Outlaw Model 5000 Multichannel Amplifier Review

[trl]

Nice to see the gain at 29 dB which is the only recommended standard in the wild (from THX).

Testing with 8 Ohms speakers or dummy resistors should improve the SINAD a little bit. After all, 29dB of gain is about 28X of amplification and even if THX recommends this, I think it's a bit too much for these days where most of the audio sources are outputting 2...2.2V RMS.

29dB of gain will drive this amp to its max. non clipping power for 8 Ohms load with an input source of 1.25V RMS (37V RMS), which is fine. Instead, for 4 Ohms load the max. non clipping power is achieved with an input source of 1.125V RMS (31.5V RMS).

Hence my 2 cents thoughts, probably a gain of 26dB instead of 29dB might help in increasing the SINAD, although I 'm aware that older audio sources might not deliver peaks up to 2V RMS. I really think that the 29dB gain recommended by THX is in-between the former 32dB gain and the "low noise" 26dB gain from some manufacturer's amps.

Perhaps the best of both worlds is Benchmark's approach with its selectable gain setting from the backside of the AHB2 amplifier:
"INPUT SENSITIVITY

• Low-Gain = 22 dBu (9.8 Vrms), Gain = 9.2 dB
• Mid-Gain = 14.2 dBu (4 Vrms), Gain = 17.0 dB
• High-Gain = 8.2 dBu (2 Vrms), Gain = 23 dB"

More details could be read here https://benchmarkmedia.com/products/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier on the TECHNOLOGY and SPECIFICATIONS tabs. There's actually a paragraph named "LOW GAIN FOR LOW SYSTEM NOISE".

 

[Gedeon]

It's a whole lot of amplifier for the money. Apart from the significant S/N differences in the two channels Amir tested, it looks like a real bargain. As it stands it could also be used in a stereo bi-amp setup with a "spare" channel.

Probably some of the internal amplifier channels benefit in placement with respect to the power transformer than others, so experimentation to find the two best for stereo would be a worthwhile endeavor.

Found this on the 'net:

View attachment 43865

I'd be testing the two channels to the far right as likely the quietest. Nice juicy cap banks, 4 caps for each channel.

The Parasound HC855 I own is very similar. From farthest to nearest channel to the transformer I use 1-R, 2-C, 3-L, 4-SR, 5-SL. The nearest to the transformer is clearly noisiest. I ignored the original tags to minimize noise in the main channels.

 

[bigx5murf]

Really want to see Anthem's pva series measured. Similar THD specs to this but much better SNR specs.

 

[daftcombo]

As it stands it could also be used in a stereo bi-amp setup with a "spare" channel.

Even the 5th one could be used for the sub, right?

 

[MZKM]

think it's a bit too much for these days where most of the audio sources are outputting 2...2.2V RMS.

Most sources are gonna be AV receivers, which output 1.4-2Vrms.

 

[restorer-john]

Even the 5th one could be used for the sub, right?

Absolutely, if you have a passive subwoofer.

 

[MediumRare]

Absolutely, if you have a passive subwoofer.

How would this unit handle an active sub?

 

[oldsysop]

Long live the A/B class !!!

 

[Juhazi]

How would this unit handle an active sub?

Bypassing!

 

[Casey Leedom]

I was under the impression that Outlaw really wasn't designing their own products. Instead, I thought they were just badging products designed and produced by others — albeit, sometimes to Outlaw's specifications. In the case of these amplifiers, I thought the source was ATI.

[[ Edit: I found a reference that said that the 5000 was not made by ATI. The 7500, 7700, 7900 apparently are made by ATI. ]]

Casey

 

[Doodski]

I was under the impression that Outlaw really wasn't designing their own products. Instead, I thought they were just badging products designed and produced by others — albeit, sometimes to Outlaw's specifications. In the case of these amplifiers, I thought the source was ATI.

[[ Edit: I found a reference that said that the 5000 was not made by ATI. The 7500, 7700, 7900 apparently are made by ATI. ]]

Casey

According to Outlaw they design stuff.
http://www.outlawaudio.com/about/index.html

 

[Lotus97]

price/perf is outstanding here, only question one might ask is, how long can these Outlaws work for, some amps are designed to last 20 years with everyday use.

 

[Lotus97]

Most sources are gonna be AV receivers, which output 1.4-2Vrms.

I am not sure how anyone can use AV receivers with power amps like this one, pre-processor is the way to go, Outlaw 976 Processor outputs maximum of 9Vrms.

 

[iLoveCats]

I am not sure how anyone can use AV receivers with power amps like this one, pre-processor is the way to go, Outlaw 976 Processor outputs maximum of 9Vrms.

My reasoning is room correction and dolby atmos. Outlaw has had a dolby atmos receiver in development for years. So many years that I've completely stopped following the the bread crumbs about the project...years ago!

 

[Lotus97]

My reasoning is room correction and dolby atmos. Outlaw has had a dolby atmos receiver in development for years. So many years that I've completely stopped following the the bread crumbs about the project...years ago!

you can have a prepro from other brands with atmos and room correction, my point was the best way to use power amps is with prepro and not AV receiver due to their highly limited preout section.

 

[MZKM]

My reasoning is room correction and dolby atmos. Outlaw has had a dolby atmos receiver in development for years. So many years that I've completely stopped following the the bread crumbs about the project...years ago!

Also, HDR, so many processors don’t support HDR, and most that do are just HDR10, not Dolby Vision nor HLG (which is what broadcast tv will use).

 

[iLoveCats]

you can have a prepro from other brands with atmos and room correction, my point was the best way to use power amps is with prepro and not AV receiver due to their highly limited preout section.

An outlaw 976 with Audessey xt32 or Dirac would be a sweet deal. I'd pay up to $1500 for it

 

[dgkula]

Also, HDR, so many processors don’t support HDR, and most that do are just HDR10, not Dolby Vision nor HLG (which is what broadcast tv will use).

My setup has a video processor that sends the video from the selected component directly to the display and the audio only to the AVR. I dont see much benefit in routing video through and AVR.

 

[MZKM]

My setup has a video processor that sends the video from the selected component directly to the display and the audio only to the AVR. I dont see much benefit in routing video through and AVR.

If you have more than one video source (cable box, Blu-ray, AppleTV, etc.), HDMI ARC didn’t support lossless Atmos until the new version.

 

[NegativeEntropy]

Thanks for testing this Amir. The less than 86dB dynamic range (in one of 2 channels tested) at modest power is the only disappointment for me. I plan to use 2 of these for surround duty in a 9.1.6 setup (with a TBD Dirac enabled pre/pro) and this otherwise exceeds my desired specs in each category for that use. In fact, other than that dynamic range at modest power it meets my desired specs for my mains too which is especially great for the price.

Amir, can you share the mapping of the channels in your results (channels "1-4" were tested) with the labeling on the back of the amp? Then I can relegate the overhead speakers to the worst performing channels. As was mentioned above one might assume the channels farthest from the transformer would be the cleanest, but it would be good to know for sure.

Also looks like there is a typo in the power vs distortion 8 ohm graph with Channel 1 being labeled as an ICEpower amp?

Thanks again for testing this.