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The Yamaha A-S500 integrated has found a nice home. After playing around a bit, the loudness control compliments the CF3's very well. Finding I'm a mid-bass fan and this budget Yamaha does a great job accommodating compared to the Outlaw. The Outlaw just didn’t allow the rock to “rock” within my set-up. I’m sure for others it might be great. It's been returned and unfortunately I’ve not received feedback from Scott on if the system was in full working order or in need of adjustment. They also gave me a $40 shipping and handling charge from their free shipping return on top of that. Just cutting bait and enjoying the Yamaha which for my ears, is the best situation. Thank you all for your knowledge and support! J in MI.

Same options just higher wattage? If so interested as I'm looking for an amp. to control the horns on the CF-3s I have.

Anyone have one for sale? If so, price shipped to MI? Thanks.

Thanks for the input Rivernuggets. That KH is for certain a cool retro option worth looking into. I’ll have a nice trial Monday as Crutchfield was kind enough to allow a free trial (shipping included) of a scratch and dent Yamaha AS500 which has been through their bench testing.Hopefully it is my amateur ear. Scott at Outlaw said I should not have had to ask my wife on the quality difference though as the volume I tested to should have had her running down the stairs to yell at me instead-pretty funny. Ps. Still waiting on the return paperwork from Outlaw so no info to report back at this time.

Thanks Khornbred. Ports could certainly be an option worth reviewing. I was able to talk with Scott at Outlaw yesterday. Scott is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Many ideas were reviewed (including in phase-thanks for bringing that up—good idea), but none gave us the outcome that we both believe the unit is capable of producing. My Retro will be sent back to Outlaw today for analysis. In a few days I should be able to report back on the outcome. Thanks again all.

Thanks again Dennie. Could most certainly be me as the clarity is the best I’ve experienced. Oddly for me though it’s the lack of bass what pulls all this down. Even with the boost and bass turned to 3:00 I’d need a good sub. to get what I’m getting now with the Yamaha and the CF-3s I would think would ever need a sub. with the proper set-up. Jazz or country might be a different story, but my collection mainly consists of rock/classic rock. Oddly very minor drums on everything I sampled and that’s something that does the Great Gonzo no justice at all :-)

Thank you Dennie. Very kind of you to supply the insight. In this case I believe I have tried all the options. It could just take getting some used to, but it's just not there for my or my wife at this point. With that said the sound clearity is great--much better than the Yamaha ,but take for example the Eagle Hell Freezes Hotel Cal. The Outlaw produces a much bette intro, then the bass drum hits and it's very minor. I've read the manual a few times (online as I wanted to get it all right once the unit arrived). Adjusted the boost options, adjusted the bass, set it all back to neutral over a few times now. I'll admit this could all be me and by no means am I attempting to bash Outlaw. Using CDs with the CF-3s and my ears, it's just not working out. I guess the best way I could put it is the sound is very "Bose" like. Excellent clearity, but you can have it turned up very high and still talk to a person standing accross the room. Thanks once more for all the support guys. I'll eventually get it right :-) Have a great day.

Hello all. Just wanted to check in as I need a little more support please. Here's the situation.....I got to really try out the new Outlaw today. Now let me say I'm very new to all of this first of all, but the receiver (to my untrained ear) perform much less than the old Yamaha 5.1 I "shelved" for it (with my CF-3s). I by no means am posting to put down the receiver, but to me it's not close to the quality of sound. Very on and off brightness with bass sounding like 6 in. paper cones. $625 isn't a drop in the hat for me so I wanted to ask/comment....1) Is there normally a big curve for a break in? 2) Maybe I'm a product of 90's wall of sound and just not used to real hi-fi? 3) Just go with what I started with since that is what sounds best to me? Sorry for the comments on a very well received and high quality product...just need a little input as it's just not what my ear is happy with :-) Thank you all very much for the time.

Thank you for the replies. Please keep them coming. Rpampt- many are tellimg me to go with a Tech, but I need to go plug and play with this project as I have zero time right now--thank you though. ACM- could you post a few photos please? Have a great day :-)

Hello. I wanted to start here first since I got such excellent information on the CF-3s and now new Outlaw reciever. I'm hoping to pick up a nice, used--properly working turntable. Doesn't have to be the best, just something good to listen to with my working class set-up :-) I'd like to stay under $200. Please let me know if you have anything that would match up nicely with my CF-3 and Outlaw. Thank you all very much.

Hey all.... Just wanted to say thank you again for all of your input and patience. The results are in (and approved by the wife :-) and the Outlaw will be ordered in about ten days. Can't wait and I would not have known about this without your help. Thanks very much and Merry Christmas :-)

Shrill is a good word for it. Best sound I've ever owned because of the speakers, but the 5.1 is very touchy CD to CD. Far too much Treble and the Bass goes from zero to crazy :-) No way I can complain and adjusting makes it sound very good to me (normally the best on less complex mixes). I've taken seperate controls off the list. Really looking hard at the Outlaw though. Will most likely wait until after Christmas. Just hoping I can hear a nice difference after forking over $630.

Read a bit more into this, I believe I might finally have this right- 1) Outlaw. Will not be able to have seperate controls for the horns & woofers. Excellent sound quality though where seperate controls my not be needed. 2) Keep the current receiver and add an intergrated amp. Will not have seperate controls for horns and woofers. Better sounds quality and power than current amp. 3) Keep current receivers and run two amps with level control to allow seperate horn/amp. control. Now do I finally have it :-)

Thank you all once again for the input. To clear this up a bit my system will never be theatre. It's currently 2.0 and will most likely stay that way or 2.1 max. if needed (but these CF-3s do not need a sub right now in my house for sure.....). The Outlaw looks to be an outstanting option. Real close to ordering.... But... Where I got lost (and sorry for being so new) is the CF-3s have the option of powering the horns and woofers separatly. I've read this should be done for the best possible sound (but there is no way I want to invest as I believe that means at least two integrated amps correct?) And then how is the volume controlled uniformly? Too many questions...sorry, but that's what I'm still trying to wrap my head around right now. Basically, go with the Outlaw or go with two amps, a high price tag, but separate controls right? For me, the Outlaw looks to be my best option for quality and price and most likely get me to sound quality well beyond what I've ever heard. Just want to know about separation if I ever go that direction someday. Thank you

Thank you all for the input. Does anyone know the price of the outlaw? Also if I go integraded, would you recommend running the entire speaker set from it or run a portion with the reciever? If thats the way it alao works?