Thinking About Going Separates

skrol
skrol Posts: 3,375
edited November 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
I have been using my Denon DRA-835R form the early 90's for quite some time and have been pleased with it. However, I am curious how much better it would be to have a separate amp. I am looking at a Carver Carver M-1.0t to power my RTA11TL's for now and, in the future, some LSi9's. I am not real familiar with this amp and have read mixed reviews. Previously, I had been thinking about an Adcom GFA-545 II but the Carver came up and the price is good. Would I be better off with an Adcom GFA-545 II or something else? My budget is in the $150 - 250 range.

For now I would be using my Denon DRA-835R's pre-outs as a preamp.

I also realize that I am looking at older amps that may need some refurbishing.

Thanks in advance
Stan
Stan

Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
Post edited by skrol on
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited November 2011
    FWIW - I owned the same amp when I went separates - went thru several speakers and at one point had LSi7s. The Carver easily powered the LSi7s and made for some very nice listening enjoyment. I was the original owner of the M-1.0t (S/N 00098, 1990) and had it overhauled and upgraded with new caps and some other components that were out of spec and it came back sounding better than new.

    If the Carver is in working order, you should still inspect the condition of the capacitors - see if any are showing signs of leaking or bulged tops which may indicate it's time to have the caps replaced.

    Nice amp - should drive anything you throw at it with clean sonics and *plenty" of headroom..

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • IRLRaceFan
    IRLRaceFan Posts: 172
    edited November 2011
    Do it - buy, buy, buy!
    I'm being a little silly - Erik is right, check the condition out first.

    I don't know how much different the 1.0t is from the 1.5t, but I like the LSi9 - M1.5t combination.
    HT
    Onkyo TX-NR1008 | Magnepan 1.7 | Polk LSiC | Polk VM20 | Polk DSW microPro 2000 | Parasound HCA-2205A | Oppo BDP-93

    2-Ch
    Cary SLP 30 Tube Preamp | Polk LSi7 | Carver M1.5t | Audio-gd Digital Interface | W4S DAC-2 | MAC Mini | Denon DP300f & Pro-Ject Debut III TT's
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    I emailed the seller Saturday but haven't heard anything back. I guess I missed out on that one.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited November 2011
    I have used an Adcom GFA-545 (not a II) with both lsi7 and lsi9s and like the combination. I am probably not that far away from you (I am in Arlington, VA). If you were interested in hearing the combination, maybe we could figure something out.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    I'll keep it in mind. The guy with the Carver just got back to me.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2011
    Get out there and stimulate our economy!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    I'm trying not to have my wife stimulate my head with a frying pan.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    Ok, I have heard good things about Emotiva amps. Considering the cost of buying and possibly refurb, would I be better off with an Emotiva UPA-2 over the Carver? I don't need gobs of power and am mostly interested in the ability to drive low impedance and sound good doing it (and keep the cost down).

    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited November 2011
    skrol wrote: »
    Ok, I have heard good things about Emotiva amps. Considering the cost of buying and possibly refurb, would I be better off with an Emotiva UPA-2 over the Carver? I don't need gobs of power and am mostly interested in the ability to drive low impedance and sound good doing it (and keep the cost down).

    Stan

    I'd say no stay away.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    Stay away from Emo? Or Carver?
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited November 2011
    From emo as you asked if you would be better off with the Emo over the Carver.

    Personally there are a lot of folks running both, but I LOVE my Carver. Not sure I will ever sell it unless I have to in order to move up to a Sunfire...
    "....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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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    Thanks. Are there different versions of the M1.0t? If so is one better than the other?
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • Braddles
    Braddles Posts: 228
    edited November 2011
    For what it's worth I'm running my 11tl with a Quad99/909 combo although I'm thinking of going back to a 40wpc valve amp.
    2 Channel
    Amp - Jas Audio Bravo 3.2 set
    Power Cord - Tunami GPX
    CDP - Marantz cd6002 - Audio gd Ref 5 Dac
    Speakers - Tekton Lore,Polk Audio RTA11tl completely refreshed.
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited November 2011
    Sorry, not to informative here but when I went w/ the Adcom over a few other brands I couldn't have been more pleased w/ the power and looks. I must say when the polk group were showing their wares the Parasound was one lean ,clean machine and would be my second choice if ever the Adcom went.Also a good place to do buisness is at Audio Classics..
    2chl--Adcom gfa555
    Onkyo P4=1-pre
    Denon 1940ci cdp
    Infinity SM112s
    I-POD DOCK(shared w-h/t system)
    Sony 335 5disc carosel changer(shared w- h/t system)
    Tosiba 2000 blu/ray player
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited November 2011
    Ok, I just figured out that the amp is the earlier inverting model and non-common ground. Therefore, no dice if I ever want to go SDA with it. Hmmmmm... Since I am in no hurry I may pass and wait for something else. However, it is unlikely that I'll see SDAs in my house given that I have enough trouble hanging on to my RTA11TLs (size matters). I have heard so much good about these amps that I hate to pass it up.

    BTW, the asking price is $225 and is supposed to be in excellent condition. This seems to be about the average on EB.

    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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