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Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 Official Thread

221011 Views 950 Replies 79 Participants Last post by  Linkage2010, 
tonyvdb
Well I got my R-972 today from accessories4less (that shipped to me from Florida to Edmonton Canada in just 2 days!) and had an hour to hook it up and play with it just a little.
First impressions are is that it was probably one of the best investments I could have made :)

Out of the box this receiver is huge! the weight is about 45lbs although Ive red conflicting reports that it weighs as much as 60lbs. No matter how you look at it its a beast for size and covers the top shelf of my AV rack completely and its very tall for a receiver.
I hooked all my gear up to it and the main speakers (I plan only using this as a two channel setup) I then powered it up and it came to life without any issues (First sigh of releaf given the distance it traveled). Without even having time to do any of the settings or even running Trinnov I played my iPod and could not believe the clarity of the sound, It brought my Missions to life it seems. they were clean and like my EV sentrys downstairs sounded much more dynamic and the separation was outstanding!

Im going to spend some more time playing tomorrow but for now I am thrilled by what its done even without any room eq applied :T

To check the version of your R-972 firmware:
hold Display and Enter/Memo

To reset the R-972 to factory settings:
Once in Standby Mode, press and hold down the STANDBY & MEMO/ENTER buttons simultaneously for at least 3 seconds. This will reset the unit and it will turn on automatically. If the reset was successful, you should notice that the receiver powers up at 87.5 FM . If not, repeat the reset process.

Information on installing the bass boost Hex files here
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Jungle Jack
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Tony,
I am so glad you are pleased with the 972. The longer I have it, the more I am convinced it is one the greatest values for an AVR I have ever come across and truly feel blessed to have one.
Cheers,
J
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ALMFamily
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

That is great to hear Tony! I am having delusions of grandeur that mine will arive tomorrow. One downside, I have to hook it up to my Acoutimass 10 for now...... :sob:

On the plus side, the boys and I went down and watched Batman Begins tonight - oh wow I can't wait to finish my room and get that equipment going in a sealed room.....
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Thanks Jack and Joe. I am really impressed with it so far. I am again in the mindset that spending the money on a good quality receiver "and" speakers not just speakers is a must in order to really get the sound that the recording artists intended you to hear. I do not believe that a pre-pro is of any real value any more when you can get a unit like this for $600 brand new!
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ALMFamily
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Based on your impressions, I may just have to lug this down and swap it in for my 809 to see what they sound like with my EmpTek i55 towers.
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Im not really sure there would be much difference between the two as the 809 is not at all a low end receiver either. My 805 is not going anywhere either, I just believe that the Marantz 6005 that I was using was not in the same liege but it was a step up from the Yamaha RXV995 that I used before it .
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Jungle Jack
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Joe,
I would list the Acoustimass on Craigslist tonight or tomorrow. To the unwashed masses, Bose holds a great amount of cachet. Thanks to this, you should be able to get a decent return of your investment to allocate towards vastly superior Speakers. I am quite confident we could help you get a vastly better Speaker Array for not much more than the proceeds from selling the Bose. I would guess you could even sell them to a friend or family member.]JJ
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J
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Well, I ordered this thing yesterday afternoon. I've been lusting after the Marantz SR7005, but I know that at $1300, I would never really be able to afford one. I really can't afford the 972 either, but simply could not resist the opportunity. I already own a couple other Sherwood Newcastle receivers (771 & 772) for bedroom and wifey's living room system; I find them to be a bit odd, but they work). I'm buying the R972 to replace my Marantz SR7300 in the main veiwing room. Does anyone know if the 972 will passthru an HDMI signal to my TV when power is off?

Jim
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Hi Jim, The 972 will easily blow the doors off the Marantz 7005 so you made a very good choice. I dont have a HDMI capable display hooked up to my 972 so I can not confirm if it will pass HDMI video when off however I will see if it passes Component (when I get home tonight) as thats what I use, chances is if it does it will also pass HDMI
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ALMFamily
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Jungle Jack said:
Joe,
I would list the Acoustimass on Craigslist tonight or tomorrow. To the unwashed masses, Bose holds a great amount of cachet. Thanks to this, you should be able to get a decent return of your investment to allocate towards vastly superior Speakers. I am quite confident we could help you get a vastly better Speaker Array for not much more than the proceeds from selling the Bose. I would guess you could even sell them to a friend or family member.]JJ
Click to expand...
I have seen several times where you have been able to suggest a very good system for very reasonable cost - challenge accepted! I think I will package my 604 and the Bose system and see if I can move them.....
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Joe, I fully agree with Jacks assessment, you would be doing the 972 a miss justice hooking it up to the Bose speakers LOL JK
Hope you get yours today, I am looking forward to hearing yours and others opinions on it :) But out of the box its an amazing unit.
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J
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

tonyvdb said:
Hi Jim, The 972 will easily blow the doors off the Marantz 7005 so you made a very good choice. I dont have a HDMI capable display hooked up to my 972 so I can not confirm if it will pass HDMI video when off however I will see if it passes Component (when I get home tonight) as thats what I use, chances is if it does it will also pass HDMI
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. It would be nice if you would check this out for me. It wouldn't be a disaster if it didn't pass the HDMI through, it's just that sometimes I don't listen to the TV with the system on. My other concern is about how deep the chassis is: some 19"+. If so, I'm gonna have to figure out how my equipment stand is gonna work.

Jim
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

jaymz said:
My other concern is about how deep the chassis is: some 19"+. If so, I'm gonna have to figure out how my equipment stand is gonna work.

Jim
Click to expand...
Yes, its a very deep and tall unit. Its even deeper than my Onkyo 805 and that is a very large receiver.
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J
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

tonyvdb said:
Yes, its a very deep and tall unit. Its even deeper than my Onkyo 805 and that is a very large receiver.
Click to expand...
I'm OK, height-wise, but depth...my system stand may need some reinforcement:


The reassuring thing is the in the last review in the first post, he's using the 972 with Def Tech BP 3000s mains, with the DT 2002 C/L/R. I have DT 2002s with the same center so it should know what to do with the built-in subwoofers.

After seeing the calbration mic, I know now what the device was that Klaatu tried to give us Earthlings before they shot him.

Jim
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Jungle Jack
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

jaymz said:
Well, I ordered this thing yesterday afternoon. I've been lusting after the Marantz SR7005, but I know that at $1300, I would never really be able to afford one. I really can't afford the 972 either, but simply could not resist the opportunity. I already own a couple other Sherwood Newcastle receivers (771 & 772) for bedroom and wifey's living room system; I find them to be a bit odd, but they work). I'm buying the R972 to replace my Marantz SR7300 in the main veiwing room. Does anyone know if the 972 will passthru an HDMI signal to my TV when power is off?

Jim
Click to expand...
Jim,
The 972 does not offer HDMI CEC Control so it does not offer Passthrough when the AVR is turned off. You could always run Components to the TV and HDMI to the AVR and just switch TV Inputs when/if you want to watch TV with your HT off.
Cheers,
JJ
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Jungle Jack
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

jaymz said:
I'm OK, height-wise, but depth...my system stand may need some reinforcement:


The reassuring thing is the in the last review in the first post, he's using the 972 with Def Tech BP 3000s mains, with the DT 2002 C/L/R. I have DT 2002s with the same center so it should know what to do with the built-in subwoofers.

After seeing the calbration mic, I know now what the device was that Klaatu tried to give us Earthlings before they shot him.

Jim
Click to expand...
Indeed. The Microphone is the most impressive I have ever seen bundled with an AVR. I cannot get over just how powerful Trinnov truly is.
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J
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Regarding the dimensions, the Sherwood web site lists the depth as 17-7/8", so I'm thinking the 19.875" depth must be inclusive of not only the chassis, but also includes the speaker posts in back and the front knobs. If that is the case (can one of you owners verify this theory), then I'm OK and the shelf I want to use.

Jim
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

I just measured mine and its 20" if you include the power cord as its very ridged and sticks out at least that much before I would even dare to try to bend it. The volume and selector knob stick out of the front another 3/4 of an inch on the front.
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ALMFamily
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

Any more impressions for us awaiting our deliveries Tony? :bigsmile:

Oh, and I love the fact that you already updated your signature to show the Sherwood instead of the Marantz!
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tonyvdb
Re: Sherwood/Newcastle R-972 impressions

LOL, Im just waiting till I put my two daughters to bed before I do some more tinkering and listening. I will not run the receivers Trinnov till tomorrow morning some time as I dont want to do it if they are sleeping :)
I take it your receiver did not arrive today?
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