“If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it,” Duke Orsino said in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” The soundtrack of my life is filled with music that spans genres, so when I hear audio from high-quality equipment, I want those sounds in excess (or INXS, as it were).
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It’s often a stretch to associate the term “budget” with audiophile-level equipment, but the reality is that products capable of producing truly fantastic audio come with a price tag. Even my trusted personal amp, a NAD D 3020 V2 fare for its $950 asking price? Here’s my verdict.
My curiosity was piqued for Outlaw’s “budget” amp (we’re talking about a $1,000 price tag), so I agreed to take a look. It turns out that the co-founder of Outlaw Audio, Peter Tribeman, is also one of the co-founders of NAD, the makers of my personal amp and a respected brand of high-fidelity audio equipment.
The aesthetic and design philosophy of the RR 2160 Mk II is all about drawing inspiration from the classical designs of old art deco radios with a sleek, functional aesthetic. Let me tell you, they succeeded.
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When I unboxed the receiver/amp, my first thought was, “this looks old school.” My second thought was about how big and heavy the amp is. It’s a beast; be prepared to use some muscle to get this baby set up. Here’s what the specs look like:
has all the connections and outputs you need, stellar bass management, bass and treble adjustments, and a sizable remote, but more importantly, the sound is really special. From the bottom to the top, this amp shines with booming depths and sparkling highs.
The likelihood of finding a better receiver/amp for $1,000 is pretty slim. If you want to get true, audiophile-quality sound from your equipment, you best get your hands on one of these beauties.
Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk II tech specs
- 110 watts per channel, 20Hz – 20kHz, 0.05%
- Seven analog inputs (including a high-end phono preamp for MM and MC cartridges), an external processor loop (such as for an EQ), and multiple digital inputs for high-resolution audio
- Internet radio and streaming: Access to TuneIn internet radio and dual-band Wi-Fi for streaming services
- Built-in bass management with a true crossover system
- Preamp outputs and main amplifier Inputs
- Primary and secondary speaker outputs
- Two sub outputs (with switchable crossover)
- Weight: 36 lbs
- App available for streaming
This article was originally published on July 23, 2024, and was updated on May 7, 2025.