Sherwood Brings DTS and Circle Surround To Car Audio
Car audio has indeed come full circle. Sherwood is proud to introduce a group of digital car audio products with DTSÆ and Circle Surroundô Decoding capabilities. The line includes the XDTS-80 digital processor which decodes both discrete multichannel DTS CDs and DTS-encoded DVDs via its built-in digital processor; decodes any matrix surround encoded material including CDs, video tapes, DVDs or TV broadcasts including those encoded in DolbyÆ Surround using its built-in digital Circle Surround decoder; and uses Circle Surroundís Music Mode to create 5.1 channel music from any stereo source. The Sherwood Digital Autosound group also includes the XCM-7370 CD Receiver with CD Changer Controller and Digital Output, and the six-channel AX-6275 Power Amplifier. In addition to its ability to create 5.1 channel sound from virtually any source, the Sherwood 12-Volt XDTS-80 decoder can also operate in phantom center mode with or without subwoofer in either DTS or Circle Surround making it perfectly suitable as an upgrade for existing autosound systems. According to Jeffrey Hipps, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Product Development at Sherwood America, ""Although the optimum performance of our digital car system requires both a center channel speaker and a subwoofer, consumers do not need to rebuild their vehicles to take advantage of multichannel music. Adding our XCM-7370 CD receiver and XDTS-80 decoder to even an OEM system with four speakers and four channels of amplification will prove revolutionary."" Housed in a 1/2-DIN chassis, the SXDTS-80 includes 2 coaxial digital inputs for direct connection to a head unit or CD changer with digital output (such as the Sherwood 12-Volt XCM-7370). It also has a stereo pair of analog inputs for reproduction of any material, such as FM, that does not originate in the digital domain. The XDTS-80 utilizes Crystal Semiconductorís CS-4226 10-bit codec for A to D and D to A conversion and decoding is accomplished by the proven 24-bit Motorola DSP56009 digital processor. The XDTS-80 includes a digital encoder to control master volume, left/right balance, front/rear balance, center channel and subwoofer level; built-in subwoofer crossover set a 90 Hz; stereo bypass; center channel phantom mode; and subwoofer on or off. The XDTS-80 has a suggested retail price of $599.95 and will be available for shipping in February. The XCM-7370 Receiver and changer controller delivers RMS output of 30 Watts x 4 channels, has a 4-volt preamp, and comes complete with a credit card sized remote control. Other features include thirty station presets, best station memory, disc tilting, provisions to enter and display the call letters of each station entered into a preset and a clock. The XCM-7370ís design includes a fold-down detachable faceplate which allows for a large 3-color LCD display. Suggested retail price is #399.95 and will be available for shipping in February. The six-channel AX6275 Power Amplifier delivers RMS power output of 35 Watts x 5 plus 100 Watts for the sixth or subwoofer channel. Total harmonic distortion is less than 0.01%, and signal-to-noise ratio is greater than 95 dB. Features include gold-plated connectors, 4-guage connectors, a thermal protection circuit, and short circuit protection. Suggested retail price for the AX6275 is $499.95 and is available now. Contact Sherwood America at their Web site, www.sherwoodusa.com.