Sherwood NewCastle R-945 User manual

We’ve had a lot of success at Sherwood since our company’s inception in 1953. We developed the
world’s first digital-read-out tuner, the first all-silicon solid-state receiver, the world’s first computer controlled tuner,
the first receiver with DTS and more. Many of our products have been hailed for their performance. When one of
our now departed audiophile publications reviewed our Micro CPU digital tuner, they needed to revamp the scale on
their charts just to document its performance. Tom Norton and company at UltimateAVMag.com named our Newcastle
R-965 receiver one of the world’s dozen best for the last two years. Even Mr. Analog once called our R-945 receiver
the finest he’d ever had in his home. As deserving of superlatives as these components were, with our new R-972 re-
ceiver we’ve erupted onto new ground. Never before has Sherwood, or any
other brand, shoehorned a $13,000 Professional Room Equalization system into
an audio/video receiver.
But our inclusion of Trinnov’s Optimizer in the Sherwood Newcastle
R-972 is only part of the story. The 972 maintains the Newcastle brand’s repu-
tation for exceptional audio performance and adds contemporary creature com-
forts like: full support for HDMI 1.3b; an Advanced Graphical User Interface
(GUI) for user setup and control; a multi-brand, preprogrammed and learning
remote control that communicates with the 972 via IR or RF and can operate the entire associated system from any-
where in your home; scaling and deinterlacing of all incoming video to any of several High Definition resolutions in-
cluding 1080p; support for the lossless audio tracks now available on selected BluRay and HD-DVD titles; XM Radio
Connectivity; USB capability; RS-232 two-way communications port; advanced multi-zone capability and more. One
can even add piano black end caps for a more Uptown appearance or rack adapters to properly fit the receiver to a pro-
fessional equipment rack.
The Most Advanced A/V Receiver on the Planet:
Sherwood Newcastle’s R-972
Trinnov Audio’s Optimizer is a professional digital
room correction system. Pricing starts at $13,000.

Get the basics right; Make it easy to use
Our Newcastle engineers have been tasked with simple but exacting
goals. Get the basic performance right. Make the receiver easy-to-
use. For the audio path, they insisted on the same circuit topology
that earned our ’65 series audio components rave reviews world-
wide. With 100 Watts RMS per channel from 20 Hz to 20kHz with
no more than 0.02% THD they succeeded admirably. Noise levels are
exceedingly low. S/N is rated at 105 dB.
HDMI’s latest 1.3b standard is fully accommodated. Video from the
R-972’s 11 inputs (4 HDMI, 3 component, 4 composite/S-video) can
be scaled by Silicon Optix Reon video processor to user selected stan-
dards including 1080p. The R-972’s dual 32-Bit TI audio DSP chips
provide complete audio control including native decoding for Dolby
and DTS latest lossless formats.
With a 4-gang FM tuner and XM Radio connectivity, over the air
broadcasts are fully supported. The R-972 even has a front panel USB
input for use with appropriate hand-held devices.
Sherwood Newcastle R-972
Powerful capability
The R-972’s ease-of-use fully achieved our engineer’s objectives.
The receiver’s advanced Graphical User Interface makes system
setup a breeze. For typical operation, the 972 uses Newcastle’s
unique Dual-Mode™ preprogrammed and learning remote con-
trol. With the remote in the RF mode, the R-972 can be operated from anywhere within the typical home and transla-
tion circuitry built into the receiver outputs IR commands for complete system operation. Control via the R-972’s
rear-panel RS-232 port is also available.
The R-972 also supports such advanced features as: Input renaming; Adjustable audio/video synch delay by input; auto-
matic digital/analog signal polling; front panel convenience input pack including USB, optical digital plus analog andio
and video; automatic set-up; headphone output; Cinema EQ; installer custom memory; and more.
Dual Mode™
RF+IR remote.
Dr. David Rich, Technical Editor, Sensible Sound, called Newcastle’s
advanced amplifier circuit topology “unique” and “state of the art.”
The R-972’s advanced GUI is available by HDMI or analog video.

Acoustic Probe
The Trinnov Optimizer: The $13,000 professional system comes home!
Until now, advanced room correction systems attempted to compensate for deficiencies and errors in loudspeaker frequency re-
sponse on a speaker-by-speaker basis. While somewhat effective, these methods made no effort to recreate the original performance.
Their intent was to smooth in-room speaker response.
The advanced mathematicians and acousticians who developed the Trinnov Optimizer took a larger view. They set out to recreate
the 3-dimensional soundfield of the original performance. In this endeavor, accurate channel-by-channel frequency response is only a
starting point. Trinnov’s task also required the ability to accurately measure and then relo-
cate the apparent sound source until it was identical to the original.
To accurately identify speaker response, placement and room modes, the Optimizer uses
a 4-capsule Acoustic Probe to measure the room and speaker system in three dimensions,
reports the results, calculates appropriate playback filters and uses the calcu-
lated digital IIR and FIR filters to optimize both speaker response and speaker
placement. The Optimizer can raise or lower the sonic location of an out of
plane speaker or shift the entire sound stage without relocating even a single
speaker. With Trinnov and Newcastle you can put the loudspeakers where
they fit, use the Optimizer to overcome the shortcomings of speaker place-
ment, speaker response and room interaction and still receive virtually perfect
imaging.
Performance graphs: System measurements made by the R-972 can be
saved to a USB drive. When that data is uploaded to Trinnov’s site, detailed
performance graphs can be viewed, evaluated and printed. There is no limit
to the number of times an R-972 owner can use this features.
Target Curves: Every room correction system must work to a target. On
the R-972, the original performance targets include: Laboratory flat, Audio-
phile, Accurate and Front. When the filters to achieve these targets have been implemented,
the user can select to remap his speakers so they conform to either the ITU Standard for Sur-
round Music or the SMPTE Cinema Standard. These choices can even be stored by input making
it easy to assign the Audiophile target with ITU remapping for the CD input and to use the
Accurate target with SMPTE Cinema remapping for DVD’s.
The R-972 is fully equipped for whole-house audio/video. It supports 3-Zone operation with independent preamp
level audio and video available for Zone 2 with audio, only, available in Zone 3. Like many current receivers, the R-
972 can use the rear-center surround amplifiers to fully power the speakers for Zone 2 or it can be configured in
Room 2 Automatic mode. When in Automatic, the receiver changes from 7.1 operation to 5.1 plus stereo (for Zone
2) when required preserving the complete presentation in the main room.
The R-972 has already received the Innovations 2008 award from the Consumer Electronics Show. One can predict
that the Innovations award will be the first of many.
Stellar Video Performance
Silicon Optix Reon processor scales and deinterlaces all
incoming video to High Def resolutions and sends it to
your display over HDMI.
Matchless Audio
Hear exactly what the artist intended. The R-972 de-
codes and plays the lossless audio formats found on
select BluRay and HD-DVD titles.
Multizone capable
The R-972 can send independent material to each of 3
different zones. It even switches from 7.1 in the main
room to 5.1 plus stereo as necessary to power Zone 2.
The R-972’s owners can use the receiver’s USB capa-
bility and the internet to verify the Optimizer’s per-
formance in their system.

13101 Moore Street Tel: [phone]
Cerritos, CA 90703 Fax: [phone]
www.sherwoodusa.com
For purpose of improvement all specifications are subject to change without notice .
Specifications
Amplifier/Preamplifier Section
Power Output, Stereo (20 Hz-20 kHz) 8 Ω
THD @ Rated Output
IM Distortion @ Rated Output
Power Output, Srrnd Mode, L/C/R; 1 kHz; 8 Ω
Power Output Rear; 1 kHz, 8 Ω
Input Sensitivity/Impedance
Line (CD, Tape, Video @ 47 k Ω)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Line (CD, Tape, Video)
Tone Controls
Bass Left & Right Front (100 Hz)
Treble Left & Right Front (10 kHz)
Cinema EQ (-1.8 dB @ 1 kHz, -4.5 dB @ 10 kHz)
Frequency Response
Line (CD. Tape, Video) -3 dB
Subwoofer Crossover Frequency, Hz. (selectable)
Slope (High Pass/Low Pass)
Output Level (Tape Rec) Level/Imp.
Video Section
Input Sensitivity/Impedance
Output Level/Impedance
Frequency Response ±2 dB
Composite/S-Video
Component Video
Crosstalk @ 1 MHz
S/N Ratio
FM Tuner Section
Usable Sensitivity (Mono)
50 dB Quieting Sensitivity (Mono/Stereo)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio @65 dBf, Mono/Stereo
% THD @ 65 dBf, 1 kHz, Mono/Stereo
Frequency Response (30 Hz-15 kHz)
Stereo Separation (1kHz)
Capture Ration
AM Suppression
Selectivity, Alternate (@98 MHz, 400 Hz)
Image Rejection Ratio
IF Rejection Ratio
Spurious Rejection Ratio
AM Tuner Section
Tuning Range
Usable Sensitivity
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Total Harmonic Distortion
Selectivity/Image Rejection
Frequency Response (+0, -6 dB)
General Section
Dimensions (H x W x D) (Inches)
Weight
100 Watts x 2
0.02 %
0.02 %
100 Watts x 3
100 Watts x 4
200 mV
105 dB
L, R± 10 dB
L, R± 10 dB
Yes
10 Hz-100 kHz
40,60,80,100,120
4th order/2nd order
180 mV, 2.2k
1V p-p/ 75 Ω
1V p-p/ 75 Ω
10 Hz-10 MHz
DC-100 MHz
50 dB
50 dB
11.2 dBf
14.2 dBf/38 dBf
72 dB/68 dB
0.1/0.3
± 1.0 dB
45 dB
1.0 dB
60 dB
65 dB
80 dB
120 dB
75 dB
522-1611 kHz
500 μV/m
40 dB
<1 %
30dB/33dB
80 Hz-2.3 kHz
7 5/8 x 17 3/8 x 18
46 lbs.
Key Features
• HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color Support
• Lossless Audio: DTS Master Audio HD; Dolby TruHD
• DTS 96/24; Neo 6 Cinema & Music
• Dolby: Dolby Digital +, ProLogic IIx; Virtual Speaker; Headphone
• PCM: 96 kHz Multichannel; 192 kHz Stereo
• Converts analog video to HDMI
• Silicon Optix Reon scales all video to 480p; 576p; 720p;1080i;1080p
• Universal Video™Transcodes Composite & S-Video to component
• XM Radio “Connect and Play” with Neural Surround
• Advanced GUI On Screen Display
• Upgradeable Firmware
• Bi-Directional RS-232 Serial jack/USB Input and output
• Direct Analog input (number of channels)
• 24-bit A to D and D to A converters
• Optical/Coaxial digital inputs
• Optical Digital Output
• Independent Room 2 A/V Output
• Independent Room 3 Audio output
• On-Screen Display from HDMI and analog video outputs
• Dual Mode™ RF + IR Preprogrammed and Learning Remote Control
• A/V Synch Delay by input (0 to 200 mS)
Trinnov Optimizer
• Includes 4 microphone capsule Acoustic Probe
• Measures speaker location & response in 3 dimensions
• Uses FIR and IIR filters to flatten speaker response
• Re-Maps loudspeaker’s acoustic position to recreate original soundfield
• Supports ITU Surround Music and SMPTE Cinema Standards
• Writes before/after curves to USB output for Internet analysis
• USB input allows user to upload new target curves
Audio/Video Features
• Dual TI 32-bit DSP processors
• DSP Modes
• Digitally Re-Master PCM to 96 kHz/24-Bit
• 12-Volt Trigger
• Pre-amp Outputs, L,C,R,LS,2 CS,RS, Sub
• Rear Panel A/V Inputs/Outputs
• HDMI Input and Output
• Component Video In/Out
• Audio Inputs/out (including tuner)
• Front Panel A/V Input /with toslink
• Front Panel Audio Input for portable, etc.
• Automatic Room 2™(7.1 to 5.1 + stereo) operation
• Quadruple Independent Crossovers
• Built-in Biamp Capability
• “Installer Custom Memory”
• Converts Remote RF commands to IR output to operate associated units
• IR in / out
• Programmable Video Input Labeling
• Cinema EQ
Tuner Features
• 4-Gang Quartz PLL Synthesized Tuning
• XM Connect & Play with 30 presets
• 30 Station Presets (Random) with Preset Scan
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All copyrights are the property of their respective copyright holder.
Sherwood Newcastle R-972
Advanced AVR with RF Control, HDMI 1.3, video
scaling to 1080p and theTrinnov Optimizer.