Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier Review

Original Publish Date: 2/16/15

Model 5000 Introduction

When Peter Tribeman from Outlaw Audio phoned me in my car one afternoon last year he sounded like he was about to expose the truth behind Area 51 and the government cover-up of alien beings. He was excited, a bit nervous and….excited!  He made me swear secrecy that I wouldn’t divulge what he was about to tell me.  Of course I obliged.  After all, I wanted to know the truth behind the little green men and their supposed crashed spacecraft.  Well, he didn’t divulge anything about that topic I didn’t already know, but he did inform me of a new budget-friendly five channel power amp (Model 5000) he was working on with the Outlaws.  This one was going to be different.  It was NOT produced by ATI, like their excellent predecessors.  Instead, Outlaw partnered with overseas manufacturing to get the costs down to previously unseen levels of performance and power.  My guess is they wanted to outmaneuver Emotiva and beat them at their own game.  Though with Emotiva shifting their manufacturing back to the USA, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

So how does this 120 watt/channel power amplifier stand out in a sea of competitor models which are often rated at even higher power output?  Let’s take a tour of the Model 5000 and get an inner look at its guts and throw it on the bench for a little workout to find out what all the fuss is about.

Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier YouTube Video with Gene and Hugo

Design Overview

The Model 5000 is a traditional Class AB amplifier design with four output devices per channel in a mono-block configuration fed from a large centralized toroidal power supply that appears to be at least 1kVA rated.  Each channel also has its own power supply capacitor bank made up of four loosely spaced 6,800uF capacitors.  The user manual for the Model 5000 claims a total of 27,200uF of power supply capacitance per channel but it’s a bit misleading since upon closer inspection I found the capacitors were only 50V rated which means they had to be wired in series-parallel to handle the voltage necessary to deliver the rated 120 watts/channel.  Thus the equivalent capacitance per channel is actually only 6,800uF.  Outlaw updated their website to now state four 6,800uF capacitors/channel.  I suppose that’s a little more “honest” but it still doesn’t give you the actual effective channel capacitance.  We’ve seen this before on some of Emotiva’s older amplifiers and called them out on it in each review so we feel it’s only fair to do the same with Outlaw.  Suffice it to say, the Model 5000 has a massive power supply for an amplifier of its price class.  I am just picking nits here.  Moving on.

Editorial Note on Power Supply Capacitors

You often hear manufacturers boast how much power supply capacitance their amplifiers have but what is their purpose?  Power capacitors serve two purposes actually. They store energy to prevent rail sag during dynamic peaks to help maintain a steady, consistent output and they also help reduce rail voltage ripple.  The amount of capacitance needed depends on just how stiff or robust of a power supply you want to design for your amp.

For 10% ripple:  C = 5* Io/Vs*f  (source)

C  = smoothing capacitance in farads (F)

Io  = output current from the supply in amps (A)

Vs = supply voltage in volts (V), this is the peak value of the unsmoothed DC

f    = frequency of the AC supply in hertz (Hz), 60Hz for USA

So if an amplifier rated at 150wpc would produce about 6 amps peak current and assuming a rail voltage of 70V should have 7,000uF to maintain 10% ripple. Based on this calculation I’d say the Model 5000 has at least met the bare minimum requirement.  Higher end products with tighter specs will of course use more power supply capacitance to maintain a tighter ripple.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 Inside View

The Model 5000 is equipped with a 12Vdc trigger, detachable 3-prong 14AWG power cord though it doesn’t utilize earth ground.  There is also a mains power switch on the back panel.  Interestingly, the silkscreen on the backpanel of the Model 5000 says it’s designed in the USA by Outlaw but manufactured in the PRC.  PRC is just a coy way of not saying made in China but it means People’s Republic of China.  The speaker terminals are high quality gold plated binding posts but the unit only has unbalanced inputs, which is not a surprise at this price point.  Per my request from my test bench findings, Outlaw Audio will be adding a grounding screw for those that wish to tie all chassis grounds together in their systems to solve any potential ground loops.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 Backpanel View

Though the Model 5000 is a bit pedestrian looking, the chassis itself is thicker and sturdier than your typical run of the mill receiver.  The blue LED front panel button adds a nice touch of panache to the unit while also serving to let you know when it’s powered up and ready for business.  It’s also meant to be an aesthetic match to their Model 975 AV Processor.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 Front panel LED Power Button

 

Setup

I tested the Model 5000 in the Audioholics Showcase Theater Room using my Marantz PM-11S3 as the preamp and my Oppo BDP-105 Blu-ray as the source.  All interconnects were provided by Bluejeans cable and my speaker cables were Kimber 8TC.  I utilized my $50k Status Acoustics 8T speakers.  Due to my reference speakers being a tough load dipping down to 2 ohms in the bass frequencies, these speakers can often be quite a problem for amplifiers not up to the challenge.  I also tested with a pair of Aperion Verus Grand bookshelf speakers as well to use a more representative speaker that typical consumers would use when buying an amplifier in this price class.

Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier Listening Tests

HDtracks: Miles Davis -  Kind of Blue (192kHz/24 bit FLAC)
Buy Now
Despite this being a recording from 1959, it is recognized as a benchmark for vinyl even by today’s standards and is the best selling jazz album of all time.  I recently downloaded a high resolution copy in 192kHz/24bit from HDTracks and I was equally impressed with its fidelity in the digital format as well.

Track #1 “So What” sets the mode for this album, which is just a feel-good laid back experience that is best accompanied by a good glass of red.  Jimmy Cobb’s cymbal brushes were delicate and airy while the back and forth between Miles on trumpet and Coltrane on sax was exhilarating.  I found the digital version to offer more precise localization of sound but perhaps not quite as grainy and real sounding like I’ve heard on 180G vinyl.  The Model 5000 drove my Status 8T speakers with composure as I turned the volume up to lifelike SPLs.  Closing my eyes, I really felt like I was in a jazz cellar in NYC listening to this sextuplet grace me with their phenomenal performance.  Track #2 “Freddie Freeloader” is my favorite song on the whole album.  It just oozes coolness and if your foot isn’t tapping on this tune, someone needs to check your pulse.  Bill Evan tickles the ivories with a surgeon’s precision.  I got instant goose bumps when Miles’ trumpet kicked in.  I heard vivacious reproduction of sound, especially when Coltrane answered Miles in his solo. As I got deeper into the album, I noticed my attention drifted off and I was falling asleep.  I consider that quite a testament to my enjoyment of the experience since there was nothing standing out to ruin my audiophile experience.

HD Tracks: Yellowjackets – A Rise in the Road (96kHz/24 bit FLAC)

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I’ve been listening to Yellowjackets since my high school days and recently rediscovered their music.  I’m glad they are still pumping out some real jazz with their superb brass section and drumming after all these years.  The Model 5000 showed off its ability to drive tight punchy bass when called upon to do so like in Track #1 “When the Lady Dances.”  I perceived a very spacious 3D soundstage listening to this track as the Model 5000 didn’t lose its composure even at high listening levels. Instead I heard a nice bite to the sax played by Bob Mintzer with a nice overlay of piano. Stereo separation was very good and I was really digging sampling this recording.  The cymbal reproduction in Track #3 “Can’t We Elope” was crisp just like I remembered it on my reference amps while the bass was punchy and satisfying.  This track portrayed a Steely Dan (i.e. “Jack of Speed”) sound quality that I quite enjoyed.

 

Yellowjackets: Rise in the Road (left); Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (right)

CD: Herbie Hancock – Possibilities

Track #3 “Song for You” features the vocal talents of Christina Aguilera who in my opinion is one of today’s greatest female vocalists.  Her full range of voice was portrayed with excellence on the Model 5000.  I felt the tonal character was a tad darker sounding than I remembered on my reference amps but pleasant nonetheless.  From the sparkle of the triangles to Hancock’s tickling of the ivories, everything just sounded wonderful.  Track #6 “Sister Moon” demonstrated how well the Model 5000 could keep the sonic landscape together in the presence of deep dynamic bass along with high frequency ear candy.  The wood blocks and other various high frequency sound effects and cymbals were reproduced with excellent clarity and air.  Sting would surely be happy to hear himself singing in this track using a Model 5000 to power his speakers.

Nam Harg Trang – Mul Mantra

I picked up a copy of a Japanese drum track from a fellow Audioholic who told me years ago Mark Levinson claimed he could count on one hand how many “full range” speakers were capable of reproducing it and still have fingers left.  I’m happy to report that the Status 8T speakers are among them.  This is a 10 minute torture track for bass drivers and amplifiers attempting to reproduce it with lifelike dynamics.  I was very concerned about using the Model 5000 for this test given its modest power output compared to my 2kwatt Emotiva XPR-1 Monoblocks.  Still, I pressed on as I wanted to test the limits of this amplifier.  If I were to blow a fuse or a transistor, then so be it.  It’s all in the name of science.  The sound of massive Taiko drums if played back on a capable system will rattle your core.  From the first moment of listening, I knew the Model 5000 would not disappoint.  The depth and weight of the drums was epic.  As I cranked up the volume, the Model 5000 happily obliged me.  It wasn’t until I saw the lights in my room dimming on each drum strike that I realized I accidentally plugged the Model 5000 into a shared outlet.  I paused the recording and connected the amp to my dedicated 120V/20 amp line to remedy that problem. 

I continued on with excitement and amazement that this sub $600 five-channel amp was able to muster so much raw power with such excellent composure.  Towards the end of the track there is a sort of drum finale which reminded me of the live performances at the Disney Epcot Japanese village. Overall the sound was well composed but perhaps not quite as punchy as I recalled.  It was only when I switched over to my much more powerful reference amps that I noticed a difference in low end dynamics and body of sound.  Considering the Model 5000 rated power is literally 1/10^th of my reference amps, this was no surprise to me.  I was more surprised at how incredibly composed the Model 5000 remained even when driven to ungodly levels by a very difficult speaker load in a very large room.  This speaks volumes (no pun intended) for just how good of an amp Outlaw has on their hands. 

Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier Measurements and Analysis

All measurements were conducted using our Audio Precision APx585 8 Channel HDMI Audio Analyzer following our rigid Amplifier Measurement Test Protocol.  I did some quick spot-checking on the Model 5000 amplifier gain structure to ensure it could be properly driven with a wide assortment of preamps or receivers. My personal criteria for amplifier gain structure is that it should be able to hit full power when driven with 2Vrms which the Outlaw met just fine, clipping at about 1.3Vrms and hit the rated 120 watts/ch at 1Vrms input. I measured 29.7dB gain with an 8 ohm load attached which is what Outlaw specs this amp to be.

Signal to Noise Ratio

The Model 5000 exhibited a commendably good noise floor of around 80-83dB at 1 watt, A-weighted depending on the channel driven and 78dB when unfiltered.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 SNR @ 1 watt, A-wt

Frequency Response

The Model 5000 exhibited a -3dB pt of around 64kHz (1 watt) and 57kHz (full rated power) with ±0.1dB channel to channel deviation which is a little wider band than their 54kHz -3dB pt rating. Linearity was maintained well regardless if the amp was driven at 1 watt or full power.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 Frequency Response vs Power
Purple trace: @ 1 watt, Red trace: @ full rated power

Power Output Measurements

The Model 5000 was tested on a dedicated 120V/20A line with no line regulation.

We tested power using three methods all of which were taken at < 0.1% THD + N:

• Continuous Full Power Bandwidth (CFP-BW) from 20Hz to 20Khz into 8 and 4-ohm loads

• 1kHz Power Sweep vs. Distortion (1kHz PSweep)—popularized by the print magazines, this is an instantaneous power vs. distortion test at 1kHz. The problem with this test is it often masks slew-related and or frequency response problems some amplifiers exhibit at the frequency extremes, and thus inflates the measured power results. It does provide an instant gratification number for consumers to argue over on the forums, so we are now incorporating this test to please the masses.

• Dynamic PWR - 1kHz CEA-2006 Burst Method testing. This is a dynamic power measurement adopted from the car industry similar to IHF method, only a bit more difficult for an amplifier and more representative of real musical content.

Keep in mind most review publications don't do continuous power measurements and they usually publish power measurements into clipping at 1% THD + N. Our measurements are very conservative since we use a dedicated 20A line with no Variac to regulate line voltage.  We constantly monitor the line to ensure it never drops more than 2Vrms from nominal, which in our case was 120Vrms. 

For more info on amplifier measurements, see:  The All Channels Driven (ACD) Test

Outlaw Model 5000 Continuous Full Power Bandwidth Sweep

The Model 5000 proved to be an overachiever delivering a good deal more than its 120wpc rated power into 8 ohms and 180 watts/ch into 4 ohms. Our continuous sweep tests produced 170 watts/channel for 8 ohms, two channels driven and 230 watts/ch for 4 ohms, two channels driven under 0.1% THD+N.  Even with ALL five channels driven, the Model 5000 was able to muster 135 watts/channel into 8 ohms under 0.1% THD+N.  It’s rare that we find an amplifier to handily outperform its rated specs, especially an amp priced at the level of a mid-fi AV receiver.

Outlaw Model 5000 1kHz Power Sweep Test
Top: 8 ohm load, 5CH;  Bottom:  4 ohm load, 2CH

The Outlaw Model 5000 again did better on the all channels driven test than it was rated.  It delivered almost 140 watts/ch with all channels driven into an 8 ohm load at 0.1% THD+N and 263 watts/ch for two channels driven into 4 ohms at 0.1% THD+N.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 THD+ N Distortion at Full Rated Power

Driving the Model 5000 at 120 watts x 5 full bandwidth, all channels driven, I measured THD+N as seen in the sweep above.  You can see distortion rise with frequency as expected but still remaining below 0.05% which is very good. This amp delivers full rated power with all channels driven well below clipping.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 Dynamic Power Test (1kHz)
Top: 8 ohm load, 5CH;  Bottom: 4 ohm load, 2CH

The CEA-2006 burst tests simulate musical program material.  The Model 5000 produced commendable results by belting out over 210 watts/ch into 8 ohms, all channels driven at 1% THD+N and almost 400 watts/ch into 4 ohm.  That’s almost 3dB of headroom which is a sign of a nice meaty power supply and explains why this amp sounded more powerful than it was rated.

# of CH	Test Type	Power	Load	THD + N
2	CFP-BW	170 watts	8 ohms	0.1%
2	CFP-BW	230 watts	4 ohms	0.1%
5	CFP-BW	135 watts	8 ohms	0.1%
2	1kHz Psweep	179 watts	8 ohms	0.1%
2	1kHz Psweep	191 watts	8 ohms	1%
2	1kHz Psweep	263 watts	4 ohms	0.1%
2	1kHz Psweep	285 watts	4 ohms	1%
5	1kHz Psweep	139 watts	8 ohms	0.1%
5	1kHz Psweep	148 watts	8 ohms	1%
5	Dynamic PWR	212 watts	8 ohms	1%
2	Dynamic PWR	230 watts	8 ohms	1%
2	Dynamic PWR	390 watts	4 ohms	1%
1	Dynamic PWR	400 watts	4 ohms	1%

Outlaw Model 5000 Tabulated Power Test Results

Grounding Analysis and FFT Distortion Tests

I ran FFT distortion plots at 1 watt and full rated power to determine how clean this amplifier really was. My measurements revealed a pesky ground loop between the Model 5000 and my test gear since the Model 5000 uses a two-prong AC connection and my test gear uses a three-prong which is NOT transformer coupled to float the ground. Unfortunately the Model 5000 does NOT have a physical chassis ground so I tied an alligator clip to the chassis vents on the top cover to the ground pin of my APX585.  This resolved the groundloop on all channels except the one closest to the power transformer which was labeled as the “Left” channel.  I requested that Outlaw should look further into this and include a chassis ground on future builds of this amplifier to help their customers resolve system ground loops which usually can be eliminated by connecting the chassis ground of all equipment to a common point which is commonly referred to as a STAR grounding scheme.   In addition, they could have paid a little more attention to board layout to bring the power supply capacitors closer together to minimize trace impedance and thus tightened up the ground connection a bit better.

Update 4/10/19: While you could ground to any chassis screw if needed, Outlaw added a "star" washer to one of the chassis screws after my suggestion. This screw can be found on the underside of the amplifier located near the back.

It’s important to note that when I attached the Model 5000 to my system, I never heard a hum or experienced any grounding issues so although the ungrounded measurements below don’t look flattering, I certainly couldn’t audibly detect any deleterious effects.  The Model 5000 always sounded very quiet whether steady state or at loud listening levels. I do however recommend using the first three amplifier channels from right to left for the main LCR’s and reserving the last two closest to the power transformer as the surround channels for those that have any concerns whatsoever or want the very best measurable performance that can be achieved on this amplifier.

 

Outlaw Model 5000 FFT Distortion Analysis @ 1 watt
Top: 5 channels, ungrounded; Middle: 4 channels, grounded, Bottom: Left channel, grounded

Ungrounded things look a bit ugly but once I eliminated the groundloop, the harmonic distortion profile of the Model 5000 looked really good. At 1 watt, the 2^nd order harmonic distortion is down 89dB below the fundamental.  The noise floor is down -110dB which again demonstrates this amp is quiet.  This is a very nice measurement profile.  The Left channel grounded showed a bit of residual noise and transformer hum but again, I was unable to audibly detect this when tested in my system.

Outlaw Model 5000 FFT Distortion Analysis at Full Rated Power

At 120 watts, I observed the 2^rd harmonic down from the fundamental to be about 88dB below the fundamental or 100*log^-1(-88/20) = .004%. The high frequency harmonics did start to rise appreciably but still remained over 80dB below the fundamental. 

Crosstalk

I ran an All-To-One crosstalk test on the Model 5000 which made all idle channels the disturbing noise source simultaneously while the noise was measured for the test channel under test for each testing scenario. This test was conducted at rated power.

Outlaw Model 5000 All-To-One Crosstalk Tests

The Model 5000 did great here with almost -90dB at 1kHz and -70dB at 10kHz of isolation for the worst channel.  I consider anything less than -40dB @ 10kHz acceptable, so the Model 5000 handily beat that requirement by a considerable margin.

Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier Conclusion

After spending a good month with the Model 5000, it was easy for me to understand Peter Tribeman’s excitement for this product.  Sure it’s not the most powerful or pretty five channel amplifier on the market, BUT, it is the most affordable multi-channel amp (MSRP: $599) that gives you clean honest power with great sound quality.

In fact, I’m declaring the Model 5000 the BEST Deal for 2015 as far as budget multi-channel amplifiers go. 

The Model 5000 amp should sound even more powerful and capable in actual multi-channel home theater usage than it did driving my mondo-big speakers in two-channel full-range stereo because, in a real-world 5.1 system, the powered sub will handle the heavy lifting below 80 Hz or so, and therefore this Outlaw will just cruise along, not even breaking a sweat!

The Model 5000 runs cool, is capable of bringing a level of fidelity and power to a multi-channel system that no budget AV receiver can do on its own.  If you’re running an AV receiver with preouts and you need more power, then the Model 5000 just may be your ticket to salvation.  Or, if you’re looking to assemble a budget friendly separates solution, Outlaw is offering a combo deal on their Model 975 Pre/Pro paired with the Model 5000 five-channel power amp for just $1 shy of $1k.  That’s quite a bargain in my book for a budding audiophile looking for a no-nonsense audiophile experience without all of the bells and whistles or endless barrage of DSP modes to make your system sound like the halls of a German Cathedral.  While I do hope to one day uncover the truth behind Area 51, at least for now I can be satisfied in knowing Outlaw Audio helped to redefine my expectations of how a budget multi-channel amp should perform.

Outlaw Model 5000 Five Channel Amplifier Review

Outlaw Model 5000 Review
MSRP: $599

Mailing address:
Outlaw Audio
P.O. Box 975
Easton, MA 02334

Telephone:
866-OUTLAWS (688-5297)

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

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• — Very Good
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Metric	Rating
Ergonomics & Usability
Frequency Response Linearity
SNR
Measured Power (8-ohms)
Measured Power (4-ohms)
Build Quality
Performance
Value