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Kjesse · 11-22-2017, 10:54 PM

I'm hoping someone with knowledge can help here. Hopefully cupofjoe can chime in.

Our family room receiver, a Sherwood Newcastle R-865, has an optical input issue and the right channel is dropping through that input on occasion. The receiver has a second optical input and I've plugged into that for now, but, that input for reasons I don't know, has a damaged receptacle (I think that's what its called, its the plastic female end which you place the optical male end into) such that I think to keep the cable in place for the long term I'd have to use glue or tape and I don't want to do that.

That receiver has served well for 15 plus years, and the sound is amazing, but its time to either fix or replace it. And these days its mostly used as a receiver for kids TV but still I would like whatever is in that room to sound great when its time to listen to music.

I don't need 4K switching or Dolby Atmos, I have switching handled elsewhere and have no need for Atmos in that room. This room is just 2.1 and no extra speakers will be installed.

All I really need is one optical input on the receiver. A dedicated RCA sub out would be nice but not necessary.

I prefer heavy, tested receivers with solid build. The Sherwood R-865 is almost 50 lbs and the sound quality backs that weight up which is why I'm convinced weight means quality inside components. I've also heard lighter receivers sound better, a recent Marantz in particular.

I see the options are:

-Send the old receiver into Bestech for a repair that will likely cost 150 to 500, I don't know. (The receiver was something like 2300 new at the time)

-Purchase a used receiver on kijiji. Someone is selling a NAD T751 for $175, and someone else a Cambridge Audio Azur 550A for $300 "firm". Both probably sound amazing also. I'm not sure how they compare to the R-865 I have however.

-Purchase a new receiver such as the Yamaha A-S301, looks like it will cost about $600 in Canada delivered but is damn nice looking, would be new, and has basic controls without complicated sound fields, which is what I use any other receiver for anyway.

Any advice from those who know would be welcome.

11-22-2017, 10:54 PM	#1284
Kjesse Retired Join Date: Oct 2003 Exp:	I'm hoping someone with knowledge can help here. Hopefully cupofjoe can chime in. Our family room receiver, a Sherwood Newcastle R-865, has an optical input issue and the right channel is dropping through that input on occasion. The receiver has a second optical input and I've plugged into that for now, but, that input for reasons I don't know, has a damaged receptacle (I think that's what its called, its the plastic female end which you place the optical male end into) such that I think to keep the cable in place for the long term I'd have to use glue or tape and I don't want to do that. That receiver has served well for 15 plus years, and the sound is amazing, but its time to either fix or replace it. And these days its mostly used as a receiver for kids TV but still I would like whatever is in that room to sound great when its time to listen to music. I don't need 4K switching or Dolby Atmos, I have switching handled elsewhere and have no need for Atmos in that room. This room is just 2.1 and no extra speakers will be installed. All I really need is one optical input on the receiver. A dedicated RCA sub out would be nice but not necessary. I prefer heavy, tested receivers with solid build. The Sherwood R-865 is almost 50 lbs and the sound quality backs that weight up which is why I'm convinced weight means quality inside components. I've also heard lighter receivers sound better, a recent Marantz in particular. I see the options are: -Send the old receiver into Bestech for a repair that will likely cost 150 to 500, I don't know. (The receiver was something like 2300 new at the time) -Purchase a used receiver on kijiji. Someone is selling a NAD T751 for $175, and someone else a Cambridge Audio Azur 550A for $300 "firm". Both probably sound amazing also. I'm not sure how they compare to the R-865 I have however. -Purchase a new receiver such as the Yamaha A-S301, looks like it will cost about $600 in Canada delivered but is damn nice looking, would be new, and has basic controls without complicated sound fields, which is what I use any other receiver for anyway. Any advice from those who know would be welcome.