SHERWOOD Model S-9500b Stereo Integrated Amplifier

[dfoulk]

Greetings,
Does anyone have any comments or info about this low power integrated amp? Kind of wanting to stay solid state, and I don't need a bunch of
power. Think this one is in the neighborhood of 20 watts a channel. I have plenty of power with my Pass Amp Camp for my open baffle speakers,
but sometimes I think it would be nice to have a one package deal instead of separates. One button to push that still had acceptable sound
Have a Kenwood 6100, but it sounds like overcooked turkey, and I don't care for turkey at it's best!
Thanks for your comments and thoughts!

 

[TravK]

Probably a "too late" response here, but vintage Sherwood is good stuff...the 9000 to 9500 line were their earlier solid state units, I believe, and were probably not too far off the mark from what you'd get from their similar time period tube integrated. Go get it if it is still available and if you haven't already. :-)

 

[adaug]

... vintage Sherwood is good stuff...the 9000 to 9500 line were their earlier solid state units, I believe, and were probably not too far off the mark from what you'd get from their similar time period tube integrated. Go get it if it is still available and if you haven't already. :-)

never heard this sherwood amp, but have been pleasantly surprised at how good very early SS amps can sound. likely because the manufacturers ears were tuned to the tube sound and they tended to avoid the harshness and sterility which could creep in later?

 

[dfoulk]

Probably a "too late" response here, but vintage Sherwood is good stuff...the 9000 to 9500 line were their earlier solid state units, I believe, and were probably not too far off the mark from what you'd get from their similar time period tube integrated. Go get it if it is still available and if you haven't already. :-)

Thanks for the reply! I mulled over that Sherwood for quite a while, but ended up buying a Kenwood 2002. It was super gunky inside. All the wires looked shiny black and fuzzy, a real mess. Took quite a few hours to clean it off and realize that the wires were all different colors! Sound was kind of compressed and veiled, but everything in there was 50 years old. I had hopes....

Recently finished the re-capping along with some improved speaker posts and input RCA's and added some simple wood side panels, and new knobs. I am amazed how good this little pup sounds! Today thought that I would hook up my trusty Amp Camp amp that I spent quite a while fine tuning. It USED to be my favorite, but to my ears, the Kenwood puts the Amp Camp in the corner. It is not to malign the Amp Camp, but the Kenwood is more for me. It is a personal preference thing, you know.
I find the Kenwood more engaging, and spacious with good detail. It just makes me want to listen to everything
like I have not heard it before. Hard to believe, but for me, it has filled the bill. I don't need any more amps
It is only 13 watts a channel, but my open baffle DIY don't need half of that. I can't vouch for the phono, I am only running CD's through it.

 

[geoff]

I was recently given this 8900a, which is noisy and crackly (technical terms). I’m trying to decide if I should find someone to make it right, or just move it along.