Carver tfm-25 amp.. thoughts

bansheesho
bansheesho Posts: 227
edited June 2012 in Electronics
Looks like I can get a pretty good deal on a carver tfm-25 amp... I was considering using it to power my q900s

Any thoughts on this amp or this pairing of speakers/amp? Also, does anyone know if it has a 12v trigger so I don't have to manually turn it on and off? Any issues I should be concerned with?
Pioneer SC-25 | Adcom GFA-555 | KEF q900 Front | KEF q600 Center | Polk Monitor 30 Rear | Polk CS2 Rear Surround | Polk DSWPRO 660wi sub
Post edited by bansheesho on
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Comments

  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited May 2012
    This was one of my first amps and I was very happy with it. Depending on the price it can be a good buy. supplies decent amount of power and nice softer neutral sound.(Tamed down my RTi speakers) No it does not have a trigger. Most important, per Bob Carver, plug these amps directly into the wall outlet and not a power strip or power conditioner ect...... They are old so power caps inside might be a issue down the road. Always loved those analog meters on the front. Sorry, I am not familiar with you q900s.
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited May 2012
    I think if the price is right that amp would work quite well given your speakers. As stated due to its age the capacitors may have issues, but there are repair shops around that still work on Carvers and/or the some models schematics are available online if your handy with a soldering iron and know your way around a PCB board :smile:.

    I would pop on it and if you dont like it flip it. There are TONS of folks out there like me that love us some Carver gear :biggrin:
    "....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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  • bansheesho
    bansheesho Posts: 227
    edited May 2012
    What would be considered a good price? Also, how much $$ would be involved in a recap if I did it myself? I would assume it involves desoldering the old caps and soldering in new ones.... Haven't actually done this before, but I'm a Mercedes-benz mechanic so I think given the proper instruction it should be fairly easy... How would one know that the caps need replacing?
    Pioneer SC-25 | Adcom GFA-555 | KEF q900 Front | KEF q600 Center | Polk Monitor 30 Rear | Polk CS2 Rear Surround | Polk DSWPRO 660wi sub
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited May 2012
    bansheesho wrote: »
    What would be considered a good price? Also, how much $$ would be involved in a recap if I did it myself? I would assume it involves desoldering the old caps and soldering in new ones.... Haven't actually done this before, but I'm a Mercedes-benz mechanic so I think given the proper instruction it should be fairly easy... How would one know that the caps need replacing?

    For better answers to those questions I would suggest posting on carveraudio.com or thecarversite.com
    "....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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  • renowilliams
    renowilliams Posts: 920
    edited June 2012
    I had my TFM-35 complteley referbished last summer and it was definatley worth it. Its certainly worth the investment.
    "They're always talking about my drinking, but never mention my thirst" Oscar Wilde


    Pre-Amp: Anthem AVM 20
    Amp: Carver TFM-35
    Amp: Rotel RB-870BX
    Fronts : SDA 1B w/ RDO-194s
    T.V.:Plasma TC-P54G25
    Bluray: Oppo BDP-93
    Speaker Cables: MIT Terminater
    Interconnect Cables:DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1isonic
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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited June 2012
    bansheesho wrote: »
    What would be considered a good price? Also, how much $$ would be involved in a recap if I did it myself? I would assume it involves desoldering the old caps and soldering in new ones.... Haven't actually done this before, but I'm a Mercedes-benz mechanic so I think given the proper instruction it should be fairly easy... How would one know that the caps need replacing?

    I would say between $200-$225 around there.Depends on the condition. As far as the caps, if you can buy it and test it out you may be okay for awhile. There are many TFM amps out there that are still running without having any service done. Like it was mentioned, there are some repair shops that are known for doing upgrades and it would benifit you to log on to the Carver forum and they can lead you in the right direction.
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • bansheesho
    bansheesho Posts: 227
    edited June 2012
    What about a parasound hca-1200 II vs that carver amp? Thoughts on the sound signature or build quality.. also when were each of those amps made roughly?
    Pioneer SC-25 | Adcom GFA-555 | KEF q900 Front | KEF q600 Center | Polk Monitor 30 Rear | Polk CS2 Rear Surround | Polk DSWPRO 660wi sub
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  • Tankman
    Tankman Posts: 419
    edited June 2012
    That TFM-25 is the one i had back in the 90's,Luv it,Wish i had never sold it.Also wish Ole Bob still made them, they surely would be in my system.Nice really nice amps, man i miss Dem Meters at nite chillin with a cold beer lites off and some Eagles on the Turntable.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2012
    Tankman wrote: »
    That TFM-25 is the one i had back in the 90's,Luv it,Wish i had never sold it.Also wish Ole Bob still made them, they surely would be in my system.Nice really nice amps, man i miss Dem Meters at nite chillin with a cold beer lites off and some Eagles on the Turntable.

    Tank he doesnt make em, but he does have a repair shop to fix em up if you find one you want. You can even get him to sign the front of it when his shop "Rita's" refurbs it....
    "....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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  • Tankman
    Tankman Posts: 419
    edited June 2012
    @EandersShadow..On Ebay right now looking too find one or two.Wish me luck!As aways great tip!.I will hit you up for the address to that repair shop,or if you get the time send it too my inbox on here.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2012
    Tankman wrote: »
    @EandersShadow..On Ebay right now looking too find one or two.Wish me luck!As aways great tip!.I will hit you up for the address to that repair shop,or if you get the time send it too my inbox on here.

    If it was me I would join the following forums specific to Carver gear: Carveraudio.com & TheCarverSite.com. Both places will help you track down one as well as also possible have some hoarded they might not mind selling :smile:.

    That and they have tons of good info on the site and folks that have done a ton of stuff to their Carver amps if you run into problems you dont forsee :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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  • ibewbrother
    ibewbrother Posts: 186
    edited June 2012
    I am a Carver fan. The 25, and really all of the TFM line sounds good to me. You also can't beat the look of those meters when you get on it and make them dance.
    "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
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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited June 2012
    Ive heard a few of them including that one. Sounded good but i never got a "WOW" from them,the parasound hca 1200 did! And after a cap mod the 1200 really stood out.imho.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
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  • bansheesho
    bansheesho Posts: 227
    edited June 2012
    I also could nab an adcom gfa-5503 3-channel amp for $300 which also looks like a great deal. How do the adcom amps compare to carver and parasound for HT use? Are they all pretty equivalent? Just a matter of personal preference? I kind of like the idea of being able to power the whole front
    Pioneer SC-25 | Adcom GFA-555 | KEF q900 Front | KEF q600 Center | Polk Monitor 30 Rear | Polk CS2 Rear Surround | Polk DSWPRO 660wi sub
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  • renowilliams
    renowilliams Posts: 920
    edited June 2012
    When I paired my refurbed Carver with my sda...I had a WOw experience.
    "They're always talking about my drinking, but never mention my thirst" Oscar Wilde


    Pre-Amp: Anthem AVM 20
    Amp: Carver TFM-35
    Amp: Rotel RB-870BX
    Fronts : SDA 1B w/ RDO-194s
    T.V.:Plasma TC-P54G25
    Bluray: Oppo BDP-93
    Speaker Cables: MIT Terminater
    Interconnect Cables:DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1isonic
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter