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I didn't expect a retro amp to sound this accurate across every genre - but this one nails it

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Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk II ZDNET's key takeaways The Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk II stereo receiver is available online for $949.

It's a high-end receiver that delivers amazing sound, has plenty of inputs and outputs, and has bass management that will floor you.

It's also far heavier than you'd expect. $1,049 at Amazon

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"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 abundance (or, as it were, INXS).

Also: Changing these 5 soundbar settings made my living room feel like a movie theater

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, wouldn't be considered near audiophile level, but it still costs $500 (and is worth every penny).

So, how does the Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk 11 Stereo receiver 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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