I've owned several Carver products throughout the years, and I still do. I currently own a TFM-15 amp, TFM-25, and a TFM-55. These are very punchy and nice sounding amps - although they do have that typical "Solid State" sound quality to it. I've owned them since new and have never had 1 problem with them except for burned out bulbs. I currently have stored in my garage a Carver CT-29v pre/pro. It's nice - nothing more to it. I have owned all 3 incarnations of the Sunfire Theater Grand (I, II, III). This is a very nice pre/pro. It did everything well. It looked like a huge piece carved out of a solid piece of steel. I sold those for my current KRELL Showcase pre/pro. The jump in sound quality was immediate and clear as rain. The Krell outperformed the Sunfire in EVERYWAY possible. It seems the Sunfire, although you would'nt know it with out a direct A/B comparison) still held that "SS" sound quality. This isin't really such a bad thing, I mean for the time that I had all my pieces hooked up I thought they were just plain awesome. But to spend $3500.00 for the Sunfire T.G. compared to the $4000.00 for the Krell - Carver should really re-evaluate their pricing strategy. The T.G is NOT in the same leaque as Krell (but it's priced that way).
The only piece of Carver that I still use are the AL-III ribbon speakers. DAMN!!!!! Bob Carver did something right for the first time in his career! These speakers are every bit comparible to most ANY ribbon speaker on the market, and they will hold they're own quite easily. I freakin love these speakers. I will NEVER replace them. They are almost "perfect" in every way you care to describe a speaker. Incredible bass (but a subwoofer still helps), the mids and highs are.....well in a word....natural. I know words like these get thrown around alot, but really, I can't find ANYTHING to fault these speakers. They are the most realistic sounding speakers I have ever heard - and I've heard a lot. And they can take probably any kind of power you care to throw at them. They are very room and placement forgiving, and the low sensistivity is really not an issue. These speakers will be my last pair for stereo listening - ever (until they break).
I've owned several older pieces from Carver, but none really ever impressed me to keep them for too long (save the AL-III's). They were good products - just stay away from the Carver pieces when Bob himself was no longer with the Company - those were trash components. Anything that Bob had a hand in creating are certainly worth a look at.
