Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080

Ratings:Top:Audio/Video:Receivers:Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080

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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
I didn't know how great this unit looks until I got it into my rack. And the best part is - it sounds even better. Aside from having only (2) digital inputs, not having higher wattage switched AC outlets, and not having software upgradable capabilities - this unit is awesome. And a steal at its price.

randallc

Overall Rating: 9
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
My first seperate preamp. The remote works great, two channel analog does not have to go through a digital to analog path, Pro-logic,DVD,DTS, all work fine. No negatives yet but do not care for music effects [stadium, Hall, etc.] but have not heard any of these effects on any system that I could say I like. Tone controls work fine, bass management is flexible, video switching is fine. This sounds boring but the electronics in this system 'works' and I have had no noises [clicks,buzzes,etc.] I have no problems so far but it's been only 3 weeks.

Overall Rating: 9
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
The unit tends to live up to the reviews I have seen on it. Easy to use, very
straightforward operation and decent remote. It sounds good but tends to be way
too heavy on the bass. Some functions are accessable only on the unit and
can't be programmed to the remote such as bass and treble. "Tone Direct"
feature allows you to bypass all tone circuits but also switches off the sub-
woofer so if you want that on, you have to turn it back on each time. Some
adjustments are in 2db increments and are not fine enough to suit my tastes.
On screen displays are a waste. Volume control (knob and remote) produces an
electronic "tick" at each individual volume level as well as a loud one when
you go from last audible to MIN (essentially off) volume. The unit produces an
audible hiss from all speakers though and that is why it rates only a 7. I
have an Adcom GCD700 CD player, GFA7500 THX amp and a set of Infinity SM series
speakers which, while not audiophile level, are clean and very efficient. The
hiss is not audible at the couch but distracting if you are close to the
speakers. It is background noise of the unit though and I think comes from past
the final gain stage as it does not increase in volume until a few db away from
MAX (with no input of course). It is there even if I just plug the AVP into
the amp ONLY. I bought the original to Sherwood for replacement but the new
new one does the same thing. They need to address this. Pro Logic mode is
very clean, but the processed modes, theater, church, etc. are delayed way too
much and sound like an echo chamber without a lot of adjusting. DTS is awesome
though. Tuner section works very well (FM/Mono switch only on unit though so
if a station is not coming in well, you have to go to the unit to select mono)
and Phono stage is a bit low; don't want to turn up an LP and accidentally
switch to tuner or CD without turning down volume first! If they get rid of
the hiss, this would get an 8 or 9 from me. I don't really like the remote
much though. Plenty of inputs and outputs for me though. Like the optical
AND coax digital inputs. Unpretentious unit with very good sound for the price.

Overall Rating: 7
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
I have had this unit for about 3 months now. The sound is clean and what you hear has no coloration. It passes the sound the way is was recorded. The pro-logic is average. The DD/DTX is excellent. Would have like more digital inputs and a digital output. The net of it is that for the price, it is an excellent pre-amp. You could not get a unit of this overall quality near this price.

Overall Rating: 10
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
This is an update to my last review a couple down from this one (check the address at the end of the comment to see which one it is - the one from jps.net)

My AVP9080 had an audible hiss which I thought was unacceptable so I sent an e-mail to Sherwood and asked them about it. They were very gracious and said come in and exchange it for another new one. Since their service center is only about 10 mile away from me, I drove in and had them "demo" the replacement for me in their "lab". I could not detect a hiss in that unit but their test facility was just a room in the back with lots of test equipment and noise so I could not detect any hiss in the new one so I left with it. When I got home I was sad to discover that the new unit had the same hiss. Evidence that they need to add a better noise filter. (If I plug my Adcom GCD-700 directly into my Adcom GFA-7500 I get absolutely dead silence out of the speakers so the hiss from the AVP-9080 is definitely "designed in")

So I decided to keep the unit and it has performed flawlessly in the sonic department. Unfortunately the fluorescent display has gone bad and when I turn the unit on, the display lasts for a few minutes and then fades to off. I have had to turn the unit on and off until the display stays on but after a few days, the display now stays on but at a MUCH lower brightness level. It needs to go back for service now.

What really disturbs me is that I HAVE sent the Sherwood guys e-mails about it but they have not replied since! I know Sherwood has supposedly great service ethics but to have them cater to my original complaint only to ignore me now leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

The AVP-9080 is STILL a great unit with great sound and features though so that is why I am leaving this as a comment rather than an additional vote (which would now be a 5 rather than my original 7)

What mostly disturbs me is the removal of all the damned cables to disconnect the unit and then plug them all in when it gets repaired! What a time consuming task that is......

I really like this unit though despite the problems.

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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
I have used this unit for several months now and just fall more and more deeply in love with it. The sound is simply phenomenal. Although there is one design flaw (too limited number of digital inputs) this machine is the cat's meow. I appreciate the presence of an RF AC3 input while so many manufacturers are telling the LaserDisc crowd, "See ya!" (Way uncool, Yamaha!) My unit evinces no hiss whatsoever. I have it mated to a Harman/Kardon PA-5800 amp and from digital source there appears to be no audible hiss at any volume level. I also appreciate the pure analog path and the very groovy remote which I easily programmed to handle my Toshiba DVD, Denon LD/CD, VCR, Mits RPTV and other goodies. Hat's off to Sherwood for this. My audiophile buddies may cringe at the Sherwood name but this is mondo gear.

Overall Rating: 9
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
It's very OK

Overall Rating: 10
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
I've posted full reviews elswhere so I'll be brief. I've had the AVP-9080R for over a year and all I can say is WOW. Before purchasing I compared it with just about everything available up to $3K and it not only held its own, it outright outperformed some very expensive competition. The sonics, especially the analog bypass w/tone direct is absolutely transparent passing the signal straight through with no apparent coloration at all. I have experienced no hum, hisses, or other problems that have been mentioned here (although I do know that earlier units did have a slight "ticking" noise when the volume was raised).

Functionally, the unit performs well and is easy to use. Sonically, the AVP-9080R is worthy of high-end praise. Who cares if my audiophile friends snicker at the Sherwood name - the performance is the equal or better or anything 3-4 times its' list price.

Overall Rating: 10
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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
This is by far the best system for the money. I returned a Nakamichi 1A-IZ for the Sherwood. I had several problems with the Nak and then came to find out that Nakamichi wanted $600.00 to install a D.T.S. decoder in my unit. The Nak only had a 80 watt per channel output and my Sherwood has a 120 watts per channel and drives my B&W speakers quite well. The Sherwood has many upgraded features that one would expect to find on the Nakamichi especially for the price difference. I would recommend the Sherwood Newcastle line because of its design, ease of operation, state of the art technology, price, and lastly, quality and performance. If you are in the market for a system that will be music to your ears, Take my advice and check out the Sherwood Newcastle line.

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Sherwood Newcastle AVP-9080
Great unit for the money. I've used for 2 years; it's not perfect but for the money there's still nothing on the market that's close (paid $1100). Sound is very good; digital processor made a noticeable improvement on my JVC XL-Z1050 cd player. Unit has performed flawlessly. Could use more digital inputs and more flexible and intuitive switching, but once again, for the money...

One other user commented about audible hiss. I have sensitive hearing, and high-sensitivity speakers (Klipsch), and find the hiss level to be very low, lower than my premium gear in the sound-only system.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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