i received my replacement outlaw audio receiver and everything works as it should. it seems like i might have just been the one with some bad luck, but everything is working crisply and boomingly well now. i decided to go with a pretty small set up, the smaller definitive technology speakers, the small subwoofer, and with everything wired up, it sounds incredible. i love it.

now, my next big project is building my own old school arcade!