Sherwood Newcastle introduces three new HDMI 1.3 receivers

Bringing a much-needed solution for HDTV viewers seeking compatible A/V receivers, Sherwood America has introduced three new receivers with HDMI 1.3 switching capabilities: the Newcastle R-872, R-772, and R-672.

The Newcastle R-872 and R-772 incorporate advanced performance features including HDMI 1.3, video scaling to 1080p, lossless audio decoding and more. Features incorporated in these models like the RF remote control, automatic use of the rear-center surround amps to power Zone 2 and the lockable installer memory were all designed to address problems common to custom installation.

Both the R-872 and R-772 are rated at 100 watts per channel for each of their 7 channels and both share a host of common features including: HDMI 1.3 switching; lossless audio decoding; AM/FM tuners with 30 presets; XM radio ready; automatic set-up with supplied microphone; Newcastle’s SNAPTM Room EQ; input renaming; A/V Synch Delay; digital/analog input polling; independent audio and video outputs for Zone 2; RS-232 port for bi- directional control and more.

The R-672, Newcastle's entry level signle-zone receiver, has built-in switching for two HDMI 1.3 sources plus two wide-band component video inputs. Other capabilities include AM/FM with 30 presets, rear panel inputs for 2 video sources and 2 audio sources and 4 digital audio inputs. In recognition of the importance of portable audio, the R-672 has a front panel A/V convenience (input) pack and another audio input suitable for an MP-3 player. The R-672 is also XM ready.  

Hollywood at Home™ adds advanced DVD Theater System, the VR-672

Sherwood America has introduced the improved version of its award-winning 2.1 surround sound system. The new VR-672 starts with an elegantly styled curved DVD console inspired by the work of Eero Saarinen, the designer of Dulles Airport and the St. Louis Arch. To ease system set-up, the 672 console transcodes both of its rear-panel video inputs to component video or to 720p and 1080i via its HDMI out- put. The front speaker is a hand rubbed black lacquer SpeakerBar 38” wide x 5” high x 4” deep with 2 spe- cially designed 4” full range drivers. Unusual in a system of this class is the 8”, 150W subwoofer which is trimmed in black lacquer. The sub and front speakers were designed by Dr. Poh Sur Hsu of Hsu Research. Dr. Hsu has a PhD in engineering from MIT but is better known for his state of the art subwoofers. In addition to the pair of rear panel video inputs, analog audio inputs and digital audio inputs, the VR-672 has a front panel stereo input for an MP-3 player and a USB host input to play files from a USB thumb drive.
 

Sherwood VR-670 Virtual Home Theater System featured on Buy.com's Buy.TV

The Sherwood VR-670 Virtual Home Theater System, which offers natural and realistic surround sound effects using only two speakers, is currently featured on Buy.com's Buy.TV. (Look for "Sherwood VR-670 Home Theater" under the "Electronics" heading.) Sherwood vice president Jeffrey Hipps sat down with Buy.TV host Melissa and provides a comprehensive look at the product's features, including its 10-minute installation and remarkable virtual surround sound technology.
 

Home theater gurus Cine Now! feature
Sherwood Newcastle R-771

Cine Now!, an online publication for home theater enthusiasts, interviewed Sherwood vice president Jeffrey Hipps at September's CEDIA show. He provided a fascinating look at the features of the Sherwood Newcastle R-771 A/V Receiver, a product which provides a low-cost, custom installable solution to the most challenging home theater settings. Watch the interview here.
 

In-depth analysis of Sherwood engineering results in rave review from The Sensible Sound

In their July/August 2006 issue, The Sensible Sound takes an in-depth look at the Newcastle A-965 amplifier, discussing the component's engineering in detail. The verdict? "If you want about the most horsepower that you can get out of one AC outlet in a 7-channel AV configuration, this 80-pound monster should fit the bill and remain state-of-the-art for many years to come." Download the review here to see for yourself.
 

The Perfect Vision recommends A-965, P-965 for the second straight year

For the second year running, The Perfect Vision has bestowed Editors' Choice status on the Newcastle A-965 amplifier and P-965 tuner/pre-amp/processor.

In their Winter, 2006 Buyer's Guide, the magazine called the A-965 "a formidable piece of equipment," making note of the amplifier's seven, 100-watt channels. The P-965 earned similar praise, winning plaudits for its ability "to play back the highest-quality audio and video sources available today," its 24-bit/192 kHz DACs, and its "excellent sound quality for film and good sound quality for two-channel music."

Sherwood adds HDMI to Newcastle and Sherwood lines

Sherwood America has introduced the HDMI-Link™, an advanced audio/video switcher and video format converter designed to integrate the video output from an advanced A/V receiver with the A/V output of two HDMI capable digital A/V source units into an HDMI capable video monitor or TV.

According to Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood’s Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Planning, consumers have been clamoring for an easy way to intermix different generations of audio/video source units such as VCR’s, satellite receivers, cable boxes and HDTV tuners in a simple-to-use system that still maintained the highest possible level of performance. “When we analyzed the situation,” said Hipps, “it was clear that the best performance required that we establish and maintain an HDMI signal path.”

However, instead of building HDMI capability into their advanced A/V receivers, Sherwood designed a free-standing unit. When asked why, Hipps responded, “HDMI is a moving target. With the HDMI 1.3 standard probably 2 years away, any of today’s HDMI devices risk obsolescence. Rather than have a $4,000 audio receiver be viewed as obsolete because it can’t support HDMI 1.3, we’d prefer to offer a low cost option. Our HDMI-Link™ is only $299.95.”

While Sherwood’s HDMI-Link does provide remote (or RS-232) switching for 2 HDMI source units, what really makes it useful is its ability to convert any component video input into an HDCP compliant HDMI output. According to Hipps, “We already have two generations of receivers from Sherwood and other manufacturers that convert composite video and S-Video inputs into a component video output. Simply adding our HDMI-Link™ to the output chain will complete the conversion of those legacy video formats to HDMI.”

As Sherwood markets two separate brands in the US: Sherwood Newcastle which is designed for the custom installer and Sherwood Home Audio for the cost conscious do-it-yourself audio fan, there are actually two separate HDMI-Link components. The Sherwood Newcastle HSB-600 is available in Newcastle’s titanium finish while the Sherwood HSB-6501 is available in black. Both models have an SRP of $299.95 and both will be available in May, 2006.

Sherwood adds performance features to Newcastle flagship units

Sherwood America has added a new breakthrough feature to its Newcastle line. The feature, Sherwood Newcastle Automatic Parametric EQ or “SNAP” for short, adds 7 bands of parametric EQ to each of the channels, including the subwoofer channel, for its Newcastle R-965 and R-865 receivers and its P-965 tuner/preamp/processor.

An extension of the Automatic Speaker Setup routine that was added to these models late in 2004 as part of Newcastle’s Field Upgrade program, SNAP first measures the frequency response of each of the 7.1 channels using sophisticated 1/12 octave amplitude mapping. According to Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood's Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Planning, "1/12 octave measurements allow us to concentrate the highest accuracy on the frequency bands that can most benefit from equalization.” For example, there are 24 measurement points in the bass area between 20 and 80 Hz. SNAP then uses up to 7 bands of parametric EQ per channel with both adjustable center frequency and “Q” to improve in-room system response.

“The results”, according to Hipps, “are outstanding. My personal system, with its mix of di-pole and direct radiating speakers has never sounded better. Dialogue intelligibility is improved and surround effects, no matter where they are panned, sound realistic.”

Upgraded ’65 series SNAP models will be available in mid-August. Sherwood believes the benefits of SNAP are so great that it is enacting a program whereby owners of these three Newcastle models, the R-865, R-965 and P-965, can add SNAP to their own units for a nominal charge of only $100.00.

To participate in the SNAP upgrade program, ’65 series owners need to call Sherwood’s Technical Support at (800) 962-3203 x 115 to arrange an upgrade appointment. Once they have the appointment, the owner is responsible for shipment to Sherwood and the $100.00 charge. Sherwood will add SNAP to the unit and return it, prepaid. Turn around time at Sherwood is expected to be less than one week.


Home Theater Magazine applauds VR-670

The accolades keep arriving for Sherwood's VR-670 Hollywood-at-Home™ home theater system. Home Theater magazine reviewer Chris Chiarella wrote that the VR-670 is "an easy, attractive approach for the aesthetics-conscious movie/music aficionado who wants something more than stereo from his rig."


The Robb Report gives kudos to VR-670

Sherwood's VR-670 Hollywood-at-Home™ home theater system continues to rack up good reviews. This time, the raves come from Alex Gonzalez and Brent Butterworth in The Robb Report's May/June 2005 issue. "...We find this system so gratifying that we continue using it long after we finish our evaluation. It's fun, easy, affordable, and stylish—the Mazda Miata of all-in-one systems."

VR-670 wins a rave review from syndicated columnist Kevin Hunt

Kevin Hunt, a syndicated columnist whose work appears in the Chicago Tribune, Hartford Courant, and over 100 other papers, has given Sherwood's new VR-670 Hollywood-at-Home™ home theater system a rave review. He marvels at the system's "striking good looks" and calls it "an exceptional virtual-surround-sound system."

Sherwood introduces new products at 2005 Consumer Electronics Show

Sherwood introduced a number of products at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Two new products were added to the premium-quality Sherwood Newcastle line, both "Universal" CD/DVD players capable of full playback of DVD-A and SACD discs. The new models, the Newcastle SD-860 and the Newcastle SD-871, mark Sherwood's first foray into players that support DVD-Audio and SACD. In all, the disc types supported include: SACD, DVD-A, DVD-V, CD, DVD +/- R/RW, CD-R/RW, MP-3, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD, WMA, WMV, and DivX.

The company also introduced a new product to the Sherwood home audio Hollywood-at-Home™ line of home theater systems, the VR-670. Sherwood's VR-670 Hollywood-at-Home advanced theater system features a progressive scan DVD console/receiver, two satellite speakers and a powered subwoofer. The system uses advanced DSP technology, Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone decoding and arresting cosmetic design to bring the surround sound experience to users who were either uncomfortable with the installation requirements or were otherwise unable to install a full 5.1 system.


Stereophile/Ultimate AV praises the Sherwood Newcastle R-965

Ultimate AV magazine reviews the Sherwood Newcastle R-965 in their December, 2004 issue, and it's fair to say they love it. "Removing the R-965's top panel (don't try this at home!) was like looking under the hood of a Porsche. The chassis is beautifully laid out… The Sherwood Newcastle R-965 is one great-sounding receiver. My notebook is sprinkled with comments like: 'Detailed but not harsh. Solid bass. Conveys sense of acoustic ambience. Instruments are rendered three-dimensionally. No sense of strain…' Above all, it delivers excellent audio performance in two-channel and multichannel modes… If you own a high-performance luxury car like a BMW or Lexus (or would if you could), the R-965 has your name writtn all over it." See the review here (PDF file; Adobe Acrobat required).

Sherwood offers firmware updates to three products

The first-ever firmware updates are now available for Sherwood Newcastle's P-965, R-965, and R-865. The download is available on the pages linked above or it may be downloaded here.

Sherwood America Home Audio introduces four new products

Sherwood America has introduced four new products this fall. First on the list are the RD-8601 and RD-6500 A/V receivers, which offer Sherwood's legendary engineering to home theater enthusiasts. Next up is the VD-4500, a progressive-scan DVD player, and the VR-670 Hollywood-at-Home™ Virtual Theater System.

Home Theater Magazine raves about the R-865

The August issue of Home Theater magazine includes a glowing review of the Sherwood Newcastle R-865 A/V Receiver. Reviewer Mark Fleischmann notes, "If your ears are calibrated to high-end two-channel material, listening to most surround receivers is like wearing a ski cap. Listening to various Telarc SACDs with the Sherwood was like pulling the cap off." Download the full review here.