Carver Amazing Platinum VS SDA's

ben62670

OK guys. I am eying some Amazing Platinums. Anyone heard both the SDA's, and the Amazings. What are your feelings on them? How much are they worth in good shape? They are local to me, and they are one of three speaker systems I have drooled over for 20 years.

Thanks Ben

dorokusai

If I had to pick, SDA's.

treitz3

They average on E-pray anywhere from 900 smackers to 1500 depending on the time of year and condition. Don't have bluebook value, but this is what I have observed since last October.

If I may, could I ask if the speak's you have a hookup on are the Platinum's or the Platinum Mark IV's?

ben62670

treitz3 wrote: »

They average on E-pray anywhere from 900 smackers to 1500 depending on the time of year and condition. Don't have bluebook value, but this is what I have observed since last October.

If I may, could I ask if the speak's you have a hookup on are the Platinum's or the Platinum Mark IV's?

I think they are the straight Platinums

ben62670

60" ribbons

avguytx

The last time I heard Platinums was last year when some of the guys from our company were in Washington for Sunfire training. Bob had them hooked up in the main listening room where he/we were doing comparisons with the large ribbon speakers versus the new Sunfire CRM-2's with the (effectively) same ribbon folded over and over to make it a small one. They had the small ones hooked up with a sub since the roll off on the low side was around 95Hz...it needed a little help. But those Platinums sounded, well, Amazing to say the least. They had the Amazings running on a pair of bi-amped (I think) Sunfire Signature 600~2's and a Classic Vacuum Tube Preamp. Wow. Check out the Carver C-1 preamp and the TL-3300 CD player in the pics, too.

It would be cool to own both or at least get to hear them on the same amp/pre combo so it was a fair comparison. The Amazings need to be further from the wall to "load" the infinite baffle woofers where the SDA's typically want to be on the wall. I know where a pair of Amazings are in Arkansas that I have been pondering. A friend of mine got them as a wedding gift about 7 years ago from his wifes parents. So, they are kind of a one owner speaker!

jdhdiggs

You have had SDA's, pick up the platinums if for no other reason as to try something different.

ESavinon

In excellent shape, they're worth $800-900.
I would choose the sda over the amazings.
Amazings are great for jazz and classical music.
The amazings need a ton of power to bring out the best out of them.
I run mine with 2k watts per channel (4 bridged soundstream amps).

engtaz

Just get the dang things LOL:D

treitz3

The Mark IV's have 3 knobs on the back and one binding post. The Plat's have Bi-amping capabilities.

If you do try them and are not pleased, I'll take them off your hands. I've alway's wanted a set of Plat's. Do I have to call dibs or something? Oh, sorry, you don't even have them yet.

I'm running the ALS Orig's currently.

engtaz

Mark IV's what is the difference in sound between the two

avguytx

I just emailed my buddy in Arkansas to see if he'd take a picture of the back of his so I can see which ones they are. I can get them very reasonable to say the least. Man, all I need is another big **** pair of speakers here.

treitz3

I have not heard the Mark IV's, but from what I understand, it is the same exact speaker with the only difference being that the Mark IV's have three contour, or variable frequency control knobs located on the back and [I was told] that it has the SH built into it. Other than that, one is bi-ampable, one is not.

Excellent sound stage IMO.

ben62670

3 nobs single input from what I can tell. I have also heard that the ribbons loosen up with age. True concern?
I could run them with Adcom GFA555's bridged for 600 at 8 or a GFA 5800 with 250 at 8. Gee wiz these make my 5800 feel small!
Thanks guys.

engtaz

I believe they are 6 ohm

ben62670

engtaz wrote: »

I believe they are 6 ohm

You can read:p

engtaz

No but I know brail LOL

treitz3

ben62670 wrote: »

3 nobs single input from what I can tell. I have also heard that the ribbons loosen up with age. True concern?
I could run them with Adcom GFA555's bridged for 600 at 8 or a GFA 5800 with 250 at 8. Gee wiz these make my 5800 feel small!
Thanks guys.

They do loosen up with age and with a gentle touch they can be brought right back to original glory. Not a concern. Audition them before you purchase at your listening levels and be sure to bring some pretty demanding music. A piece of woman's vocals or a long piano passage would be a great thing to bring to make sure that the ribbons are in good shape. Listen for a rattle and go up and down each ribbon, front and back to see if you can detect any unwanted noises.

Also, take a look at the condition of the ribbon itself and if possible, I highly suggest that you bring the equipment that YOU will be driving these with to audition the speakers.

Hope this helps, and you definitely have the Mark IV's.

treitz3

8ohm.;)

reeltrouble1

I like each of them and am not planning on letting either pair go at this point, if you have the space for two big rigs its a nice change up between the two, I personally dig the di-pole radiation and deep bass of the Amazings and and am still a sucker for SDA as well, of course having two large rigs can certainly be a problem space wise and of course you need a small more intimate rig and some cans and some horns and maybe a digital amp rig and an in-wall rig and well hell, I just dig audio..................

The nice thing about the Amazings and the Polk's are they can be had for very reasonable prices considering the amount of speaker you are getting, oh yea and if you happen upon those AR-9's Louie is nuts about buy those to, their awesome. I would try to pay no more than a grand for the Plats but in the big picture whats a few franklin's either way.

RT1

ben62670

treitz3 wrote: »

They do loosen up with age and with a gentle touch they can be brought right back to original glory. Not a concern. Audition them before you purchase at your listening levels and be sure to bring some pretty demanding music. A piece of woman's vocals or a long piano passage would be a great thing to bring to make sure that the ribbons are in good shape. Listen for a rattle and go up and down each ribbon, front and back to see if you can detect any unwanted noises.

Also, take a look at the condition of the ribbon itself and if possible, I highly suggest that you bring the equipment that YOU will be driving these with to audition the speakers.

Hope this helps, and you definitely have the Mark IV's.

Thanks, and yes, yes, yes, and yes:)

reeltrouble1

The Originals are 4 ohm 84 db sensitivity and yep the Plats are 8 ohm and 89. Oh and they sound like **** if they are the least bit wet from humidity.

RT1

ben62670

reeltrouble1 wrote: »

I like each of them and am not planning on letting either pair go at this point, if you have the space for two big rigs its a nice change up between the two, I personally dig the di-pole radiation and deep bass of the Amazings and and am still a sucker for SDA as well, of course having two large rigs can certainly be a problem space wise and of course you need a small more intimate rig and some cans and some horns and maybe a digital amp rig and an in-wall rig and well hell, I just dig audio..................

The nice thing about the Amazings and the Polk's are they can be had for very reasonable prices considering the amount of speaker you are getting, oh yea and if you happen upon those AR-9's Louie is nuts about buy those to, their awesome. I would try to pay no more than a grand for the Plats but in the big picture whats a few franklin's either way.

RT1

Space is kinda a concern. I was PMing Entaz, and the only solution I came up with would be to put the Carvers between my Franken Polk's, and convert my projection screen to a pull down. The problem I see is that the Carvers
most likely need to be open on both sides of the backs for the dipole thingy. I should be able to pick them up for $800 cash locally in what appears to be in very good shape. He says excellent, but I translate excellent to very good so I am not disappointed when buying.

reeltrouble1

You will be able to use the Amazings in that config, however, most likely the Polk's will suffer, but try it, the Amazings sell fairly quickly if you do not like them. When Tour was holding my Plat Amazings in Texas for me I think he said he hooked them up with another pair of Original Amazings like you are talking about and played all four at once of course he is Bruce.....

Right now I have my Plats in front of my Orginals (well really they are George Daniels) the Plats sound great, as suggested the Amazing's are a speaker you should enjoy along your audio path.

RT1

ben62670

I can't believe I am so goo goo for audio. When I was a young lad I was checking out different girls that I was fantasizing about. Now I have learned that I can control the sweet sounds that come out from audio, but not women:eek:. Also audio is so much cheaper than women in the long run:).

treitz3

Ben, like I said, if they don't work out for you, I'll purchase them so you have nothing to lose. The choice is yours. I agree, the ALS's are something you definitely should enjoy along your audio path.

ben62670

reeltrouble1 wrote: »

You will be able to use the Amazings in that config, however, most likely the Polk's will suffer, but try it, the Amazings sell fairly quickly if you do not like them. When Tour was holding my Plat Amazings in Texas for me I think he said he hooked them up with another pair of Original Amazings like you are talking about and played all four at once of course he is Bruce.....

Right now I have my Plats in front of my Orginals (well really they are George Daniels) the Plats sound great, as suggested the Amazing's are a speaker you should enjoy along your audio path.

RT1

My SDA's faces are almost 2 feet from the wall. My cabs are deeper than originals to facilitate the 24 driver implementation.

Texas42

The original Amazings (call them version 1) had two 30" ribbons vice a single 60" ribbon the latter 3 versions had. The high gloss black cost a couple of hundred more (at retail) versus the oak finish. There were a lot of changes to the crossover and the woofer by the time it got to the Mark IV version, which is generally considered the best version. I've owned the Mark IV's and considered them one of the best speaker systems I've ever owned, regardless of cost. Unfortunately, the house I live in now didn't have adequate rear wall spacing to maximize their potential (or I would have kept them). I have a few reviews on them if you are interested.

ben62670

Thanks Tex. I am not a guy who likes to leap in head first. And thanks for all the responses by guys who's opinions I regarde highly.
I see a little cleaning would need to be done.
Pics from owner

George Grand

The Amazings Platinum Mk.IV's, and then the AR-9's.

I've owned both for some time, and wouldn't part with either.

Why do I feel like Rodney Dangerfield on this forum?


The speakers that LOU is crazy about? I THINK his first taste of both pair, the Amazing's AND the 9's, were in Casa Grand.

dorokusai

It's a wonderful loudspeaker and it should be on the short list of any audiophiles' existence. James hit this idea earlier, just figured it was common knowledge.

It's a loudspeaker that has to be experienced in your own home to truly appreciate it. I had alot of fun with the pair I had, period. The turning point for my initial ribbon experience happened at George's home.

Do you feel like Rodney now George?