Carver TFM-35
OOsemka
Posts: 60
I have opportunity to get Carver TFM-35 for a good price ($200-ish). The unit is more then 15 years old and has never been serviced, but the owner states he never had problem with it. Is it worth to give it a try? Or is it too old to even get interested?
Music Room:
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35
Post edited by OOsemka on
Comments
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Have you listened to it?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 -
No I haven't. I read some online reviews (very few available) and it should be quite neutral in sound. The seller is little far from me, so I was looking to get some opinions from Polk enthusiast before pulling the trigger.Music Room:
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35 -
I'd readily pay "200ish" for a working TFM-35, all day long!
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Get it! I don't think you will be disappointed.
System 1:Nakamichi PA-7Kenwood Basic C2Polk SDA 1C moddedSystem 2:Dynaco ST-70Polk Monitor 5B modded -
Concur. If it works pick it up. Listen to it first and make sure to really kick the tires and rev the engine.
As an FYI you can get it totally back to factory spec for 300 or less if that was something you wanted to do later on. Doing that would give you another good 15-20 years whenever it needs service.
As a aside, I spent over 250 for a Carver M1.0t that was never serviced and has a create date of Sept of 1989, so I think your fine
. "....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) -
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto -
No I haven't. I read some online reviews (very few available) and it should be quite neutral in sound. The seller is little far from me, so I was looking to get some opinions from Polk enthusiast before pulling the trigger.
In that case, for the money, it may be worth it for you to see if it's something you like. I'll assume the seller guarantees it is in working condition.
Personally, I find the sound of the TFM series rather lackluster.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 -
Well, if you don't like it, I'm sure you could sell it for at least $300 (if its in OK shape). Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
System 1:Nakamichi PA-7Kenwood Basic C2Polk SDA 1C moddedSystem 2:Dynaco ST-70Polk Monitor 5B modded -
Thank you all. I have made an appointment today to check the unit out. If it is in the condition the seller claims it is, then I will probably take it. Worst case scenario if I don't like it I can sell it to someone else.
I am only concerned about reliability.Music Room:
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35 -
I am only concerned about reliability.
You don't care how it sounds?
As for the reliability of any piece of gear, no one can predict or guarantee that.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 -
That, didn't sound right. My first priority is how it sounds, however I am concerned about reliability, since it is an older unit.
I really like how it looks (with 2 gauges on the front panel), although that is probably not the most important aspect of it Music Room:
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35 -
The fact is.....many people who claim that Carvers are bad/inferior sounding amps......would not be able to differentiate between their chosen SS amp and a Carver, when they're concealed during play. I am not saying all listeners would be unable but, a fair percentage would be fooled. Sure they'll trot out all sorts of long-winded, blah blah in volumes to "prove" that it is an "invalid" test. AFAIK, none of these people hiding behind these explanatory dissertations has ever nutted up enough to either put up, or shut up. I'm sure that there are sets of ears that are able to discern the subtle differences in cables & amps but, they're not steppin' up to put the great debate to rest either. Bottom line, if the amp sounds good to you, buy it.
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I really like how it looks (with 2 gauges on the front panel), although that is probably not the most important aspect of it
I know exactly what your talking about. I have the 3 eyed Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3. It is a great match for my RTi A7's and CSi A4. Some day I would like to get a A-760x 380 watts x 2 for my towers or a A-500x 200 or 250 watts x 2 for my rear surrounds.AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
Rear: FXI A4
Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II -
Yeah......the meters are cool ! I just got an old M-500t with the huge rectangular meters. (just like Ferris Beuller had !
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I just picked it up and it sounds great. It is going to work just fine with my RTi A7's. Visually it is also in great condition. However there is one problem. Although the front meters work, the dimmers (lights) are not. I am guessing this should be fairly easy fix.
I think that was a good deal for $200. The previous owner looked decent and definitely a music lover.
I can't stop looking at the jumping meters. It is so cool.Music Room:
Paradigm Signature S8
Paradigm Signature C5
Paradigm Signature S2
Receiver - Onkyo tx-nr809
Amplifier - Adcom 5802
Office system:
Fronts - Polk RTI A7 (Trey Mod)
Center - Polk CSI A6 (Trey Mod)
Rears - Polk FXI A6
Sub - BIC F12
Receiver - SONY STR-DG1000
Amp - Carver TFM-35 -
The Carver TFM amps are my favorites. My SDA1C's sound beter with a Caver TFM and a Carver C1 preamp than any other combo I have ever had...and I've had a few. Good buy! I just paid $350 for a 35 on Ebay. BTW, go to www.thecarversite.com and you can not only replace the bulbs but mod them to have blue led bulbs!"Thats great... but how does it sound"
http://www.burginmcdaniel.com/
http://mixonline.com/gear/reviews/audio_burgin_mcdaniel_komit/
Yamaha RX-A820 (networked with wireless bridge), Carver M-1.0t, Carver TFM-35, Carver C-1, Polk SDA1c's (x2 pair), Polk RTA 8tl's, Polk RTA 11tl's, Polk Monitor 5, Polk CS 400, Polk PSW 650, Rega Planar 3, Sony DVPNC555ES SACD/DVD, Panny 65" Plasma, Roku
2007 Tundra 5.7 TRD DC
Pioneer DEH-80PRS
Polk SR6500
SI BM 12" subs
Zed Gladius
Zed Deuce -
Nice buy... I like the TFMs and the A-lines...but I really think it's the meters that do it for me. Speaking of which....the led upgrade is a good idea, but I think a resistor has to be added across the lamp because the caps bleed through the meter circuit.
The electronics guy who put new lamps in my 45 used way to dim lamps. I had to take it back for brighter ones. I have heard that if you are handy with a solder iron the TFM lamps are pretty easy to get to.
Enjoy..."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 -
TFM's are pretty easy to replace the bulbs, but the A series are a royal pain. You have to totaly dissassemble the amps to get to the front meeter lamps.
I prefer the dim lit glow over led's. It looks more old and rustic. Most of the time I leave my lights off but when I show it off I kick them on.AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
Rear: FXI A4
Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
