Sound quality that is on par with $2k players; nice, simple construction; sturdy, high quality transport

That darn remote

I agree with Jim below. This is the second biggest steal that I made as well and MY biggest steal was also the Newcastle R-925 Receiver. I did pay a bit more for the receiver however ($307.00). Also see may review on the R-925 on this website.

In addition to the CD-980, I purchased its little brother the CD-680 changer at the same time and found it shares many of the qualities as the single player...just not on as grand of scale. The CD-680 uses 1-bit DACs instead of the 20-bitters found in this player. Also see my review on the Newcastle CD-680 on this website...it too is an absolute bargain.

Though some reviewers seem to disagree, I found that this player does need a considerable break in period to sound its absolute best. My player didn't live up to its fullest potential until my burn-in CD had played continuously for about two weeks (I feel 200 hrs is about the threshold where the gain in sound quality started to really trickle off). With this in mind it still has to be said, however, that this player held its own right out of the box and didn't display the usual "digititis" that most lower quality players exude...even after they are broken in.

Lets get to the low-down first. The bass is absolutely first rate on the CD-980. While it isn't the last word on extension (though it nearly equalled my $2000 CEC and my Yamaha/ Audio Alchemy combo in this area), the bass is articulate, tight, and very rhythmic. Unlike some players, the lower octaves did not seem detached from the rest of the musical drive. In a few words....I was very impressed. Still, on HDCD encoded discs, my Yamaha/Alchemy rig had more punch and realism. To the 980's credit, though, even the CEC couldn't match the outboard Audio Alchemy in this area.

Even better than the bass is this players mid-range...which is better than ANY player I've ever heard including Krell, Parasound, and lower Line Mark Levinson products (all of which retailed for a minimum of $3500.00). I found no trace of harshness or metalic flavor from the CD-980. A player that sounds too "bright" most often has a problem in the upper mid range and lower treble. The CD-980 obviously has no problem here. Try as I may, I couldn't find a disc to make it stumble. Even those digitized late 70's and early 80's rock dics sounded more natural than I've ever heard them. Incredible for a player that retails for $600, let alone that can be had for under $200!!

The upper frequncies are airy, if not a bit rolled off at the extreme...say above about 14kHz according to my test equipment. Still, even this roll-off doesn't effect the overal tonality or listenability.

Throw all of this together and you get a remarkble player that images very well. While, again, my Yamaha combo goes deeper and wider, the CD-980 matches it in placement and focus of the instruments. The CEC is actually third in this area. In fact, you may be forming an opinion that the CEC isn't such a great deal. While the CEC does sound very neutral, it certainly doesn't justify it's price being over 10 times that of my purchase price of this little Newcastle. Subsequently, I sold it a couple of months ago. The price/value equation simply faded away after I lived with the CD-980 for a while.

My advice is to buy this player. If you can get it for the price that I and some of the others purchased it for, buy three or four and give them as gifts to music-loving friends or family members for Christmas or a birthday. It's one sure-fire way to make that friendship last a long, long time.

Highly, highly recommended even at $250 or $300.
Remarkable value.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha CDC 845 Changer/ Audio Alchemy 3.0 external DAC combo (HDCD compatable), CEC 5100Z, Newcastle CD-680 changer

Sound,price,price,price,bass,detail

a bit bright

If your looking for the best buy in a great sounding cd player here it is. Can be had for about $165 at ubid.com. This unit's msrp is $549 and has 3 year waranty. It has digital outs so you can use a separate da if you want. There are plenty of better sounding players out there but expect to pay $500 and up.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 707esd,

The 980T is their best CD player of sherwood, and has a price on par with models like the CD-67SE from Marantz or the DX-2 from California Audio Labs.I've had a sherwood since soon after it came out. Out of the box, I was not impressed and thought it was very overrated. No bass and no dynamics. What in the world were reviewers' ears?I listened to this player in an A/B comparison with the Rotel 975. They differ in price by $350, so it should not be treated as an equal comparison. When I first listened to the sherwood, there was something missing. It had good detail, and seemed slightly harsh. When I was able to do an A/B comparison using Martin Logan SL3's, a Classe Amp and Preamp, the difference was tremendous. I used higher quality components mainly to get an accurate picture of what the players sounded like. The Rotel had better detail and imaging by far. Also, the general tonality was superior. Acoustic guitars had real life with the Rotel, but seemed artificial with the Marantz. I'm not sure how much better one can do for $210, but I know I wasn't satisfied. If you like bright, shallow sound and, not prefer bass this is a good player, but if you're interested in depth, proper tonal balance, and instruments that really come alive, go for a different player, such as the Rotel 975. If you can't be affordable, just go to the CD-67SE from Marantz($250)

Ample power supply, precision BURR-BROWN chipset, fixed and variable outputs, pitch control, display dimmer, PRICE!

Variable outputs are slightly out of balance.

My system is what I would describe as "reality high end"... components from true value/performance oriented companies... NHT 3.3 speakers, Bryston BP-20 preamp and 4B-ST power amp wired with doubled-up KIMBER PBJ(outstanding) and a double run of KIMBER 8TC. After selling the SONY I began the search for a decent player to use until DVD AUDIO/SUPER CD arrives. I tried my PIONEER DVD player on the system and quickly had to remove it... horrible. I purchased a DENON 1650AR based on recent chipset technology and hefty power supply... this unit was very good but did not approach the SONY in reproducing the subtlties in classical music... sold it. Bought the ROTEL(wonderful reviews in every publication) which was pretty damn good but... WHERE'S THE BASS (the NHT 3.3's are an outstanding full-range speaker capable of reproducing very low bass so it is very apparent when it is not there). I returned the ROTEL and took home the SHERWOOD NEWCASTLE CD980T and... it is wonderful! Everything is there and reproduced accurately... low-level detail, solid bass reproduction, natural midrange and a sweet non-fatiguing treble. It was a dissapointment when experimenting with the variable outs that the balance was off... otherwise, I cannot recommend this player highly enough for the price!

Similar Products Used:

SONY X707ES, DENON 1650AR, ROTEL RC970, PIONEER DVD525

Price, quality of sound, price, pitch control, price, digital outs, did I mention PRICE???

...hhmmm... the remote has a button to set the pitch control back to normal but the player does not support it!

According to UBid's auction, the unit was silver but they sent a black one - thank you. Sounds great through my Denon and Mirage OM-10's. Transport is OK, we've all seen worse - plays everything I have. Expected a British piece but that nifty KOREAN sticker on the back set me straight.

If your a musician and trying to understand what the hell is going on during that really fast riff, just drop the pitch control down, "Hello... oh there you are" I don't know of any other unit with this feature for under $200 US.

If you pick one up at UBid and you don't like it, your out a month and 1/2's cost for cigarettes. Stick it in the laundry room with your Bose stuff. Your shirts will probably even come out better.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Fisher, Denon

Price, Digital out, Audio quality

A Bit Bright, non-buffered A-B loop, Sherwood prestige (or lack thereof)

For the price I paid ($174 on ubid), its a great deal. Ive got a system built around ubid deals, (Adcom GTP600, Adcom GFA7300, Infinity Overture 2 and this) and this cd player is great. Previously ive been using my Apex DVD player as my cd source, and while it was alright, the newcastle sounds a bit better, and has a much better interface.

The only issues i have with it are that its a bit on the bright side, and the a->b looping feature isnt buffered, so theres a delay while the laser moves. Good thing i dont have much of a use for it.

Overall a good cd player, especially considering the value.

Similar Products Used:

Apex AD-600A, various low-end consumer grade cd players

Presents larger soundstage than others in its price range

At the $400-500 price range, this was the nicest sounding unit that I listened to. I had to jump into the $900 range to notice a significant gain in sound. Comapred it to the NAD, but I felt that the Newcastle helped to create a larger soundstage and clearer sounds than the NAD. I would advise a listen to this machine.

Overall, an excellent CD Player. Sounds very comprabable to Rotel's RCD-971 (features the same DAC's). Plus, this player is packed with features including pitch control, peak search, and others that I haven't tried out yet. Overall, and excellent budget audiophile quality player. Check it out!

Well built. Love the ability to dim the floresent display. Cost vs. retail. Coaxial output.

Have really found none with the unit. The remote is by brail a completly blackout room, hate that.

I wish I had the vocabulary to describe this unit in audiophile detail but I do not. I have been listening to
audio for twenty years and have watched much go by. Have
always bought on a budget as you can attest to the cost I
paid for this unit new in a sealed box. I had a Sony Laser
Disc player in the past and this unit is far superior to it.
I have been making my own isolation plates for all my equip-
ment from articles from www.soundstage.com/synergize. I have
made a new audio rack from MDF and everything has come to-
gether including my makeshift audio room which I have built
over the last year.
The player itself has given me nothing but pleasure. I have
had no malfunctions with any of its opeations. It has many
functions which I use including the pitch control and pro-
gramming. I have a much greater depth of soundfield than be-
fore. Imaging is beautiful depending on the artist. I have
had female vocalists seem to be right in my face. And on
jazz quartets I can easily pinpoint their positions in the
band. I personally am very pleased with this unit. I expect
to spend years with it unless my financial status changes
in the near future. And if it does I'll let you know what's
changed at my house.
Additional equipment:
Harman Kardon AVR 35MkII
Newcastle CD980
Pioneer PL 560
Rega Planar II
Toshiba DVD 2200
(2) Toshiba VCR's
Interconnets hand made from the
web site I listed above.
Analysis Plus Oval 12 speaker cable.

sound,sound,sound, price

havent found any, except leave it on.

Quite remarkable, absoluteley blows all the above away. For the money unbeatable, what do you have to lose, $150.00? buy it, enough said: System


Acurus A150
Acurus RL11
Magnepan 1.6
Mit term 2 interconnects
Kimber Kable speak wire
MIT Term 2 speak wire
Wharfedale Saph 89's
NHT super Zero's
Audio Alchemy DLC
Adcom 555
Adcom 535

Similar Products Used:

audio alchemy, cambridge, sony ES, magnavox