Sherwood S-8900a FM Stereo Receiver- Vintage Audio Review Episode

In this episode I look at the repair, performance, & features of a Sherwood S-8900a FM S8900aStereo Receiver.
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00:00 Introduction
01:28 Front “tour”
04:08 Rear “tour”
06:10 Inside-top view with cover removed
07:27 Repairs
13:21 Measurements
13:21 THD @ 5w
12:27 Frequency Response
13:21 Output Impedance
17:51 THD vs Frequency & power
18:52 Max Power Measurement (8ohms)
20:16 System Noise
21:39 Filter Effects
22:25 Max Power Measurement (4ohms)
23:17 Phono Measurements
24:54 Listening & Final Comments

[@jeffberwick]

This looks very similar to an early 1970's Scott receiver that I have from my youth. You are psyching me up to restore that unit. It will bring back memories of listening to albums all afternoon from the Beatles, Elton John, and Don McLean (American Pie).

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for the comment and I have yet to test any Scott now that you mention it. I would recommend restoring it yourself or having ti done for you, but I am more one to get it working well and not do a full restoration.

[@jeffberwick]

@@vintageaudioreview Thanks! I agree- make it function right first, then spiff it up as much or as little as you want. It's nice to take an easy pace when it is your own unit. I did a full restore on a Tube Sherwood amp, a Marantz 2325 and a couple of tube Fishers (400 and 500). It was rewarding but was a lot more work than I'd do for this one. This is more for the sentimental value.

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@jeffberwick Those are some good pieces that you mentioned. I guess it is just how you want to spend your time- fixing for sentimental reasons is always a good motivator.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Nice repair work ... My cousin has one of these he bought new and it's still going after all these years.

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for the comment, Douglas! Am glad your cousin's is still going strong after all this time- at least he knows where to bring it to if it stops working 😆

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@vintageaudioreview Shhh ... don't give him any big ideas! 🤔 OR I could always send him to you??

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 (Chuckling) You would be the better bargain for him 😄

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@vintageaudioreview Sigh... lets just hope it never blows up. 😳

[@scottbennett3119]

I enjoyed watching for your very thorough review/repair! I always respected Sherwood receivers back in the day and am reminded of Sherwood`s very conservative ratings being at odds with some other manufacturers who seemed to be at war with each other touting high-speed amplifier slew-rate rise-time, along with ultra-low distortion claims. Thank you!

[@vintageaudioreview]

As always, thanks for taking the time to comment! I would agree with you about Sherwood's ratings being on the conservative side.

[@scottbennett3119]

@@vintageaudioreview I think I remember seeing a dbx boombox in an older photo you had shown in a video where you were discussing your Klipsch La Scala speakers. Do you still have the dbx boombox? Did you like the effects of your dbx boombox? Thanks.

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@scottbennett3119 I had two dbx pieces of gear that could have been in the photo. One was a dbx100 sub harmonic synthesiser, which I sold on ebay years ago (I have replaced with a dbx120x, which I will do a video on at some point), and the other was a dbx 1bx compression expander I believe, which I also sold years ago. I did like what the dbx did for the bass. The 1bx effect was less noticeable. thanks for paying attention!!

[@scottbennett3119]

@@vintageaudioreview yes, I noticed the dbx100 subharmonic synthesizer. I have a dbx110 which I believe is exactly the same as the dbx100 judging by the looks. Mine was functioning great up until a few weeks ago. It is still working but one channel is now lower in volume. I checked the connections over and over. I then went inside and used deoxit on the bypass switch to no avail. I am not a technician, so I went no further. I really love this thing and it is still in beautiful condition. I am wondering if you would be interested in doing repair/review video on my dbx110? I am willing to pay costs to repair it. Thanks.

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@scottbennett3119 Thanks for your confidence in my abilities, and sorry to hear about your dbx110 acting up. THe other thing you could try is to move each of the pushbutton switches in and out several times- that may clear the problem up, but most likely just temporarily. I spent a few minutes looking for a service manual/schematic for it, but could not find one- without that I would not want to take on the repair. THe dbx pieces I have looked at have not been tech friendly to work on. My suggestion would be to find the 120x, which is a more advanced version than the 100/110, that is from a good seller on ebay. Most likely there is a dbx users group on Facebook or with Audiogon. I would hate to have you spend the shipping cost and me not being able to help..

[@jeffjohnson3504]

Will it last another year without help of some sort? I spent $670.00 for a Harman Kardon 680i receiver in 1983 had it 30 years. Over those 30 years had issues where the buttons nobs caused static even had a left channel go out. Sounded great it finally got to the point I was just tired of taking in and fixing it. Vintage is for the birds. I bought a new receiver for around 5 grand and am very happy with my quiet no static and with a 3 year warranty. The sound is breathtaking no more old stuff for me.

[@vintageaudioreview]

Sounds like your HK may have been a bit of a lemon, but when you think about it, electrical stuff does need to cleaning/lube of the controls and switches after many years. I will stick with more of my vintage gear as long as it does the job (for 2 channel listening). Will be interesting to see how long your new receiver lasts you. I appreciate the comments

[@jeffjohnson3504]

Well I bought a McIntosh MC 5200 in 2015 not an issue in 8 years

[@kaohsiung99]

@@jeffjohnson3504 Check your spelling.

[@vintageaudioreview]

@@jeffjohnson3504 "newer" McIntosh gives you a vintage feel and you will probably not have any problems with it for many years, if at all. I am using a McIntosh preamp which is a bit older than your receiver by a few years, in one of my systems, and I enjoy it and will have a video on it eventually. But I still have some vintage gear to listen to and look at 😆

[@alanrogs3990]

Sometimes one lucks out and gets a vintage piece that has had no work and is still playing without issues. I got a Sherwood 7050 receiver many years ago. Stone mint. I haven't had one problem with it at all. BUT it was designed with a continuous loudness setting, which made the sound muddy or just not right. A friend looked at the schematic and told me how to take the loudness out of the system and now it sounds great (for what it is). It's a fun secondary system.

[@andyhowat4624]

I have a 1973 sel 200. Concert in my living room

[@vintageaudioreview]

not familiar with that model, but am glad you like the sound!

[@andyhowat4624]

@@vintageaudioreview Sherwood SEL 200. Rare 125 watts at 8 ohms

[@backfreedom8232]

back in the day, i think Sherwoods were known to have a great sound, in your opinion would they compare favorably to Marantz, or Pioneer? thanks!

[@vintageaudioreview]

Thanks for the comment/question. My guess would be that they would sound similar if their frequency responses were made to be pretty equal and their output levels matched. And they were not being pushed to their limits. Sherwood may have been a bit undervalued, and I don't think they looked as good as say a mid 70's Marantz or Pioneer..

[@robertdavis5714]

TV Repair man sticker on back........................run away run away.

[@vintageaudioreview]

As a former TV repair man, I am not sure how to take your comment 🤔 In this case, if you picked it up at a reasonable price at a yard sale, say not more than $20, then it would have been a good gamble.