Contacts:
Jeffrey Hipps
Sherwood America
Jeff@sherwoodamerica.com
(562) 741-0960, ext. 103
SHERWOOD ADDS TOP-OF-THE-LINE
RECEIVER TO HOME AUDIO LINE-UP
RD-8601 features Universal Video and
Automatic Speaker Set-up
at a Budget Price
Las Vegas, NV ., January 3, 2005 — Sherwood America Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance audio equipment, is now shipping the latest addition to it’s Home Audio line-up. The Sherwood RD-8601 represents the top-of-the line in Sherwood’s budget-priced Home Audio Line. (Sherwood America also markets the Sherwood Newcastle line-up. Newcastle is aimed at the custom installation market. Home Audio is aimed at budget conscious retail.)
Rated at 100 Watts RMS per channel from 40 Hz to 20 kHz with no more than 0.20:% THD, the RD-8601 continues such Sherwood hallmarks as totally discrete amplifier topology for all channels, use of advanced DSP processors (the RD-8601 uses the 32-Bit CS-49400 from Crystal Semiconductor) and high quality A to D and D to A converters and additional “creature comforts” such as Sleep timer and Cinema EQ.
According to Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood’s Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Planning, “The RD-8601 is one of the few, sub-$400 receivers on the market that really makes the consumers life easier.” Hipps is referring to Sherwood’s inclusion of two, usually upscale features, into the RD-8601: Universal Video and Automatic Speaker Setup. Sherwood’s Universal Video module, included in the RD-8601 transcodes composite and S-Video signals into a component video output. This conversion allows consumers to inter-mix different generations of video equipment (for example a VCR and a satellite receiver) along with advanced units such as an ATSC tuner with an advanced generation TV and to perform all video switching with the receiver.
In addition, Hipps believes that Sherwood’s inclusion of Automatic Speaker Set-up marks a tremendous advancement in sound quality for most consumers. With output level and speaker distance set properly–perhaps for the first time–consumers will finally be able to hear movie soundtracks the way the director intended. “We even include the microphone along with the RD-8601, ” boasts Hipps. “Some of our competitors charge an additional $65.00 for a similar mic.”
Of course the RD-8601 is modern in other ways, as well. The list of decoding modes it supports reads like the who’s who of codecs. The partial list includes, DTS-ES, Neo6 and 96/24 and Dolby’s Digital EX, Pro Logic IIx, Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone.
With 5-way, color coded, binding posts and a pre-programmed 8-unit remote control with Macro capability the RD-8601 presents an alluring product picture. With an SRP of only $399.95, it may prove to be compelling as well.
Since 1953, Sherwood has designed and manufactured high-performance, cost effective audio gear. Sherwood currently markets three lines: Home Audio for cost effective Audio/Video solutions; Sherwood Newcastle focused on high performance custom installations;
and Hollywood at Home for 5.1 surround performance from 2.1 systems.
# # #
