CD-player Sherwood CD5090R

Transcend some equipment worth the price abroad, it immediately changes the face. Did not notice? Then look at the Sherwood CD5090R. On substantial front panel with shaped profile and a centrally located disc tray - large display, all the basic controls, all buttons and additional features ten buttons direct access to the tracks. Now guess how much such a solid machine with good looks? Less than $ 200! Such an approach to the design of the market itself dictates inexpensive players. Consumer purchasing affordable thing expects it sverhvydayuschegosya qualities. And that means that he will choose the one that looks more expensive than its price tag.

Yet with the audio equipment of the American company Sherwood special case. Yes, it is the least expensive player in the test. But despite this fact, we should expect from him something more. Confirmation of this - a half-century history of Sherwood, consisting of all exceptions. The company, well known and professionals (technique of this brand is often used in broadcasting), never had a goal to make things that you can sell high. Do not fear for his own image, the firm has followed the principle: the cheaper the better. In the technology sector budget Sherwood has already accumulated an experience that is available when the next "elite unit for a hundred dollars", knowing the public perceives it without gloating smile.

But back to our CD5090R. His appearance we appreciated. It remains to see what this player features. Set analog outputs digital optical supplemented, which can be used to connect the unit to the DTS-receiver (about it and says strange, at first glance, the CD player disc label on the front panel). Audio path without hardship: the digital filter with eight times oversampling 1-bit converter, simple but with good analogue output stage on the chips. Unconvincing? Then pay attention to the weight: 5.5 kg. We have never met such a weighty player for such ridiculous money.

Briefly enumerate all the formal definition sound quality Sherwood CD5090R. Soundstage narrowed slightly in space, but has a believable depth. And localization and separation - all at an average level in the test. According to the dynamics it is slightly inferior to the most "combative" products, but does not lose much more expensive HK and Onkyo. The tonal balance is not perfect, but frankly it strong deviations no: HF felt very small decline, and the mean frequency rise (even on a linear frequency response measurements at the hearing may be rejected if the slew rate of the output signal is not high enough, with nothing looks like we have encountered).

And now try to evaluate the sound Sherwood CD5090R not in particulars, but in general. When playing classical player slightly lacks harmonic accuracy and resolution to reveal the beauty of symphonic sound. Bednovato looks a bit, and choral music. Almost always, when the picture is composed of a plurality of voices or instruments, Sherwood is not quite accurate in transmission. But as soon as we simplify his task - to offer small play jazz compositions, vocals, acoustic electric or something, whether or rhythmic guitar rock house, the unit immediately transformed. In the sound appears... no, not orderly, but musicality. Sherwood CD5090R grasps the meaning of the playback - there and drive, and intelligibility, and even some immediacy. Let vocals are still not clean, but he is like a living! Let tonal balance is too even-tempered (you get used to it quickly), but as a confident player controls the music balance, not allowing one to displace other instrumental groups or, alternatively, to hide them.

Any modern machine designed and made almost one click on the system designer, but Sherwood again can be considered an exception. We are sure that this player is created by people who love music and are not too lazy to listen to their own result. Otherwise, it would just sound like all the same money - neatly (now make a sound not a problem), mechanistically, without emotion.