Sherwood RV-7050R AV-receiver

By appearance this receiver gives the impression of very cool device. Judge for yourself: tremendous (and the heaviest) black box with huge power transformer, well visible through the perforation of the upper cover; beautiful, big, two-color display with very large numbers, the brightness of which can be adjusted with the remote control (2 modes) and may be switched off if desired. This receiver is the absolute champion in the number of control buttons on the front panel. There are 48 buttons! Big rounded handle of the main volume control, the current position of which is indicated by brightly illuminated red led, looks very cool. The level of volume control is scaled from 0 to 100 dB that increases more the impression of device's coolness. What is more, headphones connector and the connectors of AV-input are gilt. The filling of AV-receiver is also exceeds the average level. A digital processor of sound, DSP, which has 7 basic surround modes and also the possibility to choose three modes of central channel's loudspeaker, is used in the receiver. These modes are displayed in the form of scrolling text. In addition, output cascades of power amplifiers are made on discrete elements (Discrete Amplifier Stadge - DAS) that can also be attributed to "pluses" of this receiver.

From the rear side the device also kills: the scattering of high qualitative connectors, including very good screw clamps for front loudspeakers. Everything is made properly and carefully. As usual firstly the receiver is tested in the mode of program reception in FM and AM ranges. Preset on stations is possible in both manual and auto modes. We choose auto. After scanning they can be set in 30 memory cells, which are selected with a special 10-buttons keypad on the front panel. We will note the possibility of forced switch-on the "mono" mode by special button as another "plus" of the receiver because it can be sometimes useful at reception of FM stereo-programs in the conditions of strong interference. The quality of sound in "stereo" mode in FM range is quite high for the device of such class; the receiver sounds clearly and confidently. However, with inactive timbres we can make claims to tone balance about a lack of low frequencies and small rising of AFC in the area of top middle. At the same time the sounding of radio programs distinguishes by good transmission of volume in stereo and different other modes of surround. In this section of the test the receiver felt itself very confidently. At the listening of the receiver from CD input our examiner showed itself in all its glory: it sounded powerfully and freely, with excellent separation of instruments, with high dynamic resolution and well-played music details. The only thing, for which you can lightly criticize the amplifier of the receiver, is violation of tonal balance, which was expressed in a small deficit of low frequencies and underlining of medium-high ones. At switching-on the modes of surround the sound of Sherwood became noticeably more interesting almost in all modes, except CHURCH where it was slightly unnatural, and in DOLBY PRO LOGIC mode the sounding of drums (cymbals) in the loudspeakers of back channels was accompanied by a noticeable echo. Despite of this, the work of DSP can be considered as perfect. In the last kind of the test AV-receiver Sherwood as a part of home theatre system didn't spoil the initial good impression, it sounded confidently and convincingly, reproduced well a sound atmosphere of the film.