Carver TFM-45

audiocr381ve
audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
edited June 2011 in For Sale (FS) Classifieds
Recently serviced by Classic Audio Repair in San Diego and brought back to perfect working order. Both meters are perfect, sounds great, 7/10 cosmetically. The repair shop bench tested it putting out 395 watts per channel.

It didn't work in my system and I need to fund another amp purchase (aka I have a balance that needs to be paid off). Otherwise I would have kept this beast until I was able to find a preamp that did it justice.

I don't have a sales rating yet but I have sold some tweeters to CincyCat13.

Looking for $450 plus shipping from 92117 OBO.

tfm-45.jpg

meters.jpg
Post edited by audiocr381ve on
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited June 2011
    Sorry it didnt work out for you mang :frown:. I know my Carver is not going anywhere anytime soon :smile:.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • CNWDI
    CNWDI Posts: 91
    edited June 2011
    That's quite a nice amp...and my hand involuntarily reached for my wallet...but I don't grok "didn't work in my system". I remember the mention of greater-than-spec'd-output in another thread, but I don't know why that wouldn't work for you. Care to be more specific?
    Current polk speakers:
    Family room 5.1: TC265i R/L, VM10 Center, RC65i surrounds (couldn't match the TCs)
    Basement non-dedicated 7.1 HT: SDA-CRS+ R/L, 255c-LS Center, LSiFX surrounds, RC80i in-ceiling rear surround, plus Wharfedale 12" sub (some day I'll get around to building 15" F-20 sub).
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Sorry it didnt work out for you mang :frown:. I know my Carver is not going anywhere anytime soon :smile:.

    Its all good brotha. I'm bummed I'm not gonna have more time with it, but I kind of jumped the gun on another amp that I've had my eye on for years. Who knows, this one might not sell and I'll have an excuse to build a second system :D
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2011
    I don't know about that, there are a LOT of Carver boys and girls on this site? And that's a nice piece with a lot of power. I'm going to sit this one out for now and see how this goes. Been spending too much of late.

    GLWTS!

    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited June 2011
    CNWDI wrote: »
    That's quite a nice amp...and my hand involuntarily reached for my wallet...but I don't grok "didn't work in my system". I remember the mention of greater-than-spec'd-output in another thread, but I don't know why that wouldn't work for you. Care to be more specific?

    Its a system synergy thing, not a amp doesn't work as advertized thing......
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    CNWDI wrote: »
    That's quite a nice amp...and my hand involuntarily reached for my wallet...but I don't grok "didn't work in my system". I remember the mention of greater-than-spec'd-output in another thread, but I don't know why that wouldn't work for you. Care to be more specific?

    Well, couple of things. I jumped on an opportunity to buy another amp before this one even came back from being serviced like an idiot. So now, I have a balance I need to pay off before the other amp ships out. That is the main reason I have to let this one go.

    EndersShadow is correct. I mention it didn't work in my system because I didn't feel the nostalgia I feel when I listen through my Marantz 2245. I'm basing this purely off of how I feel when I listen to my music. As you can imagine, many pieces of reputable gear have come and gone from my system because of my approach to it (Magnepan 1.7, Monitor Audio RS6, NAD C162, NAD C272, Monitor Audio Bronze B4, to name a few that I waved goodbye too).

    It's probably not the best approach but it's what works for me. With that said, the TFM-45 brought out pieces in my music that I've never heard before. Having literally 8x's the power was easily felt and heard. But I didn't have that nostalgic feeling I got from my Marantz. Again, unfortunately I don't have the funds to keep this amp and pair it with a preamp that will prove it's reputation for being a solid amp true.

    I forgot to mention the faint hum that is typical of these amps. You could hear it power up when you turn it on as well. Beastly.

    If this amp doesn't sell, let's just say I won't be disappointed :biggrin: I'll just have to pull some money out of my butt to fund the other amp. :eek:
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Also, if you're hesitant because of where my amp was serviced, you can call the repair shop and test them on their knowledge of Carver TFM amps. I had a long conversation with the owner before I brought it in and he was incredibly knowledgeable of Bob Carver's designs. He did an awesome job and I wouldn't hesitate to take any piece of gear I own to him.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Just to be clear, this wasn't a full refurb that was done to the amp.

    Here ya go straight from the receipt.

    "Replaced capacitors + adjustment potentiometers in feed back circuit causing channel loss and frequency response. Set gain. Verified ______ (couldn't read his writing, not helpful I know) function. Measured 396 wpc / 8 ohms max output."

    Along with this, he performed the service bulletin fix for the common TFM drift. Everything is good to go and running strong.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Price Update:

    $400 + shipping
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited June 2011
    RED HOT SMOKING (not literally hopefully) DEAL!!! If I didn't already own one signed by Bob himself I'd be all over this.
    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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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2011
    fastz28 wrote: »
    There shoulnt be a faint hum
    There's a very low level pop and hum as the magnetic rails power up. The humm or slight buzz should fade to nothing after a few seconds. I believe all the magnetic field designs share this. My 45 does and my 35 doesn't.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Ron Temple wrote: »
    There's a very low level pop and hum as the magnetic rails power up. The humm or slight buzz should fade to nothing after a few seconds. I believe all the magnetic field designs share this. My 45 does and my 35 doesn't.

    Yep.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    receipt.jpg
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Mods please mark this one as SOLD.
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  • cincycat13
    cincycat13 Posts: 887
    edited June 2011
    PM sent
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Officially SOLD to Cincycat13.

    Thanks for another sale Jeff. I'll be getting your gear out first thing tomorrow morning via FedEx Home Delivery. Please leave some feedback so the wolves don't eat me alive again.
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited June 2011
    Shipped. Triple boxed, lol. Forgive the use of the USPS boxes and FedEx bubble envelopes as padding.
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  • cincycat13
    cincycat13 Posts: 887
    edited June 2011
    The feedback system is still down so I will do an update here. Certainly boxed well enough to survive the shipment. Item arrived as described and works fine. Good communication and tracking information was provided with quick shipping.
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