Oh no, another Carver MXR-130 thread

NgtFlyer

NgtFlyer

Member
So, I have a Carver MXR-130. And yet again, it has issues. Lifetime I think it's been through repair twice.
This time the sound cuts out randomly on both channels (has had relays replaced some years ago) and it has this distinctive burning smell when it's been on for any length of time. I do not believe the suspect power resistors have been replaced. This one was bought new in 1985 by my father and I inherited it years ago. Has been sitting for a bunch of years since it acted up again.

Is it even worth fixing? I have a much better sounding receiver, a JVC RX-701V for music listening and all my other rooms are covered.

What do I do with this thing?
Thanks.
 
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Sentimental value could be through the roof...or not. If it is, try touching up the solder joints, they are cruddy in Carver Receivers. Replacement value on ebay is fairly low so don't pay more in repairs than it is worth.
 
If it's the power resistors, pretty easy to tell. Every one I've worked on had bad solder joints. I've never had the desire to own one. As good looking as they are, for the vintage, they were too unreliable. But as stated, sentimental value is something different altogether.
 
Nice looking receiver and sounds well above average. Add the sentimental value and I personally would want to keep it.
 
Anyone reading this thread deciding rather or not to buy any of the Carver receivers or amps if you have good speakers and are a critical listener you WILL be delighted by what you hear, it brings out so much fine detail in the music of any kind where other amplifiers or receivers at this price point can't, for me it was like discovering my music all over again all the hidden nuances I did not know were there,I was using a Kenwood Super Eleven monster receiver with new OHM Walsh 2 speakers from Tech HI-FI they sounded great in the store but in my house not so much , I blamed poor room acoustics until I got a used Carver MXR-130 ,the speakers came alive and sounded like they did in the show room. I could not wait to listen to my entire music collection to hear what I was missing.That was 30 years ago and I am still amazed as to what detail I hear in today's music way better than the BOSE system in my new car. The only thing is make sure the power resistors and relays have been replaced unless you are handy with a soldering iron,there are enough threads with what you will need to replace.
 
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I am a fan of Bob carver and have many pieces phase linear and Carver both. I also have other manufacturers offerings also. I hope you hung onto that eleven. If your ohms were brand new and close to new when you swapped amps is it possible your ohms were in the process of breaking in? I also have ohms the 2xO version. I like the witchcraft that Bob did with his gear but I also have friends whom dont care much for it. I have several systems at any given time up and running but you have peaked my curiosity and I will check your theory out.. Cheers!
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.."
 
Nemo bit said:
I am a fan of Bob carver and have many pieces phase linear and Carver both. I also have other manufacturers offerings also. I hope you hung onto that eleven. If your ohms were brand new and close to new when you swapped amps is it possible your ohms were in the process of breaking in? I also have ohms the 2xO version. I like the witchcraft that Bob did with his gear but I also have friends whom dont care much for it. I have several systems at any given time up and running but you have peaked my curiosity and I will check your theory out.. Cheers!
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.."
Click to expand...
Like your quote , I got the OHM's in 86 the Carver in 92 they were well broken in and I still have the kenwood,it still works but needs work,something to keep me busy when I retire
 
When I saw this listing on "the bay" it made me wonder about the reliability of these receivers...

CARVER RECEIVER MXR130 / PARTS OR REPAIR / 11 UNITS ONLY $16 EACH / PICKUP ONLY
eBay item number: 292629309709
 
mr_light said:
When I saw this listing on "the bay" it made me wonder about the reliability of these receivers...

CARVER RECEIVER MXR130 / PARTS OR REPAIR / 11 UNITS ONLY $16 EACH / PICKUP ONLY
eBay item number: 292629309709[/QUOTReliability issues for many amplifiers and receivers this age
Click to expand...
mr_light said:
When I saw this listing on "the bay" it made me wonder about the reliability of these receivers...

CARVER RECEIVER MXR130 / PARTS OR REPAIR / 11 UNITS ONLY $16 EACH / PICKUP ONLY
eBay item number: 292629309709
Click to expand...
 
Many receivers and amplifiers of this age and power have output relays that go bad and cold solder joints due to thermal expansion and contraction of anything that gets hot . Since so many of these Carver units were sold you will see a lot of failures just due to that there are so many of these units out there in circulation .The failures are well known to people familiar with this receiver and are easily fixed.His use of switching power supplies was way ahead of its time and contributes to enormis headroom light weight and comparably low power consumption. I would say it's reliability is only average which is why you can get a great sounding unit for so little money . Are there more reliable makes out there sure but they do not have well above average sound ( for the money ) like the Carver which is why they sold so many. History lesson when first introduced Bob would put this receiver up against separates costing many times his price , all the critics would laugh until they heard it then there was stunned amazement that it did indeed perform way above it's price point.
 
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mr_light said:
When I saw this listing on "the bay" it made me wonder about the reliability of these receivers...

CARVER RECEIVER MXR130 / PARTS OR REPAIR / 11 UNITS ONLY $16 EACH / PICKUP ONLY
eBay item number: 292629309709
Click to expand...

I've got a search saved at my local GW eBay outlet for Carver Receivers. When I get a ping I sit on it and if I can get it below ~$40 I buy it and do local pickup.

Of the three that I've had I do a couple hours of cleaning (one needed output relays) and everything was good. Post for $100, take $80 and everybody is happy.
 
I think I paid $10 for my 130 several years ago. I still haven't gotten around to doing the resistors etc.

Correction: I paid $20. I got another receiver at the same time for $10. :)
 
I have a MXR-2000 (with remote) that was given to me when I purchased a pair of Polk speakers. I was warned that it didn't work. Very nice condition, and I would really like to get it up and running eventually. It would make a cool centerpiece for an 80's setup. I did the resistor replacement, but no go. So, need to do some trouble shooting...
 
Hit the switches with Deoxit, volume pot and speaker selector switch seem to give the most trouble.
 
Just went through one of these MXR-130s. Yea, not that impressed. main issue was dirty relays. Why buy new relays when they can be easily cleaned up with 2500 paper & contact cleaner? A waste of money, the top comes off, not rocket surgery. All plastic knobs that the glue deteriorates on & the outside sleeve has to be glued back on. Too many op amps & a display that is very hard to work on if you are just recapping it, I didn't even bother, too much time & trouble. You won't find correct filter caps for the large cans, have to retrofit something like I did. (BC 12000Uf 63V 3 leg). Power resistors are undersized, I used some 3 watt Metal Films, still get plenty hot, need 5 watt Metal oxides. Obsolete (?) outputs mounted on the underside of heat sink like a Harmon Cardon, yuk. first one I have ever seen or worked on, probably the last.
 
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