"First" Carver amplifier....
- Thread starter dyeraudio
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
avguytx
Lunatic Member
I might have one somewhere. It seems like Bob emailed me a picture of it sometime last year.
The company, "Carver", is no longer around but Bob is involved with Sunfire now and puts his latest "hand" into the line with a lot of the ideas that came along both during and after the Carver era. Great stuff...I have 2 different 2-channel systems at home with some older pieces and couldn't be more happy. Opinions will differ, of course.
beans
Got arth-a-ritis
Thanks, guys. I like Carver gear...I just don't know how wise it would be to seek out used gear made by a defunct manufacturer.
Clmrt
Just thrilled.
beans
Got arth-a-ritis
I don't know about that, but I will say that there's very few of them still in bidnez that will back their gear longer than a couple of years after discontinuation. This is one reason I went with '80s Mac gear.
jhal
Titanium Bliss
The problem with Carver gear is their unique design. Whereas most vintage equipment is of a straightforward circuit topography that most experienced techs can troubleshoot and repair with a service manual, Carver is another story. Their power supply and amp layout requires special knowledge to be repaired properly. That said, if you can find someone who is experienced with them you should be ok as long as you don't need a proprietary part such as a transformer, but that goes for all vintage equipment.
Well let's not forget that there is still a Carver repair center up and running strong. The guy's name is Rolland and he's in Gresham, OR He an extremely nice guy and does a wonderful job repairing Carver components with oem parts. I didn't hear anything at AKfest '08 that even came close to my Carver gear.....BUT...that's MY personal opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone.....
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Hi,
It may be cheaper to get a Carver repaired, but in the long run you'll spend much more to repair a Carver over it's life. McIntosh seldom needs service. Most any Bob Carver design tends to be less than reliable over time driving any complex speaker load. I do admire the clever engineering of Mr. Carver. However, I demand reliable, excellent sound at work and at home driving demanding speakers day in and out. I have no axe to grind or any desires to start a flame war. Just stating facts living with both units as an engineer and repairman of sick electronics.
It may be cheaper to get a Carver repaired, but in the long run you'll spend much more to repair a Carver over it's life. McIntosh seldom needs service. Most any Bob Carver design tends to be less than reliable over time driving any complex speaker load. I do admire the clever engineering of Mr. Carver. However, I demand reliable, excellent sound at work and at home driving demanding speakers day in and out. I have no axe to grind or any desires to start a flame war. Just stating facts living with both units as an engineer and repairman of sick electronics.
sheltie dave
Addicted Member
Kent, every piece of McIntosh and Carver gear I have purchased has required repair work. Granted, if I purchased Mac gear from AudioClassics in A1 condition, what you stated would be true, but the cheaply priced gear ALL needs work, across the board.
After good repairs are accomplished, it is a race for electrical components to fail, and the higher priced McIntosh components don't have any leg up in magical smoke. The advantage they do have is an active, reliable and long term source of parts in their parent company. Carver is not to that level for anther thirty years.:scratch2:
After good repairs are accomplished, it is a race for electrical components to fail, and the higher priced McIntosh components don't have any leg up in magical smoke. The advantage they do have is an active, reliable and long term source of parts in their parent company. Carver is not to that level for anther thirty years.:scratch2:
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Hi,
Usually, I have found when a McIntosh piece has a thorough overhaul, I can get 30 years before another overhaul. This is in broadcast service (24/7/365 use). I see Carver equipment which tends to need yearly service if driving demanding loads. That's the price you get for light weight construction and underfed power supplies. I had a Physicist friend who bought a new Phase Linear 400 in 1973. He drove Magnaplanars with it. I repaired that amp every 3 months due to poor design. After 2 years of it, he asked me what power amp to replace it with. I advised a McIntosh MC 2205. He bought one new and it only needed service last year (recapping mainly and 2 panel light bulbs). His wife is a violinist and liked it better than the Phase Linear. I don't count any service needed on a newly acquired vintage piece before it enters service as a rule. Let us not discount conservative engineering here. I like Carver gear mainly.
Usually, I have found when a McIntosh piece has a thorough overhaul, I can get 30 years before another overhaul. This is in broadcast service (24/7/365 use). I see Carver equipment which tends to need yearly service if driving demanding loads. That's the price you get for light weight construction and underfed power supplies. I had a Physicist friend who bought a new Phase Linear 400 in 1973. He drove Magnaplanars with it. I repaired that amp every 3 months due to poor design. After 2 years of it, he asked me what power amp to replace it with. I advised a McIntosh MC 2205. He bought one new and it only needed service last year (recapping mainly and 2 panel light bulbs). His wife is a violinist and liked it better than the Phase Linear. I don't count any service needed on a newly acquired vintage piece before it enters service as a rule. Let us not discount conservative engineering here. I like Carver gear mainly.
I don't have a pic of it but it was supposedly a neat deal.
Carver in the later 79-80's even to '92 was gangbuster stuff.
Had the C-9 hologram generator,his super tuner,various incarnations of the M400.
I had the one with power meters and black cabinet in '90 to.
TFM whatever. It was around 250w a side clean.
I had one old M400T left over from a pair I used to run repaired.
Only one guy would try here
Cost me $125.00 to fix in about 2004.
Replaced the rectifier.
Worked great after that.
I then sold it.
Carver in the later 79-80's even to '92 was gangbuster stuff.
Had the C-9 hologram generator,his super tuner,various incarnations of the M400.
I had the one with power meters and black cabinet in '90 to.
TFM whatever. It was around 250w a side clean.
I had one old M400T left over from a pair I used to run repaired.
Only one guy would try here
Cost me $125.00 to fix in about 2004.
Replaced the rectifier.
Worked great after that.
I then sold it.
MaxSeven
Word Skeptic
What I find most amusing is that the most frequent phrase I hear coming out of various audio enthusiast's mouths (when the Carver brand comes up) is...
'I'm not a fan of Bob Carver, but...'
I hear or read that so often, that it is bizarre. It's like some strange cliche that has taken root over the years.
Am I just imagining this or has anyone else noticed this as well?
'I'm not a fan of Bob Carver, but...'
I hear or read that so often, that it is bizarre. It's like some strange cliche that has taken root over the years.
Am I just imagining this or has anyone else noticed this as well?
I use Carver stuff in my separates rig, (A 760x/TFM 25/TFM 15 x 2), And have had no issues other than those friggin meter bulbs. As far as power and durability, No issues, Other than my electric bill jumped about $60 a month driving them.
Similar threads
