amps, and volume control chips.
We've always maintained the philosophy that making gear we want to own ourselves is a priority. This resulted in the Model 976 processor: high-res capabilities, a clean signal path, low noise floor, and a high signal to noise ratio. Combining that with a pretty clean, almost pass-thru like video lead to a product that consumers and Outlaws alike cherished for its performance and excellent sound quality.
PRESENT
Since all of these firsts, we've continued to make award winning products: amplifiers, stereos, and more. A few of our current products that are being raved about are the:
Outlaw Audio Model 7000x Seven Channel Amp
We had made fully balanced amplifiers in the past, and it was extremely expensive to do.
We wanted the benefits without the additional price tag.
We had seen numerous products populating the audio industry where the "balanced inputs" were essentially just connectors that became single ended - there for marketing purposes. We knew that wasn't for us. We decided we would have our cake and eat it too, by running a balanced input stage via op-amps that provided low noise and incorporated common mode rejection that you would see in fully balanced designs.
By keeping a neutral sonic signature, low THD, and high SNR, we stay true to the source material and provide an impressively accurate representation of the source material.
Outlaw Audio Model 5000x Five Channel Amp
The Model 7000x was a hit success, and we knew it needed a little brother.
The Model 7000x was a perfect road-map, and we incorporated the same balanced input stage, input selector switches (to reduce open channel noise), high quality input connections, and a significant portion of the same high quality components.
Not everyone uses more than five channels for their home theater, and the Model 5000x (at 120W into an 8 Ohm load, 180W into a 4 Ohm load, low THD, all channels driven), is fit for all but the largest of rooms, or most inefficient of speakers.
Outlaw Audio Model 2220 Monoblock Amp
We've been making monoblock amplifiers for over 20 years.
Monoblocks have always had a special place in the audio community due to their innate versatility. Being a single amplifier in its own chassis allows for combinations of amplifiers that make it logistically suitable for both music and movies. The neutrality of the Model 2220 only compounds the versatility of a monoblock design. Whether you are listening to vinyl, or streaming hi-res, two of these amplifiers provide a fantastic addition to a stereo system.
At the same time, multiples can be added for a powerful home theater. And, one of the most common uses for such is three Model 2220 power amplifiers for your front left, center, and front right speakers (where a vast majority of content is present) to really elevate your home theater experience.
Sturdy, neutral, minimalistic, and oodles of power means the Model 2220 just might be the right fit for your next A/V adventure.
The industry may have to change drastically to see more firsts, but if it does, we plan to be right there. We're highly focused on producing award winning products based upon performance, value, and honest specifications. Maybe you'll see even more coming in the next year... After-all, at Outlaw, there is a reason "The Best Values in Home Theater are just a Mouse-Click Away."™
So Stick around and join us. You may just like the Outlaw life.