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What do you guys think of Carver receivers?

Corbin Gross

Corbin Gross

Lost in Translation
I had the 90 wpc "The Receiver", the 900 I think. I didn't care much for the sound. I tried it with 3 or 4 sets of speakers, and even as a pre-amp running through an Onkyo, and it always sounded harsh to me.

I don't know the audio critiquing words, but I disliked it in the same way I dislike Infinity or Klipsch speakers. It seemed overly bright but not in a good, sparkly way.

Anyway, would you guys say that's the typical sound for the Carver Receivers? I'm sure if you like that sound you'd describe it differently, but I'm really in to the sound from my Onkyo 4500 and my various Kloss speaker brands.

2nd anyway, there's a MXR-130 not too far from me for a pretty reasonable price. I've been wanting to upgrade my 4500 to something with more power. Has anybody heard the MXR-130? What do you think?
 
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I have two of the 130s sitting here taking up space and they both have the same 2 issues. The digital tuners either work when they want to or not at all. They both run very hot as well. As far as sound, I can't say that they sound any better or worse than anything else of their power and price point. I know...not very helpful.
 
I've had a few Phase linear power amps, I've never heard one of Carvers receivers. However the power amps I had sounded a bit harsh on the high end to me. But over all I liked them.
 
I have a Carver 6250 receiver and it sounds just fine - something like 125w/ch into 8ohms & a remote, used it with JBLs, various DCM TimeFrame speakers, and the Vanderstein 2CEs - it was all in all, a pretty pleasant receiver - with nice capabilities. I've owned the C-1 Preamp and currently have a Carver tuner. Both work just fine ... the preamp seemed quite clean and had nice TT capabilities, the tuner is fairly sensitive with good selectivity and rejection. I have not had any carver power amps, so far.

Corbin Gross said:
I had the 90 wpc "The Receiver", the 900 I think. I didn't care much for the sound. I tried it with 3 or 4 sets of speakers, and even as a pre-amp running through an Onkyo, and it always sounded harsh to me.

I don't know the audio critiquing words, but I disliked it in the same way I dislike Infinity or Klipsch speakers. It seemed overly bright but not in a good, sparkly way.

Anyway, would you guys say that's the typical sound for the Carver Receivers? I'm sure if you like that sound you'd describe it differently, but I'm really in to the sound from my Onkyo 4500 and my various Kloss speaker brands.

2nd anyway, there's a MXR-130 not too far from me for a pretty reasonable price. I've been wanting to upgrade my 4500 to something with more power. Has anybody heard the MXR-130? What do you think?
Click to expand...
 
Carver was over marketed in my opinion.I have one and needless to say, I do not listen to it ever.I had to buy one years ago because I had always wanted one when I was younger.I wish I never bought the thing now.:no:It is the 150 watt per channel 'The Receiver.'They might have other gear that is great, but the receiver did not impress me.
 
A couple years ago I wanted to replace a black plastic receiver (decent piece, a Denon DRA-635R) with something more vintage/classic.
I was seriously considering one of the various Carver receivers until I saw more than a couple mentions of poor construction, cold solder joints, etc.
While there are probably many Carvers still doing fine with no problems, that searching led to me going in another direction.
But that's just me, based on what I read on the internet.
If it's on the 'net it must be true...
 
They do look kinda cool! Just did not do it for me sound quality wise.Power wise did NOT sound like 150 per channel.Sounded like a flat p/a amp to me. No warmth.It does seem like in the 1980's they were the 'in thing'.
 
At one time I had an MXR-130 receiver and a power amp (don't recall the model number). Neither worked worth a damn. I don't bother buying Carver pieces anymore.
 
Thanks, guys. I'll definitely pass on this one. It seems some people are just cuckoo about Carver stuff, but I can't think of one time I've gotten a positive review from a specific person.
 
Corbin Gross said:
Thanks, guys. I'll definitely pass on this one. It seems some people are just cuckoo about Carver stuff, but I can't think of one time I've gotten a positive review from a specific person.
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Who knows.....You might like them:D I only tried one and it did not do it for me so I ended the Carver hunt.If the price is right buy it, listen to it, do not like it? Flip it.
 
Yeah, the 900 I had before needed a whack to get it to turn on. I'd power it on, and hear the protection relay click, but no sound or controls without a good smack on the left side.

I wanted to sell it, so I started poking around. It turned out to be a transistor on a heatsink that had come just loose enough.

I really wanted to like the sound. I even went to the trouble of hooking up almost every set of speakers I have. But it just never did it for me.
 
I like my MX-130 too. It was the first vintage piece I bought after I picked up a pair of Allison AL-120's. Kept those until the bug bit hard. I do keep it hooked up to a pair of 4 ohm KLH model 20's, but it is not my main system now. I do like the 3 tone controls to keep those bright edges at bay.
 

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I had 772 and now have The Receiver 2000. I don't remember 772 sound anymore, but 2000 sounds like modern consumer receivers. I feel it a little thin (not analytic) and cold. If you pair it with warm speakers or headphones, I think it's decent receiver. I don't think it's garbage, and I don't think it's excellent either, just decent.
 
Search for "the Carver challenge", read it and then rethink your opinions. He takes a $700 receiver and matches it to a Levinson to the point the reviewers cannot discern a difference. He does this within 48 hours. The amp he builds in the challenge can be found, as he built a retail version.


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I am a Carver fan, but I steer clear of the receivers and the cube M-400's... they are no where near as good in build quality or sound as the rest of the separates line up, and as previously mentioned, the tuner display IC chip is a known common failure...
 
I liked the look of the Receiver for years so I bought one. I have sold audio all my life and worked on it also. I like the Carver stuff and as far as FM the unit pulls in stations that most other units wont even touch with good signal strength. The MXR 130 is 130 watts per channel and as for FM sections not working you just change a small trimmer cap on the front panel bd. takes about 15 mins. When units get to this age all brands have items that need replacing. Like the commercial says have an adventure you wont be sorry!
 
Wow, that is pretty definitive. Only folks that give the Carver a chance just say they like it or the Carver gear. All those that did not like it specified why it was bad.
 
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