Carver Amplifiers

ibewbrother
ibewbrother Posts: 186
edited April 2010 in Electronics
I'm aware that Carver is no longer in business...But did they make good stuff?
Is it impossible to get replacement parts? I am looking at a 3-channel THX model and wonder what a good price would be.

Thanks all.....

...Brother
"Making life enjoyable through expensive electronics." BillD

Pioneer Elite SC-57
M70 series 2 mains
CS2 center
M40 surround
M30 front height
SVS PB 12 NSD

Carver TFM-45 (mains)
Carver A753x (center, surround)

320GB PS3, 42" Panasonic G10,

M60's as a Zone 2 off of the Pioneer in the living room

R.I.P. Onkyo TX-NR807
Post edited by ibewbrother on
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Comments

  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited April 2010
    Carver amps are good IMO. I have several. Parts are hard to come by but Bob Carver and Rita Helm started up a repair shop. http://www.ritasvintageaudio.net/

    The 3 channel you are talking about seems to fetch a good amount of money. This amp was produced after Bob left the company but it still is a very good amp. The last few on eBay went for over $700.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited April 2010
    +1 for carver amps... i love my TFM-42
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2010
    I own a Carver TFM-25 and a TFM-45 amplifier as well as a Carver HR-772 Receiver a C-1 pre amp, a CT-Seven pre and a Carver C-19 Sonic Holography Generator unit, so yes I think Carver made great gear.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • camp21178
    camp21178 Posts: 273
    edited April 2010
    I have a Carver TX-2 Tuner that I use to pick up KQRS 92.5 from the Twin Cities which broadcasts from over 85 miles away. I use a Radio Shack directional FM antenna and an uninterrupted quadshield RG-6 cable and it works great.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,032
    edited April 2010
    http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited April 2010
    i have the heart of a small boy...i keep it in a jar on my desk. Robert bloch

    Psycho!!!!! ;)

    I have two Carver amps and have been very pleased with both. One is a THX 2CH model.
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    I stated into separate power amps with carvers and I love them. Also it you haven't noticed most people that have one carver piece of gear they have multiple. I have a M1.0t, 2 M1.5t, a C-4000, and a SD/A-490t. But my favorite piece of gear with carver's name on it is my sunfire cinema grand 400x7 thats is a great multy channel amp.
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,556
    edited April 2010
    Sorry to crap on your thread, but if you like the garbage Carver built, then these pieces of junk may be right up your alley.;):p Just look at the binding posts on these boat anchors....

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140400767925
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited April 2010
    If only money was no object I would by these and not the cayin mono blocks I'm planning on buying.
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • carvcom
    carvcom Posts: 240
    edited April 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Sorry to crap on your thread, but if you like the garbage Carver built, then these pieces of junk may be right up your alley.;):p Just look at the binding posts on these boat anchors....

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140400767925

    Now those are some sweet amps!!!
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  • digitalvideo
    digitalvideo Posts: 983
    edited April 2010
    I got the Carver Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Series 400 amp 7.1. Very good amp for movies but it's also matched up with a Pioneer Elite SC-05 reciever and DeftTech Mythos ST 5.1 so I don't know if the great sound I get is from the amp or the whole package, so I think it matters on what your other equipment is going to be hooked up to it. My system sounds amazing, it just melts you into the couch and you keep wanting to come back for more, it's not bright or taxing on your senses, just silky smoother, peaches and cream baby. :D
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2010
    Ah the infamous Carver silver tube.....I bet one tube blows a week! Better by them in stock by the dozen if you plan to keep that amp running at a mere 16 grand--chump change. My Impala didn't even cost that much--but I bought 'used'!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited April 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    Ah the infamous Carver silver tube.....I bet one tube blows a week! Better by them in stock by the dozen if you plan to keep that amp running at a mere 16 grand--chump change. My Impala didn't even cost that much--but I bought 'used'!

    cnh

    Actually, I believe they're pretty bulletproof. Some type of unique auto-bias adjustment? Can a tubehead confirm this?
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • virtualdean
    virtualdean Posts: 286
    edited April 2010
    Fongolio wrote: »
    I own a Carver TFM-25 and a TFM-45 amplifier as well as a Carver HR-772 Receiver a C-1 pre amp, a CT-Seven pre and a Carver C-19 Sonic Holography Generator unit, so yes I think Carver made great gear.

    Aha! So you're the guy sucking up all the Carver gear and driving up the price for the rest of us! :D:D
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited April 2010
    BlueMDPicker wrote: »
    One is a THX 2CH model.

    oooooh, that is awesome.

    RT1
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited April 2010
    virtualdean wrote: »
    Aha! So you're the guy sucking up all the Carver gear and driving up the price for the rest of us! :D:D

    You need to add me in on grabbing a lot of cool Carver equipment. I have a good start!:eek:
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited April 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    oooooh, that is awesome.

    RT1

    Well, thank you Ted--it is awsome. :p

    It's the A-500x and I picked it up from Brother Dave here on the forum to do transmission line woofer duties on my hybrid ESL's. It is the perfect mate for the Lightstar Reference amp that powers the panels.
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  • virtualdean
    virtualdean Posts: 286
    edited April 2010
    thuffman03 wrote: »
    You need to add me in on grabbing a lot of cool Carver equipment. I have a good start!:eek:

    I looked at your signature...
    You are even WORSE! What do call a Carver Hawg?
    A good judge of character.
    If you...uhmmm...ever have to sell due to a crisis and need to off that old stuff...like..uh,,,.cheap...let me know..
    (heavy sigh) (sob!wail!) I wont ever have a Carver cache like that! :(

    Too many mouths to feed and support..Including the ex's lasting revenge..keeping me broke. But wait...I dont HAVE to eat brand name groceries, generics are (gulp) okay...and they say Mcdonalds is better than ever.....
    Fresh meat is NOT good for you...heck, my shoes got miles of wear left..With resoling...
    I CAN save the money! I'm back in the game!..So if you see a raggedly dressed, unhealthy looking (from too many Mcdy visits) man holding a mapleshade catalog..its probably me...give him a good price.:D
    :p
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited April 2010
    BlueMDPicker wrote: »
    Well, thank you Ted--it is awsome. :p

    your awesome too:eek:, THX thing gets me, I am sure your panels have that cert as well...............btw what panels??? something new???

    RT1
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