New NIB Carver Pro ZR1600 in the house!
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zenith2134
Lunatic Member
Hey, I just ran a search and stumbled on the Carver site. What a beast!! Damn thats a nice package to open huh. So what kinda speakers will it push?
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Anxious to hear both your first impressions and impressions after spending a few critical listening sessions Bully. Looks to be another big amp in a small package which is something Carver has gotten exceptionally good at.
I've been considering rolling some vintage gear in order to buy a couple new power amps and the ZR1600 is one of those i'm considering.
I've owned PM 1.5's, M1.0/1.5, and PM1400's. While they sometimes weren't the most impressive amps on paper, the sound quality has always been better than expected with Carver, and my expectations can be pretty high.
I've been considering rolling some vintage gear in order to buy a couple new power amps and the ZR1600 is one of those i'm considering.
I've owned PM 1.5's, M1.0/1.5, and PM1400's. While they sometimes weren't the most impressive amps on paper, the sound quality has always been better than expected with Carver, and my expectations can be pretty high.
I have got it put into the system. The fan is quite audible right next to the amp. Sitting over here a good ten feet or more, and with the oscillating fan running, all I am hearing is the mid-afternoon classical program on our local public radio station.
The "5-way binding posts" really only take bare wire, but that connection is snug and easily accepts 12 ga wire. I had to make a new pair of cables with pins on the speaker end of things.
I have read it is good to give the amp 100 hours to break in. Other than maybe a couple of hours for a stylus or speaker systems, I am leary of the hole "break in" concept.
Right now, not 30 minutes into listening, with the old reliable Realistic Mach Two (hey, I got them out for a guy to buy, but he left with my M-80 and his buddy with my CF150). I have had the past week to reaquaint myself to the Mach Two, and I still think they are good sounding.
So far the sound is very good. I should make another pair of speaker cable with bare ends and spade ends to hook up the excellent, revealing sounding Phase Linear P-530.
I am liking what I hear. VERY clean and clear, just what is going from the FM to the speaker systems.
Cat seems to like it LOL
The "5-way binding posts" really only take bare wire, but that connection is snug and easily accepts 12 ga wire. I had to make a new pair of cables with pins on the speaker end of things.
I have read it is good to give the amp 100 hours to break in. Other than maybe a couple of hours for a stylus or speaker systems, I am leary of the hole "break in" concept.
Right now, not 30 minutes into listening, with the old reliable Realistic Mach Two (hey, I got them out for a guy to buy, but he left with my M-80 and his buddy with my CF150). I have had the past week to reaquaint myself to the Mach Two, and I still think they are good sounding.
So far the sound is very good. I should make another pair of speaker cable with bare ends and spade ends to hook up the excellent, revealing sounding Phase Linear P-530.
I am liking what I hear. VERY clean and clear, just what is going from the FM to the speaker systems.
Cat seems to like it LOL
calabashak
Not a replica, no mask
My guess is $450-$500 + $70 shipping
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
If he landed one for less than 8 C notes, i'd greatly appreciate knowing the source. The going rate on them seems to be just over 900.
This amp is sounding simply amazing. The owners manual says 350 wpc into 8 ohms, 600 wpc into 4 ohms. 1200 watts bridged into 8 ohms.
This thing sounds amazing. I left it on all day today, letting it "burn in" even though I've been leary of the whole burn in idea. I have read an old review that said to give it 100 hours. If it sounds better next week, well oh my goodness.
Anyone who has read many of my posts know that I love the Yamaha gear, and even if I'm thinking this ZR1600 gives a more scintillating and detailed presentation, the M-70, M-80 & M-85 are still excellent amps.
The only think I can complain about is the fan. When you're right next to it when you turn it on, you can hear the fan. Standing about 2 feet back, and being 6-1, I cannot hear it. I am going to talk to my tech guy about swapping the stock fan with a super-quiet PC fan. Before I got it, I thought I might want to replace the stock power cord, but the IEC power cable is a brute.
The amp is a digital Tripath digital switching amp, Class T, but it actually plays as a Class A. Absolutely amazing sound, and I will get around to making up some new cables (ordered from Guitar Center's online site) with the Neutrik Speak-On ends and I'll cut the other end off an put on gold spades, and drive the very revealing boron-dome, boron mid, TAD-like woofer Phase Linear P-530. Way more power than the P-530 would be able to handle, but I seldom go more than the mid-80s dB @ 10-12 feet.
I've just got the ZR hooked up to the old Mach Two, and the sound is glorious, the whole mid range and highs are just smooth and liquid and incredibly detailed--listening to classical on our NPR FM and vocal and instruments wowzer the piano attack and decay is like real.
More listening must be done, and I'm about to play some ceedees.
This thing sounds amazing. I left it on all day today, letting it "burn in" even though I've been leary of the whole burn in idea. I have read an old review that said to give it 100 hours. If it sounds better next week, well oh my goodness.
Anyone who has read many of my posts know that I love the Yamaha gear, and even if I'm thinking this ZR1600 gives a more scintillating and detailed presentation, the M-70, M-80 & M-85 are still excellent amps.
The only think I can complain about is the fan. When you're right next to it when you turn it on, you can hear the fan. Standing about 2 feet back, and being 6-1, I cannot hear it. I am going to talk to my tech guy about swapping the stock fan with a super-quiet PC fan. Before I got it, I thought I might want to replace the stock power cord, but the IEC power cable is a brute.
The amp is a digital Tripath digital switching amp, Class T, but it actually plays as a Class A. Absolutely amazing sound, and I will get around to making up some new cables (ordered from Guitar Center's online site) with the Neutrik Speak-On ends and I'll cut the other end off an put on gold spades, and drive the very revealing boron-dome, boron mid, TAD-like woofer Phase Linear P-530. Way more power than the P-530 would be able to handle, but I seldom go more than the mid-80s dB @ 10-12 feet.
I've just got the ZR hooked up to the old Mach Two, and the sound is glorious, the whole mid range and highs are just smooth and liquid and incredibly detailed--listening to classical on our NPR FM and vocal and instruments wowzer the piano attack and decay is like real.
More listening must be done, and I'm about to play some ceedees.
It sounds like a great deal. If I wasn't overloaded with equipment I'd probably spring for one too. :thmbsp:
By the way where is the second one so you can mono block them? :thmbsp:
By the way where is the second one so you can mono block them? :thmbsp:
whoaru99
Epic Member
This is the problem when comparing amps, one that is much more powerful is so effortless, it's sometimes tricky to evaluate pure sound quality separated from power.
That is very true, I've found, but in this case, Bully's listening in the mid 80's dB wise, so I don't think that comes into play here when comparing 250 watts to 350 watts - both are merely idling. It sound to me like class T is proving to be pretty decent stuff. I really liked the sound quality of my little 6 watt T amp before I fried it, just way too little watts. Great find there Bully, thanks for the report as well.
I've let it run for a day-and-a-half. The sound is in one word amazing from where I sit.
Listening to the new Peter Frampton album, and his guitar playing is really fine, the attack and decay is so detailed he could be in the room picking.
(Kind of a bluesy rock and a great cd, I've listened to it several times since bringing it home from the library. I think I'll buy it.)
Listening to the new Peter Frampton album, and his guitar playing is really fine, the attack and decay is so detailed he could be in the room picking.
(Kind of a bluesy rock and a great cd, I've listened to it several times since bringing it home from the library. I think I'll buy it.)
Not a lot of difference between 250 wpc and 350 wpc (according to the owners manual, but I've seen it mentioned as 300 wpc).
The M-80 is an excellent amp, no question about that.
But I think I'm hearing even more detail with the newer new amp. I cannot say enough how good this stereo is sounding.
Mahavishnu Orchestra right now, and individual instruments are clearly delineated, and a very accurate sound. Not clinical at all, Class A clarity with a lush sound, said to be redolent as tube amps. Chuckle, with 350 watts a side LOL
The M-80 is an excellent amp, no question about that.
But I think I'm hearing even more detail with the newer new amp. I cannot say enough how good this stereo is sounding.
Mahavishnu Orchestra right now, and individual instruments are clearly delineated, and a very accurate sound. Not clinical at all, Class A clarity with a lush sound, said to be redolent as tube amps. Chuckle, with 350 watts a side LOL
240sx4u
Lunatic Member
Glad to hear your having such success. I found my car T amp had major balls when called upon.
Me thinks Ill be checking out the new frampton album.
I love mahavishnu orchestra btw.
Great hearing a success story about new equpiment purchases. I never expected this one to get such high marks.
Evan
Me thinks Ill be checking out the new frampton album.
I love mahavishnu orchestra btw.
Great hearing a success story about new equpiment purchases. I never expected this one to get such high marks.
Evan
