70s Sherwood receiver evolution

[writethis]

Kent T or other knowledgeable AK'ers, please help me get some perspective on this.

Have an S-7100 which I love, though cosmetically I think it's a bit on the crude side. Transformer coupled outputs. Sounds really involving, with a nice balance between punch, detail and liquid (dare I say tube-like) texture. It is just a wee bit dark in my kitchen system, which is where it'll live if I keep it.

Meanwhile, just took delivery of a sweet minty S-7110B as the result of an eBay buy-it-now. Looks showroom new, and sounds very nice in the first 30 minutes I've had it powered up. Came across an old ad for this specific model which claims the S-7110B features direct-coupled outputs.

Compared to the 7100, this 7110B came out a few years later. It sounds more refined, with what I perceive as more top-end extension. Not at all sure I like the sound any better than the 7100. Not quite as tubey, at least as it warms up after a long sleep.

So...the first receiver I bought as a teen was an S-7010, which chronologically falls between the two units described above. I no longer have that receiver.

Wondering whether at some point (1974-75?) these Sherwoods had capacitor-coupled outputs but without the transformers? If that variant exists, it seems like that might be a nice way to split the difference between the 7100 and 7110B. Does a cap-coupled mid-70s Sherwood exist? Is the S-7010 one example?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

I think the cap coupled designs fell out of favor by around 1975. Direct coupled then took over (the Japanese began often with cap coupled in the early transistor era and the early and refined solid state designs were being modernized and sound became leaner and more refined)

 

[Robie]

Don't know the dates but I believe that the S-7100 is transformer coupled but its successor the S-7100A is not. I think I prefer the sound of the 7100A but that may have been largely related to the quality of the tuner at the time.

 

[writethis]

Thanks for the responses guys. When I started this thread last night, I mistakenly listed my S-7100 as an S-7100A. Have since edited the post to correct this.

I've never been in the same room with an S-7100A, but can confirm that the earlier S-7100 is in fact transformer coupled. I'm assuming the 7100A was made around 1971, and while apparently not transformer coupled, is probably cap coupled. Would love to find a low-powered, cap-coupled receiver with the cosmetics of the S-7X10 series. That's the goal in all of this, aside from adding to the very sketchy collective knowledge surrounding Sherwood gear from the era when they were transitioning production from the US to Japan.

Next stop is a trip to the shop of AKer and audio soothsayer NakDoc, who will almost certainly be able to shed some sort of light. I'll report back with any new knowledge I can glean from him, assuming he's in today.

Anyone else have anything they can add here?

 

[Binkman]

Seems like the history of actual models produced and when is a bit *sketchy but this will help some.

http://www.romeroy4u.com/Pictures.html

* I have my fathers S8600a (yes small 'a') 100 watts micro fets. he brought it home from an Allied store dec. 1968. Not much in any listings for this amp. but from the serial number reflects 68'.

 

[writethis]

Okay, as expected, a visit to NakDoc was all that was needed. This elusive AKer is a full-time professional tech of the highest order, and a walking encyclopedia.

We looked at schematics from several models of early- to mid-70s receivers, and the short simple answer is that once Sherwood left output transformers behind (at the point when the S-7100 became the S-7100A) they went straight to a direct-coupled output approach.

Info on these things is still sketchy -- Sherwood seems to have been caught up in a cycle of constant model revisions, many or most of which were reflected in a slight model number change or the addition of an "A" of "B" suffix to an existing model number.

My own learning in this experience is that as a guy who normally listens to music via tube amplification, the transformers of the S-7100 smooth out the digital harshness of CDs in a way to other solid-state amp I've heard can manage. The sound isn't extremely detailed, nor does it reach the highest or lowest frequencies with the same gusto of some other gear. But the result is a very relaxing, non-fatiguing sound that still has enough detail and punch to be interesting and involving for casual recreational listening.

For now, case closed.

Thanks again for your participation folks.

 

[drknstrmyknight]

Sherwood has been noted for making undocumented engineering changes mid-model from their inception. In the early tube days performance was the driving force, and if was unthinkable that the consumer would need to devolve their equipment to repair it. This bled over to the SS evolution until they devolved into a commodity supplier of off-shore junk.
Scott was no no different, though I think there are fewer variants per model, and I suspect other competitors of the day were following suit.
In all they did a better job than todays manufacturers. Some schematics for new gear are non-existent.

 

[PastTechFan]

Transformer coupled?

I picked up a S-7300 last year. Running it in my office. Sounds very nice. To my shame, I haven't even de-oxited it yet. (On/Off switch works, but I'm using a powerbar just in case.)

I always thought it was capacitor coupled (like my early H/K330). Thought only McIntosh did transformer coupled. I am no tech. Are these the same thing?:scratch2: