Thoughts - Carver M500T or 35-TFMx

squeeb
squeeb Posts: 426
edited December 2013 in Electronics
Title pretty much says it. I am looking at these 2 amps for a secondary system.

The M500T has the MK2 upgrade and the 35 has been recently serviced.

Anyone had any favorable or unfavorable experience with either? They would be paired with RTi12s. Thanks.
7.3 HT: Sunfire TGR-3, Sunfire Series II, Mirage OMD-28, OMD-5 (x4), REL T1 (2), T2, Oppo 103D, Optoma HD8200PRO, 106" screen, SB Touch
Family Room: Yamaha RX-V2700, RT25i, 42" Samsung, SB Duet
Pool: Yamaha V2700, SQ Duet, Atrium 60 (2), Atrium 45 (3), Atrium 65sdi
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited December 2013
    I've never been impressed with any Carver SS amp. Sunfire stuff is better, Lightstar even better and his tube amps are top notch.
    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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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2013
    If you are determined to go with one or the other,,a tubed pre is a must IMHO
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,102
    edited December 2013
    The M500 inverts one channel, making them unsuitable with Polk SDA speakers unless you can use the isolation transformer in the SDA interconnect cable.

    I don't know about the '35.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited December 2013
    Schurkey wrote: »
    The M500 inverts one channel, making them unsuitable with Polk SDA speakers unless you can use the isolation transformer in the SDA interconnect cable.

    I don't know about the '35.
    Good to know about the M500, thanks
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2013
    I like the sound of the 35 better, that's just me though. Personally, I don't see either pairing well with RTI's
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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  • squeeb
    squeeb Posts: 426
    edited December 2013
    All great advice, as usual. I will probably just keep the money burning a hole in my pocket. Thanks.
    7.3 HT: Sunfire TGR-3, Sunfire Series II, Mirage OMD-28, OMD-5 (x4), REL T1 (2), T2, Oppo 103D, Optoma HD8200PRO, 106" screen, SB Touch
    Family Room: Yamaha RX-V2700, RT25i, 42" Samsung, SB Duet
    Pool: Yamaha V2700, SQ Duet, Atrium 60 (2), Atrium 45 (3), Atrium 65sdi
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited December 2013
    Eh, maybe not so much IMO. The M500-t MKII, while not stock, does the sound justice and keeps going full steam when the volume knob is turned up with no distortion. A refurbed TFM-35 is the same as it was [if done correctly] when it was new. The MKII has already been gone through with the refurb and mods but you have to keep in mind that the xnsfrmr is not rated for the output the mods demand. One day, it may just be an expensive doorstop. In the meantime, the sonic signature and headroom will top that of the TFM-35. Hands down.

    While the TFM-35 may be said to have the same sonic signature of the acclaimed Silver Seven tube amps, it is nowhere close. In fact, none of the TFM amps sound the same when compared to the rest of the lineup IME and none of them sound like the mono blocks they were trying to emulate to begin with.

    Both will pair well with the RTi12's. The MKII will definitely be a cut above with regards to impact, bass and clarity. Especially when the volume goes up.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited December 2013
    Forgive me, I just realized that you were talking about a TFM35x. That amp is going to be a tad bright when paired with the RTi12's. If you like "detail", you'll get it with the 35x. So much so that you most likely will not like it even on an HT system. Forget about it with a 2 channel system. That combo will make you want to take the tweeter out of the Rti12's and skip them across a lake.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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