Sherwood Newcastle BD-876 3D Blu-ray Player Preview

Sherwood America Inc. announced today the introduction of two new high-performance audio/video components at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Branded with the premium Sherwood Newcastle designation, the R-876 Network audio-video receiver features the Trinnov Optimizer, an advanced room correction system, and the BD-876 3D Blu-ray player, the first-ever Newcastle Blu-ray player, is enabled for Internet video streaming. Both the receiver and the Blu-ray player will be available in July 2011, with an MSRP of $1199.95 for the receiver and $399.95 for the 3D Blu-ray player.

"These new products expand the range of the Sherwood Newcastle product line and make state of the art performance even more affordable," said Gary Granning, Sherwood Vice President Sales. "Our first Newcastle Blu-ray player provides superb picture and sound, and is a single solution for HD viewing in the home theater thanks to its Internet streaming capability. And at a remarkable price, the R-876 receiver includes the world's most advanced room correction system. Even when speakers aren't placed in the ideal location, listeners will hear sonic images placed in the correct spatial location."

Sherwood Newcastle BDS-876 3D Blu-ray Player with Internet Streaming

The BDS-876 3D Blu-ray player is Sherwood's first ever to carry the high-performance Sherwood Newcastle designation. In addition to its video and audio performance from physical disc media in both 2D and 3D formats, the player also enables viewers to enjoy HD and SD content from streaming Internet sources.

By supporting both Blu-ray Deep Color and XV Color for accurate video, the BDS-876 also delivers the highest possible audio quality through onboard decoding for both DTS HD Master and High Resolution, as well as Dolby Digital True HD, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus. 192K/24-bit digital-to-analog convertors ensure high-quality audio through the analog outputs. Any source can be scaled up to 1080p through the HDMI output.

Its HDMI 1.4 output enables use with 3D displays, as well as facilitates audio connections through HDMI with Audio Return Channel (ARM). Conventional audio interfaces can be made through its coaxial and optical digital audio outputs.

The player also supports Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and BD-Live, and is also DLNA-certified to stream audio and video from networked PCs. Its front panel USB Host input can be used for MP3 and WMA playback as well as JPEG viewing

In addition to Blu-ray disc playback, the player supports DVD, DVD+R/RW, CR-R/RW, VCD, DivX playback, and MPEG 1, 2, 4; VC-1, H-264, and JPEG formats.

Firmware upgrades are easily made through a CD or a USB flash drive using the front panel input, and the unit carries a 3-year warranty. The BDP-876 is scheduled for release in July 2011 at an MSRP of $399.95.

About Sherwood America
Sherwood Electronic Labs was founded in Chicago in 1953 to manufacture an amplifier designed by legendary audio engineer Ed Miller. Determined to design high performance audio gear and to manufacture it themselves, Miller and his partner John Snow created a company that established the standard for audio excellence and efficient manufacturing. As advanced audio electronics have evolved, Sherwood's contributions have been invaluable. The world's first commercial FM stereo broadcast employed Sherwood technology. Sherwood was the first to introduce tuners with digital readouts and computer-control. And, most significantly, Sherwood made the industry's first 100% all-silicon solid-state audio receiver. The company's leadership continues today. Not only is the Sherwood brand synonymous with high performance audio worldwide, but Sherwood is also the actual manufacturer of nearly one-third of the world's high performance receivers. While many of these products carry brand names that may be better known than our own, none are built with the same sense of pride as those that bear the Sherwood name, and none are better built or better engineered than those that bear our Newcastle badge -- the best we build for anyone. In the fiercely competitive and rapidly changing field of consumer electronics, where companies shift production sites from one low-cost country to another, Sherwood is a leading light, an international symbol of unsurpassed quality, and one of the few companies to manufacture all the products bearing its name. Fittingly, the company continues to be guided by Ed Miller's enduring philosophy: Design audio gear that offers only the highest levels of performance and make it yourself. For more information, go to www.sherwoodusa.com

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.