From news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!news.csc.fi!news.eunet.fi!EU.net!uunet!newstf01.cr1.aol.com!search01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail Fri May 6 18:44:57 EET DST 1994 Article: 30793 of rec.radio.shortwave Path: news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!news.csc.fi!news.eunet.fi!EU.net!uunet!newstf01.cr1.aol.com!search01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: guimiket@aol.com (GUI MikeT) Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Subject: 10K Review of Sherwood NRD 535 SE Date: 5 May 1994 23:34:01 -0400 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 183 Sender: news@search01.news.aol.com Message-ID: <2qcdr9$ip0@search01.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: search01.news.aol.com Due to many responses encouraging me to "burn" a bit of bandwidth, I am posting my entire review of the Sherwood NRD 535 SE. If the formatting is off, you can fix it in a word-processor. Any comments appreciated! Review of the Sherwood NRD 535SE By Michael John Tichon April 29, 1994 INTRODUCTION This is a review of the NRD 535 SE produced by Sherwood Engineering in Denver, Colorado. I am a long time short-wave listener, but am not sophisticated in DXing or SWL, as I've always been inclined to just listen, without any fancy techniques. Until recently, I didn't know a sideband from a waist band. So, this review will not be very technical, but will be from the view point of a fussy consumer who expects a lot, but doesn't always get it. Well, this time I did! I have no affiliation with Robert Sherwood or his company, so the hyperbole is for real, folks! This is an incredible short wave radio. All the cautions about poor conditions, or needing a lot of practice to really appreciate a radio may be true, but my initial impression is that the NRD 535SE is a stunning marriage of the best of Japanese ergonomics, and American ingenuity. I started with a small Sony portable that bought it due to leaky batteries. Duracell sent me a check, and I ended up with a Sony 2010, and a copy of Passport to World Band Radio. I read the reviews, and wondered if those high-priced table models really gave any better results than the Sony. Many people said, not really, they just allow you to do more, once you've practiced a lot. I was interested, though, in the reviews of the NRD 535 and the Drake R-8. I had my fantasies, especially as signals faded. However, the price of both put me off, especially the NRD. This year's edition (1994) of Passport introduced a new fantasy. I had gone so far as to order the Passport White Papers on the Drake and the NRD. The Drake seemed a better performer, but the NRD better in "ergonomics" So, I was really dreaming of an R8, cocky that the better American was also 1/2 the price of the Shogun. However, the 1994 Passport talked about something almost mystical, a special custom-made NRD with better electronics, filters, audio and syncro. A combination of the Drake and the NRD. The Sherwood NRD SE: $2,000 ! Sigh. So, while I really was intrigued by the NRD 535SE, I "settled" for the Drake. The Drake lasted 25 days. It hummed, even when turned off, and the syncro would drop off, usually when music was playing, with a horrible howl or whine. Then, the preamp blew out. So, I opted to return it and get what I really wanted all along. TIP: While this article is not intended to knock the Drake, as it performed very well, and had a nice sound, if you buy one, buy it from Grove. They have a 30 return policy, the longest of any major mail order place. I decided to scratch my itch and go for broke. I ordered the NRD 535SE. It took quite a while to get it, over a month, due to various difficulties, but it finally came about a week ago. So, I've had time to read and reread the Passport review while waiting. I will sort of review the NRD 535 SE in the Passport format. Sorry for the long introduction, but I thought you should know my perspective. Please refer to the Passport review for detailed technical information about filter bandwidths, etc. Be sure to read both the NRD and NRD 535SE reviews. So, here goes mylayman's effort to mimic Passport. Price: $2,000. Sherwood Engineering, Inc. (303) 722-2257 Advantages: The NRD 535SE comes in 3 parts: The NRD 535, a metal box full of electronic goodies, and an external speaker, in this case a Radio Shack Optimus Pro 77. Sherwood works his magic by taking over after the NRD's IF stage, at least that's what I think. There is a simple IF out connection to the box. The electronics add several filters, an improved audio circuit and the Sherwood SE-3 Synchronous Detector. This latter baby never lets go once locked on a signal! Compared to a stock NRD, the audio goes from marginal to excellent, the syncro much stronger, and the filters are much sharper. To my ears, the end result is astounding when compared to the Sony 2010, and even the Drake. The sound on the NRD 535 SE is outstanding. On some strong stations, you'd swear the station was a local AM or even FM station. There are no words for me to adequately describe the experience! While I was full of doubts about what I had bought, once I received it, I realized that my expectations were more than met. As to sensitivity and station rejection, so far, I have not done much but listen to the biggies. I do find more stations available than even with the Drake, but that's hard to really tell. I am using the same antenna, so that is equal. I live near Los Angeles, in the hills Northwest of the Rose Bowl. The reception here is not great. I proved this by taking my Sony to Palm Springs, Ca. There, I pulled in more on a 23' wire than on the Eavesdropper I use at home. It seems, however, that now, on the NRD 535SE, some frequencies I couldn't get before are now available, like the BBC on 7325 at the appropriate time. Rejection of adjacent stations is fairly good, better when using the tuning capabilities of the SE-3 syncro. Instead of using the NRD's standard passband tuning, I use the SE-3, which has an extremely wide range. In fact, the SE-3 unit is the star of the show. It allows quite a bit of latitude in off frequency tuning, while holding on to the signal. Tenacious! This unit is very easy to use. You wouldn't know that after reading the Passport article, but all you do it tune a signal, turn on the unit, and then use another lever to lock in the syncro. No warbling or wavering in the signal. If it is weak, there is a control to the side of the band the syncro will lock on to. The SE-3 unit also contains a bass boost and a high cut/boost control. These are very effective controls, compared to some tone controls I have used. The SE-3 unit is a dark gray metal box. A neat package, and there are plenty of holes on the back for those inclined to add other tweaks to the set-up. There are knobs for volume and for SSB syncro fine tuning. There are also a number of lever type switches to control various functions. It has kind of a retro look to it, but is well-done and very business-like. While I didn't intend to review the radio itself, as there are plenty of reviews/accolades for it, I do have to say a word about ergonomics. I originally dismissed this concept in a radio. I own a Lexus, and as you may remember, when Lexus and Infiniti first came out, they made a big deal out of the feel of switches, etc. The NRD was obviously done by designers from the same school. Switches have firm clicks and act like switches. The tuning knob is silky smooth and comfortable to use, covered in a soft rubber-like material. Many of the controls are programmable, making them easier to use by avoiding the need to carousel through choices to get to the desired filter, AGC setting, etc. Dials each control one function. No dials with an inner and outer band. The noise level is very low for strong signals. The radio performs well without a preamp, but an external tuner/preamp helps. Disadvantages: There are very few. While the Passport review indicates that the Sherwood modifications degrade the NRD's fine ergonomics, I strongly disagree. In fact, in talking about this with Rob Sherwood, he says that my reaction is similar to most purchasers. That is, surprise at how easy the radio is to use. The Passport reviewer called the radio a Rocky Mountain Shogun with a stick shift. However, there is really only 3 things to do to use the SE-3 unit. Once a frequency is selected, you turn on the SE-3 volume control to bring on the audio, flip one switch to turn on the syncro, then push down on another until the signal locks in. I have no idea what kind of problem the Passport reviewer was having to feel these three steps took away from the pleasure of this radio. In fact, I kind of like the whistle/lock feature. The only significant disadvantage is a by-product of the Sherwood modifications. Remember, the SE takes over the signal after the IF stage, by-passing the audio in the radio. That means you loose the use of the squelch control for scanning. However, you can switch off the SE-3, and turn up the NRD's audio and then use the squelch to explore for stations, then lock them in with the SE-3. This may be what the Passport reviewer was concerned about. This is a disadvantage if you like scanning. However, I enjoy using the tuning knob, and don't see much benefit to scanning for exploring, as I think I can find more just slowly rotating the dial. In addition to the loss of the squelch while using the SE-3, you loose the tone control, and I think the noise-blanker control. The tone control loss is made up by the more effective controls on the SE-3 unit. I still haven't figured out if the noise blanker works or not, but it doesn't seem to do anything. Not that I saw much use for it on the Drake either. So, it may be my inexperience showing. I recall the Drake having a brighter sound than the NRD 535SE. That may be due to the fact that I was using a Radio Shack Minimus 7 as an external speaker. The Optimus Pro 77 has a deeper sound. However, I am not sure that I like it for SWL. It's great on music, but I think I prefer the Minimus for general listening. My side by side tests of the speakers are so far inconclusive. Finally, as a disadvantage, you now have three large items instead of the radio: the radio, the speaker, and the SE-3 unit. I am still trying to rearrange things in my office/shack to accommodate all the gear! Bottom Line: Few things in life seem to live up to expectations. The NRD 535SE is one of those! Rather than lamely trying to describe how good it sounds, I can just invite you to save your money up for one. Every serious listener should be rewarded with an NRD 535SE. I say that, knowing that there is, in any hobby, no such thing as an ultimate. However, this is as close as I think I can get. I will, eventually, guild the lily with a good DSP unit, but it is not an essential with this radio. Anyone who is seriously considering an NRD, should go the extra step to the NRD 535SE.