The frequency response of the 770 measured –0.15dB at 10Hz, –0.04dB at 20Hz, –0.22dB at 20kHz, and –1.07dB at 50kHz. The amplifier's gain measured 29dB. The signal/noise ratio at 1W into 8ohms was –113dB, A-weighted. THD+noise at 1W into 8ohms measured 0.003% at 20Hz and 20kHz and 0.004% at 1kHz. THD+noise at 2W into 4ohms measured 0.005% at 20Hz, 0.006% at 1kHz, and 0.004% at 20kHz.

Our test bench can measure a maximum of six channels driven simultaneously. Into an 8ohms load, with six channels driven, the 7-channel Outlaw amplifier clipped (1% THD+noise) at 215W per channel at 20Hz, and at 221Wpc at 1kHz (250Wpc with two channels driven at 1kHz into 8ohms). Into a 4ohms load, six channels driven, clipping occurred at 320Wpc at 20Hz and at 347Wpc at 1kHz (396Wpc with two channels driven at 1kHz into 8ohms). (The power measured with six channels driven into 4ohms may be slightly lower than the amp's maximum output capability due to saturation of the Variac, the device used to feed a fixed 120V to the amplifier's power supply. A fuse blew in the Variac immediately after the readings were taken.)

FM was unable to check the component high-definition capabilities of the Outlaw 950 surround-sound processor's video switching, but I did. Using HD test patterns, there was no clearly visible difference between signals passed straight to the display and those that passed through the 950. With HD program material, I saw a slight reduction in apparent depth through the Outlaw switcher, but it was so subtle—even in a direct A/B comparison with an 80-inch-wide screen—that it might well have been due to the conditions of the test setup rather than to any inherent limitations of the 950.

(I used an Extron video distribution amplifier feeding two component video legs, each one feeding one of the two component inputs of a Sharp XV-Z10000 DLP projector, which I'm in the process of reviewing. One leg passed through the Outlaw, the other went directly to the projector. This setup required an extra set of cables on the leg passing through the 950; due to the number of video cables required, identical brands were not possible on each run, though all were of high quality.)—Thomas J. Norton