Carver TFM-35x issues
Joshwest90
Posts: 109
I’m looking for a little bit of guidance here. The amp worked fine for a month and last night getting ready to watch a movie I turned the power on and had the normal sound of what seems like magnetic solenoid closing, and then a click which was normal, but this time no sound and a few seconds later another “click” this went on with no changes until powering off.
I’m assuming it’s going into protection but I’m not sure why. With nothing plugged into it I get the same thing. Any advice on what to check?
I’m assuming it’s going into protection but I’m not sure why. With nothing plugged into it I get the same thing. Any advice on what to check?
Comments
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Are you competent and comfortable working inside electronics? Do you have a multi-meter that reads down to mv?
If so, pop the cover and check the power supply voltage, and see if you can adjust bias.
Here’s a link to the service manual:
http://thecarversite.com/manuals/mandir/Carver TFM-35x service manual.pdf"Conservative Libertarians love the country, progressive leftists love the government." - Andrew Wilkow
“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
Are you competent and comfortable working inside electronics? Do you have a multi-meter that reads down to mv?
If so, pop the cover and check the power supply voltage, and see if you can adjust bias.
Here’s a link to the service manual:
http://thecarversite.com/manuals/mandir/Carver TFM-35x service manual.pdf
I am comfortable with electronics and soldering desoldering things. I have a fluke DMM that should read to MV. I’ve never adjusted bias or frankly I don’t even know what that means so I will do some research to understand it better. -
Sounds like it's time for Rolland at Hi-Tech to give it a refresh. Where are you located?Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Sounds like it's time for Rolland at Hi-Tech to give it a refresh. Where are you located?
I live in southern Illinois -
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Where is he out of? -
Sounds like it's time for Rolland at Hi-Tech to give it a refresh. Where are you located?
No offense intended, but what you’ll pay for a repair refresh on that amp is more than it is worth. I say this as an avid Carver fan and active tech. The 35x is not a mag-coil design, contrary to popular belief - it is a straight class A/B transformer amp. It is a good amp, but not a great amp.
Further, the “x” models were designed WITHOUT a removable bottom cover. Therefore, servicing requires removal of ALL the output devices and commutators from the heat sink, then standing the PCB up within the chassis to reach the foil side of the board. Some people try to “short cut” the process by freeing the heat sinks themselves from the chassis, and leaving all the transistors attached. This is a BAD idea, as the weight of the heat sinks puts far too much stress on the transistors, PCB and pads. There’s just no easy way to do it - I’ve done three of them, and I will never do another.
If you want to do some basic troubleshooting, I can help you. However, if the relays are engaging, that rules out most easy fixes. One easy thing to check is DC at the output - hook you meter probes to the +/- speaker posts (one channel at a time) and set your meter for DC voltage. We are looking for any reading < about 50mv, with the amp turned on, no input and no load (speakers) hooked up."Conservative Libertarians love the country, progressive leftists love the government." - Andrew Wilkow
“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
No offense intended, but what you’ll pay for a repair refresh on that amp is more than it is worth.
Good point. Wasn't aware. Besides there is a nice B&K 200.2 in the for sale ads that would be an excellent bump up from the 35xGustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
If you like the sound of your TFM then spending a bit more to keep enjoying it is worth it. Even if it may cost as much as you could buy another for. But this way you know you have a newly refurbished unit that should give another 20 years of enjoyment.
I spent a lot to have a TFM45 done and I'm glad I did. -
If you like the sound of your TFM then spending a bit more to keep enjoying it is worth it. Even if it may cost as much as you could buy another for. But this way you know you have a newly refurbished unit that should give another 20 years of enjoyment.
I spent a lot to have a TFM45 done and I'm glad I did.
The TFM 45 is a much different beast than the TFM35x. @daddyjt is very knowledgeable on Carver and I trust what he has to say, if he says it's not worth the time and cost you can believe it.
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It's not always about the money. That's all I'm trying to say. If he likes the amp i say repair it. Dont matter what its worth.
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It's not always about the money. That's all I'm trying to say. If he likes the amp i say repair it. Dont matter what its worth.
Every hobby IMO is defined as sort of a money pit! I never expect to get back what I put into it. Otherwise it'd be called a business! And where's the fun in that?
Our dear brother @DSkip notwithstanding of course!
Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
Yup.
Many of us here have said " If it sounds good to you, that's all that matters".
If you have the coin and want to explore and maybe hear a better sound, go for it, as long as it doesn't take away from the bills and necessities.Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
It's not always about the money. That's all I'm trying to say. If he likes the amp i say repair it. Dont matter what its worth.
I certainly meant no disrespect to the OP. I was merely trying to point out that there are a myriad of other (better?) options out there for the $300+ a repair/refresh on a 35x will cost. In my experience, the 35(x) doesn’t really have a specific “sound” to it, unlike other “TFM” amps (I’ve owned two 35x and a 35). That said, and like others have said here, if it’s what he likes, then by all means, get it back up and running.
The 45 is an entirely different design (mag-coil, switching rail design), and typically well worth the cost of a repair/refresh, if for no other reason than resale."Conservative Libertarians love the country, progressive leftists love the government." - Andrew Wilkow
“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
I did not take any offense to what anyone one said. Just throwing out my .02.👍👍
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It's not always about the money. That's all I'm trying to say. If he likes the amp i say repair it. Dont matter what its worth.
I certainly meant no disrespect to the OP. I was merely trying to point out that there are a myriad of other (better?) options out there for the $300+ a repair/refresh on a 35x will cost. In my experience, the 35(x) doesn’t really have a specific “sound” to it, unlike other “TFM” amps (I’ve owned two 35x and a 35). That said, and like others have said here, if it’s what he likes, then by all means, get it back up and running.
The 45 is an entirely different design (mag-coil, switching rail design), and typically well worth the cost of a repair/refresh, if for no other reason than resale.
To be 100% honest, I did know that if I did not like it, I could recover all of my cost if I sold it. However, I have really come to like the amp and dont forsee selling it anytime soon.
