UPnP, Internet Radio, Wi-Fi, Windows 7, Optional Bluetooth, HDMI 1.4, 3Di Ready, Smart Phone, PC, iPod Connect.
The battle for bragging rights for "most wattage" in an AV receiver has been supplanted by "most connected", as Sherwood's two newest 7.1 receivers demonstrate. Model RD-705i dual-zone, network receiver streams Internet audio, including Internet Radio, with 802.11n Wi-Fi ability. Compliance with UPnP for home networking, allows music sources to be streamed wirelessly from digital devices anywhere in the home. Its HDMI 1.4 capability makes the RD-705i 3D ready. Optional Bluetooth connectivity offers streaming audio from Bluetooth components such as smart phones and PCs. For users with iPod music libraries, Sherwood's optional DS-10 iPod dock provides another audio source. Then, there is the full complement of Dolby and DTS high-resolution audio formats. Model RD-7505 offers identical audio-video performance without networking. Both receivers were recently unveiled at the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, GA.
Says Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood's Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Development, "With UPnP and Windows 7 compatibility, this receiver sets a new standard for connectivity and performance in its price class and the inclusion of HDMI repeater capability means they can internally decode the highest-resolution audio formats available to consumers today on Blu-ray disc." Users can access Internet radio from Pandora, Aupeo, Reciva, Shoutcast and other streaming music services that make available thousands of radio stations from around the world. Full bit-rate capability for multiple formats is provided by its192 kHz/24 bit D to A converters.
The RD-7051 has an MSRP of $499.95. The RD-7505 has an MSRP of $399.95. Both receivers offer 100 watts per channel (x 7) and will become available in November.