What about Bob?
keith allen
Posts: 734
I'm just getting into separates,bought a carver tfm22 2 channel amp,pretty pleased so far...but I really know nothing about carver,I mean I know the name I hear or read the newer stuff isnt as good as older models,I guess Bob Carver is no longer with the company?Can anybody give me info on what were their better models,in the way of amps/preamps,Im going to buy another soon,thinking about M1.5t,they seem to sell the fastes on ebay,if anybody has any input,I would appretiate it.
Post edited by keith allen on
Comments
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Long-time Carver amp owner/fan here... Others can chime in on his Pre-amp's.
Yes, Bob, who sold the company once before and came back a couple years ago, is gone again. Not by choice from what I have read.
The 1.5t's are going dirt cheap on the bay right now... barely topping $300 in many auctions whereas a year ago you could not touch one for less than $400. By contrast other models remain in their historic ranges.
If you go 1.5t, look for a serial number of 10,000 or higher. These were the last of three generations of 1.5's and the sweetest sounding. Comparable to the 4.0's and other later generation Carvers, IMO.
While Sunfire (Bob's Company started after his first Carver Corp departure) still services all the old Carver gear, I understand that power transformers are no longer available. While I have never read where their going out was a particular problem, it's just something to be aware of...
How much power are you looking to buy?
More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
I own a fair amount of Carver gear, and am fond of it, more for sentimental reasons that pure performance really. I can remember drooling over Carver gear 20 years ago when I first came to the USA from GB. At 21 years old, I couldn't possibly afford it, just wish.
I have a pair of TFM-25 amps running in mono mode. According to many of the posts I've read, they are considered to be among Carvers best efforts. I think they're good amps in the price range they can now be had at, but it would be self-deceiving to believe that they are as good or better than several other high-quality amps out there, for example the McCormack DNA range, or ARC SS models in a similar price category. I've heard both in a direct comparision and the McCormack DNA and ARC amps clearly resolve detail and image better, are considerably smoother in the higher registers (without sounding rolled-off) , and offer much better bass response in terms of articulation and transition speed. It may not be a fair comparison, because the McCormack DNA and ARC SS amps I auditioned in direct comparion to the TFM-25s run anywhere from $600 - $800 used, whereas the Carver can be had for as low as $250.00. Even though I have a soft spot for Carver, other amps such as the McCormack DNA series or ARC SS amps are definitely more capable.Polk SRT HT System
Polk CS1000p / FX1000
Sony KDS-R70XBR2
Yamaha RX-Z9 Processor -
Great replies,now my TFM22 is the same amp as the 25,Im told...I do have a service manual and it has both model #'s,anywho,when you use two amps in mono,you are powering one speaker with one amp?You'll all have to bare with me here,I'm a long time receiver owner..lol!I'm using a receiver for a preamp,it only has one set of preouts,how would if at all could I run two amps in mono,because if I could,I would probably purchase another TFM22/25,because you got it Oshag,I bought mine for $200.00 + $58.00 to ship,and so far I'm real happy....more input PLEASE:D
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There are a number of TFM amps that are the same "under the hood" where one is TFM-X2 and the cousin is TFM-X5. Differences are meters vs. LED's.
Why you bridge a 2 ch to mono it only is fed one RCA input, so yes, your receiver would work...
Next time though get that shipping cost in line... $58 is a tad steep...More later,
Tour...
Vox Copuli
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb
"Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
"It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
"There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD -
Hi Keith,
Great idea, because the external pre or power amps will improve the receiver's performance by a considerable margin. You can run the amps in mono mode with your receiver, but to realize the best performance I would suggest investing in a preamp to hook the external TFM-22s into. Receivers will not be as good in the preamp stage as a good preamp such as ARC SP series. If your receiver is good, then you will benefit from all of the DSP/DAC capabilites it offers, most especially for multi-channel music. When using the external processor loop of your receiver, all its functionality should be retained, except the front channel performance will be greatly improved.
Interestingly, I find there to be a greater impact from using a good external preamp than the power amps although they do impact performance also. The most noticable difference is the image integrity. My experience is that receivers, even good ones (including my $4,500 Z9), invariably present the sonic image on a more two-dimensional flat plain. The image as it is supposed to be, has become compressed. A good quality preamp will restore the imaging somewhat, generate a much better soundstage, and just make everything sound a great deal less muddied.
Here is how it is to be done:
1. Procure another TFM-22
2. Procure a good used ARC SP series preamp (from $350.00)
3. Procure good quality interconnects 3 pairs
4. Remove front channel speaker cables from receiver
5. Use switch on TFM-22 to use in mono mode
6. Connect external preamp via preout loop of receiver -
Receiver out to preamp in, preamp out to receiver in. (2 pairs
of interconnects required)
7. Connect TFM-22s to preamp, 1 pair of intrcnncts required
8. Connect front speaker cables to TFM-22s in mono mode
9. If you have another set of front channel speakers, these can
be connected to the receiver, and used simultaneously if
desired.
Cost:
TFM-22 200.00
ARC SP4 350.00
Interconnects 120.00
Total Upgrade Cost $670.00
With the above configuration, when a source such as CD player is connected to the preamp directly rather than the receiver, it will not be affected by any DSP/DAC processing, nor will it be able to act effectively as a multi-channel source to the receiver. If your receiver is of high-quality, such as my Yamaha Z9, then the signal will not be negatively affected when connecting the source directly to the reciever when using external preamp and power amps.
Hope this helps
O'ShagPolk SRT HT System
Polk CS1000p / FX1000
Sony KDS-R70XBR2
Yamaha RX-Z9 Processor -
OK,i'm a little loss..I think,I think your telling me to use a preamp with my receiver?Is that because your assuming its surround?Its just a two channel receiver,Im in it for the music only:) OK for now I dont have a preamp,I think I'll purchase another amp first,and then when I find a good deal on a solid preamp,buy it.Now how do I hook up two amps to my two channel receiver that has one set of preouts...do I just run one interconnect cable to one amp?Mind you that when my receiver is connected to the amp the the receiver has no signal to its own output levels...and again I really do appreciate all the info from everybody!
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OK,I appologize I have two threads going and they turned into the same issue,please move to 2 channel....someone explain please,is the name of the thread....Im sorry:o