johnda
Addicted Member
The Sherwood RX-4109 receiver is a 100 watt/channel, two channel unit, with a minimum of fluff that packs surprisingly excellent audio performance inside.
I discovered it at Radio Shack and it was on sale for $79.99 in 2007. I have since then purchased a second RX-4109 receiver at the full price of $99.99. This past Thanksgiving holiday the RX-4109 was on sale for $59.99 from Black Friday through the weekend. It is now back to $99.99. Possibly following Christmas it may be on sale again.
The RX-4109 weighs 19.5 pounds. It is 17 3/8" wide by 5 7/16" high by 14 9/16" deep. The receiver feels properly hefty in today’s world of lighter equipment. The included specification sheet states that the receiver has 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms impedance from 20-20Khz with a terminal harmonic distortion of .04%. These are good numbers, if they are accurate. The amplifier uses a ”Discrete Amplifier Stage system” which I understand is the equivalent of a monoblock amplifier for each channel to reduce crosstalk and feedback.
Although the receiver looks simple to the eye, it really has a decent array of features. It has AM/FM, CD input, Tape In/Out, Aux In/Out, and even a Phono stage, which is something that many receivers today have unfortunately dropped. The Aux In/Out can be used for an additional recording device or incoming source. I use it for my internet audio.
There are buttons to choose speaker system A and/or B, but see the warning below about speaker impedances. The receiver has an interesting indoor antenna which is a single wire terminating in a push on F connector. I found the FM antenna to be at least the equal of a small folded dipole.
The AM section uses an AM loop antenna that connects to the AM antenna leads and it performed satisfactorily. The FM section tunes in 10k steps, for example, 104.4, 104.5 104.6 Mhz and the stations were properly tuned. The unit comes with a remote control and you can program 30 memory locations. The display is easy to see and the unit gives an uncomplicated appearance. One feature I enjoy about the display is that it only shows what is active. If you are on the phono input, only the word “PHONO” shows in the display. The tuner information only shows when you are actually using the tuner, and this is pleasing to me. When I am not using the tuner the clean look of the receiver makes it look more like an integrated amplifier than a receiver. This is a very user friendly unit with a low learning curve.
In keeping with the minimalist approach, there are no AC accessory outlets on the back of the unit for plugging in extra equipment. Since I use a surge protected power strip, this did not bother me. The only item that gave me some pause was that the keyboard on the remote only lets you key in memory locations. You could not key in the frequency of a station directly, a bit inconvenient, but the 30 memory presets helped offset that limitation.
I am using my two RX-4109’s with two different systems:
System one is in my 12x14 listening room and has my Polk Monitor 30 and PSW10 self-powered subwoofer. I am using my Grace wireless internet radio in that system along with my Denon DCD-590 CD player and Denon DP 300F turntable.
System two is in my 12x12 study and has my Best Buy Insignia NS B-2111 speakers.
The receivers have been very satisfactory to me in overall sound. I normally listen at moderate volumes and my feelings are based on using moderate volume settings. The sound from these receivers is clear and clean with an ample punch, The RX-4109 has a very neutral character of sound. Not overly bass heavy nor harsh in the highs, and I have seen numerous reviews of the RX-4109 that people wrote praising the clean sound it produces.
I do have one caviat:
The receiver is rated for only 8 ohm and above impedance rated speakers. The manual specifically states that if you intend to play speaker system A and B at the same time, you must use 16 ohm speakers. The RX-4109 will not work well with speakers that have lower impedances than 8 ohms and possibly severe damage can result if you run less than 8 ohms impedance.
In one review I read, a person stated his receiver “stopped working” after one month. He stated that Radio Shack would not help him and he was told by Sherwood that” they didn’t have parts” for the unit.
I checked the Sherwood RX-4109 warranty and it is for two years. It does say that they are not responsible for ”incidental or consequential damages”. I have a feeling that possibly this person did not follow the manual and destroyed the receiver, which obviated the warranty. So, if you intend to load up speakers or present unusual impedance loads to the receiver, do NOT buy this unit, it is not for you.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced receiver with good wattage and a phono input, I suggest that you consider the RX-4109. I am glad I did.
I discovered it at Radio Shack and it was on sale for $79.99 in 2007. I have since then purchased a second RX-4109 receiver at the full price of $99.99. This past Thanksgiving holiday the RX-4109 was on sale for $59.99 from Black Friday through the weekend. It is now back to $99.99. Possibly following Christmas it may be on sale again.
The RX-4109 weighs 19.5 pounds. It is 17 3/8" wide by 5 7/16" high by 14 9/16" deep. The receiver feels properly hefty in today’s world of lighter equipment. The included specification sheet states that the receiver has 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms impedance from 20-20Khz with a terminal harmonic distortion of .04%. These are good numbers, if they are accurate. The amplifier uses a ”Discrete Amplifier Stage system” which I understand is the equivalent of a monoblock amplifier for each channel to reduce crosstalk and feedback.
Although the receiver looks simple to the eye, it really has a decent array of features. It has AM/FM, CD input, Tape In/Out, Aux In/Out, and even a Phono stage, which is something that many receivers today have unfortunately dropped. The Aux In/Out can be used for an additional recording device or incoming source. I use it for my internet audio.
There are buttons to choose speaker system A and/or B, but see the warning below about speaker impedances. The receiver has an interesting indoor antenna which is a single wire terminating in a push on F connector. I found the FM antenna to be at least the equal of a small folded dipole.
The AM section uses an AM loop antenna that connects to the AM antenna leads and it performed satisfactorily. The FM section tunes in 10k steps, for example, 104.4, 104.5 104.6 Mhz and the stations were properly tuned. The unit comes with a remote control and you can program 30 memory locations. The display is easy to see and the unit gives an uncomplicated appearance. One feature I enjoy about the display is that it only shows what is active. If you are on the phono input, only the word “PHONO” shows in the display. The tuner information only shows when you are actually using the tuner, and this is pleasing to me. When I am not using the tuner the clean look of the receiver makes it look more like an integrated amplifier than a receiver. This is a very user friendly unit with a low learning curve.
In keeping with the minimalist approach, there are no AC accessory outlets on the back of the unit for plugging in extra equipment. Since I use a surge protected power strip, this did not bother me. The only item that gave me some pause was that the keyboard on the remote only lets you key in memory locations. You could not key in the frequency of a station directly, a bit inconvenient, but the 30 memory presets helped offset that limitation.
I am using my two RX-4109’s with two different systems:
System one is in my 12x14 listening room and has my Polk Monitor 30 and PSW10 self-powered subwoofer. I am using my Grace wireless internet radio in that system along with my Denon DCD-590 CD player and Denon DP 300F turntable.
System two is in my 12x12 study and has my Best Buy Insignia NS B-2111 speakers.
The receivers have been very satisfactory to me in overall sound. I normally listen at moderate volumes and my feelings are based on using moderate volume settings. The sound from these receivers is clear and clean with an ample punch, The RX-4109 has a very neutral character of sound. Not overly bass heavy nor harsh in the highs, and I have seen numerous reviews of the RX-4109 that people wrote praising the clean sound it produces.
I do have one caviat:
The receiver is rated for only 8 ohm and above impedance rated speakers. The manual specifically states that if you intend to play speaker system A and B at the same time, you must use 16 ohm speakers. The RX-4109 will not work well with speakers that have lower impedances than 8 ohms and possibly severe damage can result if you run less than 8 ohms impedance.
In one review I read, a person stated his receiver “stopped working” after one month. He stated that Radio Shack would not help him and he was told by Sherwood that” they didn’t have parts” for the unit.
I checked the Sherwood RX-4109 warranty and it is for two years. It does say that they are not responsible for ”incidental or consequential damages”. I have a feeling that possibly this person did not follow the manual and destroyed the receiver, which obviated the warranty. So, if you intend to load up speakers or present unusual impedance loads to the receiver, do NOT buy this unit, it is not for you.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced receiver with good wattage and a phono input, I suggest that you consider the RX-4109. I am glad I did.