• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Anyone here into old Carver stuff?

I've had excellent results with Carver gear as well. Even back when my ears could hear above 20K, I thought the amps sounded very smooth. Maybe I'm just blessed with low budget ears :music:

I've owned Carver since 93 (5 amps, 2 preamps, and a CD player) and never once experienced any kind of failure with the exception of a fuse in an AV405 and the meter lights finally went out on my TFM-15cb last fall. Course, it's been on nearly 100% of the time since I bought it new in 93. Damn unreliable POS :tongue:

My carver gear sounds very sweet to me. Last fall I scored a pair of JBL XPL-200A's. Some of the very best and revealing mids and tweeters ever made, and was not let down in the slightest by my Carver amps.

Will I move on? Probably will make a move towards a MOSFET based amp as some point, but I will never look down my nose at Carver.
 
Reading this thread - I got a big relief. I thought that I was an anomaly since in the short few months, I have been collecting: 2 m-1.5t's, 2 tfm-45's, tfm-55, m-4.0t, c-1, c-11, and ct-3.

My only question is - why Bob did not put a power on/off switch on the m-1.5t.

Yesterday, I snatched the 2 tfm-45's and ct-11 for $360 total. Not a bad deal for a trip from NH to MA.
 
Carver stuff

Not a bad score at all, sweet! I haven't collected like that yet, still got kids around here but I do enjoy the goods I do have.

Carver C-15v preamp, AV 505 amp, and c 9, and a cube amp. MartinLogan Preface speakers (mains) and a whole bunch of other speakers (JBL, Klipsch, Fisher, Bose to name a few). DBX 200, 1bx and 3bxII, 120X, SNR 1. Teac EQA 20eq, and T-r 670 tuner, Sentrek shq4220b eq, Sony 300 dvd cahanger, Sony 50 cd changers, Magnavox ZV427MG9 dvd recorder.
 
Not sure if the A-Series count as "classic" Carver but with those gaudy VU Meters it's just might qualify. - Highlights of this set up consists of:

1 Carver A-753x Power Amp
2 Carver A-500x Power Amps
1 Onkyo PR-SC8885P - Pre-amp/Processor
3 Miller & Kreisel S-100b (L/C/R)
2 Miller & Kreisel SS-150THX Surrounds
2 Miller & Kreisel S-85 (back Surrounds)
2 Miller & Kreisel V-125 Powered Subwoofers
1 Musical Fidelity X-LPS Phono pre-amp
1 Rega Planar 3 ( updated subplatter + Platter) - to be moved back to our 2 channel system soon...
1 Belkin PF60 - Power Conditioner
Salamader Archetype rack- Cherry
Logitech Harmony One Remote

here's an image of the Core Carver gear...

_DSC7594.JPG
 
Last edited:
An old thread but...

I have a Carver cube-- serial number 300. And the preliminary data sheet. I rememeber reading about the thing and just had to scrounge up my dollars to have that kind of power.

It has been good to me.
 
First of all ... not a dig.

First time I saw a Carver Cube, my local audio shop had one propping the door open to the service area. Kind of a statement I suppose. They didn't think much of them.

So, here I am, just done listening to one. Always been a quad kind of guy, but needed something to drive the center channel on my OPPO for playing SACDs. Found the Cube with one dead channel for $30. Does a real nice job. Maybe one day think about fixing it, but for now it's doing exactly what I need it to do.

And ditto on the "why no volume", but it's strictly an amp. I ended up adding a balanced pot between the OPPO and the Cube input otherwise it would scream at me a lot. Simple and effective.

Oh. And you got to score a C9. Those are the sh!t when it comes to holography. Or so they say? Whoever they are. Apparently more flexible than most of the other boxes.
 
mahler9th said:
An old thread but...

I have a Carver cube-- serial number 300. And the preliminary data sheet. I rememeber reading about the thing and just had to scrounge up my dollars to have that kind of power.

It has been good to me.
Click to expand...

You made me look at my cube. I've got 184.
 
The first real system I found at a garage sale was a carver m-400t and a c-1 . I still have it 20 years later and it works great and sounds amazing. It was what started me into collecting audio gear. I have always been amazed at the power that little cube puts out.
 
I remember when my college roommate walked in the door one day with a Carver Cube. That thing was awesome and he paired it up with some EPIs. Talk about volume. The little amp that could. I have always respected the Carver stuff. Bob came out with some quality stuff for sure.
 
Ive got a M-400a bought new in 81, M-400 I got a few years ago, a C-1 I bought in 82, a C-4000T that Im using now and a M-4.0T thats also in use now. I really liked the 400a and will have it til one of us goes!!
 
I wasn't particularly into Carver gear until late this summer when I found two amps at an estate sale. Both clean as a whistle, both working great, an M-500 and an M-500t. Got 'em both for 75 bucks.

They're pretty neat, interesting technology, don't weigh much...sound fine, look really cool.

Anybody know if there's much difference between the 500 and the "t"? I was thinking about using them in monoblock mode, but wasn't sure if that's a good idea or not.
 
alandro said:
I wasn't particularly into Carver gear until late this summer when I found two amps at an estate sale. Both clean as a whistle, both working great, an M-500 and an M-500t. Got 'em both for 75 bucks.

They're pretty neat, interesting technology, don't weigh much...sound fine, look really cool.

Anybody know if there's much difference between the 500 and the "t"? I was thinking about using them in monoblock mode, but wasn't sure if that's a good idea or not.
Click to expand...

The "T" model is suppose to have more of a "tube" sound copied from the Silver 7T tube transfer function. Those are both great amps and at $75 a steal too!!! Some people always come out of the **** smellin like roses. Might be better to bi-amp instead of running the 5000 against the 500T in a mono configuration. JMO though
 
I bought an Onkyo receiver this spring, mostly for the HDMI switching and the Audyssey, etc. But I always wondered what a really powerful amplifier would do in my system...not for volume, but could it improve the sound in some way. Found an M1.5t locally, hooked it up to power the front L/R speakers, re-ran Audyssey, and yes! I hear (or think I hear) sweeter highs, a much greater sense of hearing instruments in a three-dimensional space....and more horsepower than I will ever, ever need. Plus it runs cool as a cucumber. As a precautionary measure I replaced all the power supply filter caps (like every other M1.5t I've seen listed, all those caps were the originals, going on 30 or more years!) but have made no other changes. Now re-hearing all my CDs and listening to some new FLAC downloads. Go Bob Carver!
Jack
 
Here's a couple of nudes of the A500x Power amp.


_DSC7394.JPG


_DSC7391.JPG



there are at least 2 versions of the A500X the other one appears to be using the A753X Chasis layout - it was probably just easier to manufacture them all the same and just stuff the chasis with another amp and facade to make an A753x is my guess. I have one of each, haven't popped the hood on the other one.
 
The first real vintage stereo I bought at a garage sale was a c-1 pre and a m-400t amp.Still one of my favorites . It got me started in this hobby.
 
2 year revival of an almost 10(!)year old thread.....
I just picked up a pm600 today local....

Cleaned the pots in it and boy does it sound nice....

Now to find a c11 and tx11 in my price range
 
Wow, a 10 yr. old thread?! I can say the M-4.0t is driving the bottom end of my SDA SRS's(4 ohm) with authority. My tech says the build quality was somewhat sloppy, and some of the parts chosen where "noisy", but he change all that. I've also used it solo powering my KLH 5's, and it did well there, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom