Yes, we know that it was only a week or so ago that we said that there
wouldn't be a November edition of our newsletter, but consider this as an
"EXTRA" edition. As they are prone to say on TV, we have LATE BREAKING NEWS
just handed to us.
As you may have ready, Dolby Laboratories has announced earlier today that
they will make their new consumer audio format, Dolby Digital EX, available
for inclusion in products such as surround processors, audio/video
receivers, DVD players, set-top boxes and any other device that receives or
plays back a Dolby Digital signal. This new mode has its origins in the
Dolby Surround EX format created for theatrical cinema applications, and
introduced in a modified form two years ago as a part of the Lucasfilm's
THX program. Dolby Digital EX uses information matrixed into the left and
right discrete surround channels to deliver an additional rear surround.
Manufacturers may implement the mode with either a single "center rear"
channel or with two rear channel outputs that take the mono signal and
create identical "Right Back Surround" and "Left Back Surround" channels.
(Note that the latter is identical to the way in which the original Dolby
Pro Logic system provided identical left and right surround channels from a
mono surround signal).
This new mode will be compatible with all Dolby Digital Surround EX
releases, both those that feature an automatic "flag" that indicates the
presence of the matrixed surround channel, as well as with non-flagged 5.1
releases.
The Outlaws welcome this announcement, as it provides yet another way to
precisely recreate the theatrical sound experience in the home. We are
certain that it will quickly become a "must have" feature for home theater
enthusiasts everywhere.
However, the announcement of Dolby Digital EX is great news, but also puts
the Outlaws in a rather awkward position with regard to our forthcoming
Model 950. You may recall from the Outlaw Newsletter sent out just last
weekend, as well as from our newly revised FAQs, the Model 950 is in the
final development and testing stages. The beta units are about to ship to
us from the prototype line in Asia and they should be in the hands of the
testers shortly. Things were looking good for production and initial
shipments later this month.
At the "11th hour" with regard to freezing the product's hardware and
software, we received the news about Dolby Digital EX late last week under
strict embargo until today's public announcement. Suddenly we were faced
with the need to make a decision on how to accommodate Dolby Digital EX.
Our choices were to either continue the 950 project without modification
and ship it without an important feature that will quickly become a "must
have" or to delay it slightly so that we may include the new mode from the
first unit shipped. At the risk of giving the skeptics among you a reason
to say "We told you so", the Outlaws have decided to slip the delivery
schedule by about three weeks so that we may make the required adjustments
that will enable the Model 950 to be one of the very first processors to
offer this exciting new capability.
We also know that some will say that we should release the 950 on schedule
and then offer the new mode as an upgrade, that is not a viable option.
Adding Dolby Digital EX "after the fact" is more than a simple software
upgrade. Next, those with early units would loose bragging rights to the
new mode the future, as their units would not carry the new Dolby Digital
EX logo on their 950's front panel. Finally, and most importantly, a
post-release upgrade would have to carry a price to the end user in the $75
to $100 range. In addition, you would have to remove a unit you had just
installed and calibrated, open it to change the parts, put the unit back
together and reconnect everything and recalibrate your system.
The more we looked at the choices, the more our decision became obvious. We
simply could not justify either the cost of an increase or the
inconvenience it would cause our customers. We'll take a few arrows in the
on-line forums for a slight schedule delay if that would enable us to offer
Dolby Digital EX from the first unit shipped at no additional cost to the
consumer. Taking the upgrade path when a better (and less expensive) answer
is less than a few weeks away would be silly. If you can't wait any longer
we understand, and we invite you to buy any other product that will offer
this mode sooner than the Outlaws will at ANY price, let alone $899.
So, to recap, here's where we are:
-We will include the new Dolby Digital EX capability in the Model 950 as
part of the basic feature package starting with the first unit shipped.
This will eliminate the need for a costly, after-the-fact upgrade and it
will enable all units to carry the new Dolby Digital EX logo on the front
panel.
-We will include Dolby Digital EX in the Model 950 with no increase to the
unit's initial $899 price despite the extra costs incurred by us to add it
at this late date.
-We are already working with Cirrus, Dolby and our software and hardware
engineering teams to integrate the code for the new mode into the 950 as
quickly as possible.
-Based on our current estimate of the time required to complete the
engineering work and submit the final unit for Dolby and other approvals,
we will not be able to ship production units by Thanksgiving. However, we
are committed to volume shipments well in advance of the "Holiday Season".
(OK, we may miss the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, December 9th, but
we'll be ready in time for you to welcome Santa with a full 7.1 surround
demo on Christmas Eve instead of milk and cookies!)
-The beta test will not be delayed, as those units will test other aspects
of the existing software and the other surround modes. This will enable us
to fast track any needed changes while the testing on Dolby Digital EX
proceeds on a parallel path. The Beta testers will receive an upgrade to EX
capability at the conclusion of the test.
-As a side note to those who are interested, we are in the final process of
contacting test participants. Unless we have someone fall off the list you
will have heard from us by now if you are part of the test. Please remember
that we had more than 300 applications from home theater enthusiasts in six
countries for only five spots. Also, please remember that the beta
participants are bound by a confidentiality agreement and not to discuss
the test until after the 950 ships. There is a very good reason why you
haven't heard anything about the test on the forums: Any tester who
discloses their participation will be removed from the test and subject to
civil litigation for breach of contract. We're REALLY serious about that.
-One final note while we have your attention: Yes, we know we promised to
put some new pictures of the 950 up on the web site this week, but with the
arrival of the cables, a dramatic increase in shipments for all of our
products and the minor issue of the new format mode to take care of we
simply didn't get around to it. The interior of the 950 is complex and
there are three layers of circuit boards making it very difficult to
photograph properly. We're working on it and with any luck we'll sneak the
photos up somewhere on the web site this week, time permitting. Somehow we
think you would rather that we tend to the more important aspects of the
business right now.
Oh, that we had known about this a few weeks ago. No, we didn't plan this
as a crafty way to delay the 950's introduction. Quite honestly, we've had
to scramble and call in all sorts of favors to keep as close to the
original schedule as we can. We are spending considerable sums on overtime
for engineering teams that are working around the clock.
When all is said and done, we trust that you will understand why we have
chosen to delay our previously announced schedule for the Model 950. The
introduction of Dolby Digital EX is something we simply did not plan for.
We ask that you will bear with us as we complete work on what we know will
be the best value processor/preamp/tuner the home theater world has seen -
or heard.
Regards,
The Outlaws
wouldn't be a November edition of our newsletter, but consider this as an
"EXTRA" edition. As they are prone to say on TV, we have LATE BREAKING NEWS
just handed to us.
As you may have ready, Dolby Laboratories has announced earlier today that
they will make their new consumer audio format, Dolby Digital EX, available
for inclusion in products such as surround processors, audio/video
receivers, DVD players, set-top boxes and any other device that receives or
plays back a Dolby Digital signal. This new mode has its origins in the
Dolby Surround EX format created for theatrical cinema applications, and
introduced in a modified form two years ago as a part of the Lucasfilm's
THX program. Dolby Digital EX uses information matrixed into the left and
right discrete surround channels to deliver an additional rear surround.
Manufacturers may implement the mode with either a single "center rear"
channel or with two rear channel outputs that take the mono signal and
create identical "Right Back Surround" and "Left Back Surround" channels.
(Note that the latter is identical to the way in which the original Dolby
Pro Logic system provided identical left and right surround channels from a
mono surround signal).
This new mode will be compatible with all Dolby Digital Surround EX
releases, both those that feature an automatic "flag" that indicates the
presence of the matrixed surround channel, as well as with non-flagged 5.1
releases.
The Outlaws welcome this announcement, as it provides yet another way to
precisely recreate the theatrical sound experience in the home. We are
certain that it will quickly become a "must have" feature for home theater
enthusiasts everywhere.
However, the announcement of Dolby Digital EX is great news, but also puts
the Outlaws in a rather awkward position with regard to our forthcoming
Model 950. You may recall from the Outlaw Newsletter sent out just last
weekend, as well as from our newly revised FAQs, the Model 950 is in the
final development and testing stages. The beta units are about to ship to
us from the prototype line in Asia and they should be in the hands of the
testers shortly. Things were looking good for production and initial
shipments later this month.
At the "11th hour" with regard to freezing the product's hardware and
software, we received the news about Dolby Digital EX late last week under
strict embargo until today's public announcement. Suddenly we were faced
with the need to make a decision on how to accommodate Dolby Digital EX.
Our choices were to either continue the 950 project without modification
and ship it without an important feature that will quickly become a "must
have" or to delay it slightly so that we may include the new mode from the
first unit shipped. At the risk of giving the skeptics among you a reason
to say "We told you so", the Outlaws have decided to slip the delivery
schedule by about three weeks so that we may make the required adjustments
that will enable the Model 950 to be one of the very first processors to
offer this exciting new capability.
We also know that some will say that we should release the 950 on schedule
and then offer the new mode as an upgrade, that is not a viable option.
Adding Dolby Digital EX "after the fact" is more than a simple software
upgrade. Next, those with early units would loose bragging rights to the
new mode the future, as their units would not carry the new Dolby Digital
EX logo on their 950's front panel. Finally, and most importantly, a
post-release upgrade would have to carry a price to the end user in the $75
to $100 range. In addition, you would have to remove a unit you had just
installed and calibrated, open it to change the parts, put the unit back
together and reconnect everything and recalibrate your system.
The more we looked at the choices, the more our decision became obvious. We
simply could not justify either the cost of an increase or the
inconvenience it would cause our customers. We'll take a few arrows in the
on-line forums for a slight schedule delay if that would enable us to offer
Dolby Digital EX from the first unit shipped at no additional cost to the
consumer. Taking the upgrade path when a better (and less expensive) answer
is less than a few weeks away would be silly. If you can't wait any longer
we understand, and we invite you to buy any other product that will offer
this mode sooner than the Outlaws will at ANY price, let alone $899.
So, to recap, here's where we are:
-We will include the new Dolby Digital EX capability in the Model 950 as
part of the basic feature package starting with the first unit shipped.
This will eliminate the need for a costly, after-the-fact upgrade and it
will enable all units to carry the new Dolby Digital EX logo on the front
panel.
-We will include Dolby Digital EX in the Model 950 with no increase to the
unit's initial $899 price despite the extra costs incurred by us to add it
at this late date.
-We are already working with Cirrus, Dolby and our software and hardware
engineering teams to integrate the code for the new mode into the 950 as
quickly as possible.
-Based on our current estimate of the time required to complete the
engineering work and submit the final unit for Dolby and other approvals,
we will not be able to ship production units by Thanksgiving. However, we
are committed to volume shipments well in advance of the "Holiday Season".
(OK, we may miss the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, December 9th, but
we'll be ready in time for you to welcome Santa with a full 7.1 surround
demo on Christmas Eve instead of milk and cookies!)
-The beta test will not be delayed, as those units will test other aspects
of the existing software and the other surround modes. This will enable us
to fast track any needed changes while the testing on Dolby Digital EX
proceeds on a parallel path. The Beta testers will receive an upgrade to EX
capability at the conclusion of the test.
-As a side note to those who are interested, we are in the final process of
contacting test participants. Unless we have someone fall off the list you
will have heard from us by now if you are part of the test. Please remember
that we had more than 300 applications from home theater enthusiasts in six
countries for only five spots. Also, please remember that the beta
participants are bound by a confidentiality agreement and not to discuss
the test until after the 950 ships. There is a very good reason why you
haven't heard anything about the test on the forums: Any tester who
discloses their participation will be removed from the test and subject to
civil litigation for breach of contract. We're REALLY serious about that.
-One final note while we have your attention: Yes, we know we promised to
put some new pictures of the 950 up on the web site this week, but with the
arrival of the cables, a dramatic increase in shipments for all of our
products and the minor issue of the new format mode to take care of we
simply didn't get around to it. The interior of the 950 is complex and
there are three layers of circuit boards making it very difficult to
photograph properly. We're working on it and with any luck we'll sneak the
photos up somewhere on the web site this week, time permitting. Somehow we
think you would rather that we tend to the more important aspects of the
business right now.
Oh, that we had known about this a few weeks ago. No, we didn't plan this
as a crafty way to delay the 950's introduction. Quite honestly, we've had
to scramble and call in all sorts of favors to keep as close to the
original schedule as we can. We are spending considerable sums on overtime
for engineering teams that are working around the clock.
When all is said and done, we trust that you will understand why we have
chosen to delay our previously announced schedule for the Model 950. The
introduction of Dolby Digital EX is something we simply did not plan for.
We ask that you will bear with us as we complete work on what we know will
be the best value processor/preamp/tuner the home theater world has seen -
or heard.
Regards,
The Outlaws
Very easy dealing with them. No hassle at all. Their only stipulation is that if the other one does show up, I send it back.
