Carver Amazing Silver Rebuild

[Theother1]

Picked up a set of Carver Amazing Silvers last year for ~$150 ( I think). Lost job due to Covid-19 this year, so I thought it would be a good chance to rebuild them (along with a myriad of other speakers). The goal is to get all the exceptional speakers in working order and have a "Culling of the vintage speakers" party/sound trial.

Condition when purchased: Both with wires hanging out the bottom. One ribbon with a tear. Woofers all re-foamed, badly, but intact. "Cabinet" in good shape. Grills OK, just need cleaned.

Task at hand is to wire the up the one with a "good" looking ribbon to determine if I need to buy one or two ribbons to get them back up and running. To do so, need to re-wire.

Anybody have a wiring diagram? Single post as they have not been converted over to a bi-amp configuration YET.

I found the thread with a simple diagram and it was semi-helpful, but did not include nearly enough information.

Any help would be really appreciated.


Peace!

-Paul

P.S. I will post pictures soon.

 

[F1nut]

I posted the schematic and parts list here, https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...eaker-ribbon-replacement-or-mod.845457/page-3

Hopefully that's enough for you because that's all you'll ever find.

Take some friendly advice, save your time and money. They aren't worth it.

 

[india42]

I have a set of Platinum IV version of these and I must have a tin ear because I think they sound fantastic.

Also Paul

 

[F1nut]

I have a set of Platinum IV version of these and I must have a tin ear because I think they sound fantastic.

Also Paul

I had the same and even after I modified them they left me wanting, so I sold them.

Not Paul

 

[G.D.T.R.F.B.]

I posted the schematic and parts list here, https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...eaker-ribbon-replacement-or-mod.845457/page-3

Hopefully that's enough for you because that's all you'll ever find.

Take some friendly advice, save your time and money. They aren't worth it.

What speakers do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Theother1]

I posted the schematic and parts list here, https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...eaker-ribbon-replacement-or-mod.845457/page-3

Hopefully that's enough for you because that's all you'll ever find.

Take some friendly advice, save your time and money. They aren't worth it.

Thank you F1nut. The parts listing and changes will be helpful.

Surprised you found them horrible. We will see how my ear fairs with them.

Thanks again.

-Paul

 

[F1nut]

What speakers do you recommend?

Thanks!

Ones that don't use the cheapest woofers on earth, ribbons that buzz when the humidity level rises, 24 gauge chassis wire, cheap binding post plates that crack or binding posts that a standard banana plug cannot be fully inserted. I won't get into the crossover components.

Ones that actually have bass impact, dynamics and are capable of obtaining meaningful SPL.

 

[wmgwizard]

I have owned my Silvers for several years and happen to think they sound great.

I have owned dozens of speakers over the years and stopped searching when I found the Amazings. I tell people that they are correctly named.

Unfortunately the tweeters are very fragile and replacements are unavailable. If you do find a good used one they are expensive and do not ship well. The magnets are held to the front and back plates with very old and tired glue that will fail if the speaker is handled roughly allowing the magnet to break free and tear the mylar.

Ask me how I know........because I'm searching for a tweeter myself right now. This will be the second time I have replaced one.

Good luck if you decide to proceed; if you choose not to, I would be interested in purchasing your tweeters.

 

[G.D.T.R.F.B.]

Ive got a pair of the Silver MK4 that I purchased from the original owner. He replaced the woofers with replacements from simply sound. He also had Maggie 1.7i, 3.3r, Goldenear Reference, and 1. Im waiting for my house to finish up to hook them up. I did listen to a few Schoeps CMXY-4V>Lunatec V2 masters on them though, so at least I have a reference of what Im supposed to be hearing. Peace out, Im good.

 

[G.D.T.R.F.B.]

As far as SPL, they will be getting what Bob recommends, 750W.

What specific makes/models of speakers do you recommend over Amazings and how much are they?

 

[Theother1]

I have owned my Silvers for several years and happen to think they sound great.

I have owned dozens of speakers over the years and stopped searching when I found the Amazings. I tell people that they are correctly named.

Unfortunately the tweeters are very fragile and replacements are unavailable. If you do find a good used one they are expensive and do not ship well. The magnets are held to the front and back plates with very old and tired glue that will fail if the speaker is handled roughly allowing the magnet to break free and tear the mylar.

Ask me how I know........because I'm searching for a tweeter myself right now. This will be the second time I have replaced one.

Good luck if you decide to proceed; if you choose not to, I would be interested in purchasing your tweeters.

I am having both of my ribbons rebuilt as I determined this morning the other ribbon that "looked" intact is not. Bummer.

 

[Theother1]

Crossovers intact and appear to be functioning.

Both ribbons are bad. Off they go for repair.

 

[wmgwizard]

Please let us know how that works out.

At $400 - $500 each to repair I find it hard to make a case for the "value" of spending that much on a pair of speakers that can be bought in good working order for the same or less.

 

[Theother1]

Oh I get that and I was REALLY hoping the second ribbon was good. So If I look at the total, I will be in for just under $1,000 for these speakers with long lasting ribbons. I know I can sell a good looking set for more, and I will be refinishing the wood (not bad now, but crisp and perfect when finished). I am on the hunt for my forever speakers and will side by side these with QLS-1's, Tympani T-111's, RS-2.5's and a set of Revel F-30's. Which ever sounds best to me in my system wins and the others get sold. It is a risk particularly right now, but I'm not doing anything else but gardening and job hunting so what the hell.

I will certainly let you know. I have had several dealings with Dr. Marks and he is a straight shooter with me.

 

[wmgwizard]

speakers with long lasting ribbons. I know

"Long lasting" is not necessarily true. While they might not need re foaming every 15 - 20 years they do not age well. They are fragile due to their construction and just as easily damaged as other tweeters.

That being said that are still my favorite speaker of all that I have owned including Dhalquist DQ - 10's, Infinity RS IIIA's, JBL L100's, Altec Lansing "Voice of the Studio's" and several different Magnepan's.

The closest I ever came were Magnepan MG-IIIa's with their ribbon tweeter but I felt they lacked the bass impact of a traditional cone type driver.

The Carver Amazings offered the best of both worlds: the detail and clarity of the ribbon tweeter with the "kick" of a real woofer.

Good luck with your project, please keep us posted.

 

[G.D.T.R.F.B.]

I heard the Silvers next to Maggie 1.7i and 3.3r. They all sounded pretty close to e.o. imho, except for bass response. The 3.3 r also had a "bigger 3-d wall of sound sound" than the 1.7i (go figure). He had some crazy SVS sub that we tried with and without for all 3. The Maggies needed it, the Silvers did not. Heard Goldenears Reference and 1 in another room. Preferred Silver/Maggies to those. I will likely end up with the 3.3r as well.

 

[G.D.T.R.F.B.]

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/892668/Carver-Amazing-Loudspeaker.html

 

[Theother1]

"Long lasting" is not necessarily true. While they might not need re foaming every 15 - 20 years they do not age well. They are fragile due to their construction and just as easily damaged as other tweeters.

That being said that are still my favorite speaker of all that I have owned including Dhalquist DQ - 10's, Infinity RS IIIA's, JBL L100's, Altec Lansing "Voice of the Studio's" and several different Magnepan's.

The closest I ever came were Magnepan MG-IIIa's with their ribbon tweeter but I felt they lacked the bass impact of a traditional cone type driver.

The Carver Amazings offered the best of both worlds: the detail and clarity of the ribbon tweeter with the "kick" of a real woofer.

Good luck with your project, please keep us posted.

Perhaps a better way would be to describe it as longer lasting due to them being fresh rather than a set that has who knows how many hours.

I will keep everyone posted as this process goes. Very exciting to me to get some of what I consider legendary vintage speakers up and running.

-Peace!

 

[Theother1]

Thought I posted progress already but do not see it.

Sent one off for repair. He walked me through repairing the second. The ribbons were intact and required a little work at the ends. Like a fool, I pulled it apart. Do not do this as it is a huge PITA to get it back together again. Took me three tries and I got lucky. So that is one working ribbon and another repaired. Attached are the images of the repaired ribbon on it's way to me now.

I am currently refinishing the wood. Going high gloss. Thought these would look nice that way. I never go high gloss, but seemed right this time. Attached is an image of it at the start of sanding. As soon as I am satisfied with the one side, I will post and begin on the second side. I went with a coat of Cherry folowed by a coat of Red Oak. Minwax stains. minwax Helmsman poly.

 

[D-Owen]

Sorry to dredge up an old post, but I suspect my Amazing Silvers need some “ribbon” TLC and I haven’t seen much in the way of people actually pulling apart the ribbons aside from this forum thread. Both of mine have the infamous “buzz” but only at very specific frequencies and higher volumes. They both look very much perfect with no detectable delamination. These were babied their whole lives and are like a time capsule. First refoam completed only days ago.

What did you accomplish by taking apart the ribbon you serviced? I’m suspecting that I have a tension issue since everything else looks so good and the fact that they only buzz at specific frequencies and higher volumes. Seems higher piano notes really set them off. Any insight would be great before I go ripping things apart that I shouldn’t! Picture of my freshly foamed pair - very happy how the surrounds turned out for my first ever refoam attempt.