SDA'a and Carver

Mike Reeter
Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
edited December 2007 in Vintage Speakers
Carver amps. and SDA's...a match made in Heaven? I'm wanting to try some different amp/amps to power our 2.3's...Over the years I've seen alot of praise for vintage Carver.

Anyone still running them,and what models would you recommend? I'm trying to stay within 1K or less on price.

Thanks,Mike
Post edited by Mike Reeter on
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  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited December 2007
    Well, I don't have the 2.3's but I do have the SRS II's running on a Carver M-1.0t which sounds great to me. They can take more but for now, this works very well for me. I have a couple of M-1.5t's, too, but both need to rebuilt before they make it into the mix. I'd also like to have one of the TFM's....maybe a 45 or 55 and for sure a TFM-75 but you never see them come up for sale.

    Your 2.3TL's are bi-amp capable if I'm not mistaken. I wish mine were as I could run a 1.5t on the low side and a 1.0t on the top end. Oh well.
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,083
    edited December 2007
    Personally, I loved my carver amps and SDA.

    I think the best of them was the m4.0t/TFM-45/TFM-42 which were all the same amp just different cosmetics. I liked those better than the Silver 9t's.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    Some call me crazy, but I love my SDA 2As paired with my Carver PM1201. Yes it is a pro amp, but it is suprising detailed, powerful (600 wpc), and quiet (After a good electrical cleaning and a fan thermal switch mod). I've always liked Carver's older stuff, because he built his pro amps with the same quality that he built the home amps.
    Jake
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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited December 2007
    My 2.3's sound amazing with the silver seven t's driving them...the power that comes out of those little weird shaped paper weights makes the polks come alive.
    The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited December 2007
    My first set of Polks (RT55) got hooked up to a Carver C-1 pre and M-500 amp just about 8 years ago. I'm now using this combo on my SDA 2Bs. I'm ready for a change, the C-1 is going first, followed by the amp somewhere down the road. They've done me well over the years, but I don't think they're the end all/be all. When I was interested in trying some other of the Carver amps, I was always looking for the M4.0t or a TFM 55. If you really want to hear it from the horse's mouth, check out carveraudio.com.

    By the way, the M-500 is one of the few Carvers that I've read about that is non-common ground, always a concern with the SDAs.
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • edwardm10
    edwardm10 Posts: 104
    edited December 2007
    I use a TFM-55 with my SDA 1-C's. Plenty of power ( 380 x 2 ) to make them sing and lots of reserve.
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  • bleach
    bleach Posts: 13
    edited December 2007
    Bob Carver also created the Sunfire products. Anyone have experience with them?
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  • BAD ASP
    BAD ASP Posts: 361
    edited December 2007
    bleach wrote: »
    Bob Carver also created the Sunfire products. Anyone have experience with them?

    I am a newbie but I do own and enjoy the sunfire amp (sig 425 wpc) and preamp. I upgraded from the denon 5700 (170 wpc).While I enjoyed the Denon for several years my experience with separates versus a reciever left me no doubt that the sunfire amp and pre were a huge upgrade both musically and for HT. I can't speak to other manufacturers for the amp/pre but I am very happy with the sound of the 3.1tl's and the 1.2 tl's with the sunfire. I just bought a pair of 1.2's which I will upgrade after the new year.
    Home Theater
    Amp: sunfire cinema grand signature 5ch 425 wpc
    Side surround amp: Sunfire 2 X 300
    Processor: sunfire theater grand V
    Fronts:: polk sda-srs 1.2
    Rears: Polk LSiFX
    Side surrounds: Fxi5
    Center: (2)polk LSiC's
    Sub: svs pb-13 rosenut
    Hd-Dvd: toshiba xa-2
    Blue Ray: oppo bdp83se
    Projector: sony vw60
    Screen: Da-Lite 106"
    APC S20 Power conditioner
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited December 2007
    BAD ASP wrote: »
    I am a newbie but I do own and enjoy the sunfire amp (sig 425 wpc) and preamp. I upgraded from the denon 5700 (170 wpc).While I enjoyed the Denon for several years my experience with separates versus a reciever left me no doubt that the sunfire amp and pre were a huge upgrade both musically and for HT. I can't speak to other manufacturers for the amp/pre but I am very happy with the sound of the 3.1tl's and the 1.2 tl's with the sunfire. I just bought a pair of 1.2's which I will upgrade after the new year.

    That sunfire is one hell of an amp....You can find a used Sunfire 300X2 on audiogon in that range if I remember correctly, I would look for a TFM-45,55, or TFM 4.0t. I think any of them would do you right. :D
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  • SDA SRS 1.2
    SDA SRS 1.2 Posts: 255
    edited December 2007
    Carver (Sunfire) and SDA's go well together. Powered my SRS's with a TFM-45 for years with no problems and now with a Sunfire Signature Two (600 wpc). Great combos! :)
    Main System: Polk SDA SRS 1.2 Speakers, Sunfire Signature 600~two Amp, Carver C-16 Preamp, Carver TX-11b Tuner, Marantz 6350Q TT, Philips CDR-775 Recorder, Teac V-707RX Cassette Deck, Signal Cable Double Run Speaker Cable

    Upstairs Den: Marantz 2325 Receiver, Marantz 5220 Cassette Deck, Marantz HD-880 Speakers, Marantz 6370Q TT

    Exercise (Kabuki speaker) Room: Kenwood KR-9600 Receiver, Pioneer CS-99a Speakers, Sansui SP-X9000 Speakers (not pretty, but LOUD! :) )
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  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited December 2007
    The TFM-42 is the same amp as the TFM-45, just no meters.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    Sal,
    I actually found a 100F switch at my fiance's fathers work. (He's an EE) We mounted the switch on the board near a heat source, then just ran a wire to and from one of the fans (since they were wired in series). I also figured out that the fans had a variable speed heat switch. It was very easy, cost nothing, and works greats. At low temp there are no fans; medium heat the fans are on low, and high heat the fans kick up to high. When running the amp at normal use, the fans are off most of the time, but they kick on from time to time just to cool things down for a few minutes. Works better than I could have hoped. Thanks for the idea!
    Jake
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  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,146
    edited December 2007
    I really like the way my polk 2.3s sound with a carver amp. I have a carver pro amp zr1600 class t amp driving them. Class t means the amp doesn't switch between a+b and stays in class a mode all the time. 360 watts of class a operation is the best I've ever heard my sda's sound for sure.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited December 2007
    Monitor 5's w/peerless matched to a Carver M4.0T = Sweet.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • Strong Bad
    Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
    edited December 2007
    SRS 2.3's + m1.5t + Dodd ELP = Pretty sweet sounding setup.

    The Carver/Polk combo was extremely popular in the later 80's. Seems all of us vintage gear folks still love it till today.

    John
    No excuses!
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    motorstereo wrote: »
    Class t means the amp doesn't switch between a+b and stays in class a mode all the time. 360 watts of class a operation is the best I've ever heard my sda's sound for sure.

    Technically, a class T amp is a Tripath class D amp; and class D, being a switching amplifier is far from class A. A great amp don't get me wrong, but constantly outputing the entire signal it does not.

    Read this if you want more detailed info
    Jake
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  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,146
    edited December 2007
    zingo wrote: »
    Technically, a class T amp is a Tripath class D amp; and class D, being a switching amplifier is far from class A. A great amp don't get me wrong, but constantly outputing the entire signal it does not.

    Read this if you want more detailed info

    Thanks for pointing that out zingo. Looks like I have some schooling to do on different types of amps. My bad. I do know that the carver does sound great on the polks though.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    No prob, and Carvers do sound good.
    Jake
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited December 2007
    WOW,Thanks for all the replies guys...I knew there were some Carver fans around,but had no idea.

    You all know this hobby well enough to know that I'm just wantin' to try something different.

    I've been quite happy with the Parasound amps...just got the bug to try something new.

    Thanks again,Mike
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited December 2007
    Mike Reeter wrote: »
    I've been quite happy with the Parasound amps...just got the bug to try something new.

    Mike,

    Get yourself a pair of big Halo A21's and bi-amp those 2.3's, or get a pair of Parasound JC-1's.

    Check out these powering my 2.3's.

    Summer2007030.jpg
    Carl

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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    That's awesome, and it all matches so nicely. Great rig schwarcw.
    Jake
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited December 2007
    For the money, the Carvers are hard to beat.
    >
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    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited December 2007
    schwarcw wrote: »
    Mike,

    Get yourself a pair of big Halo A21's and bi-amp those 2.3's, or get a pair of Parasound JC-1's.

    Check out these powering my 2.3's.

    Summer2007030.jpg

    Carl,There is nothing classier looking than that rack full of Halo gear...The problem is,I would have to take out a second mortage to be able to afford them :D
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited December 2007
    Mike Reeter wrote: »
    WOW,Thanks for all the replies guys...I knew there were some Carver fans around,but had no idea.

    You all know this hobby well enough to know that I'm just wantin' to try something different.

    I've been quite happy with the Parasound amps...just got the bug to try something new.

    Thanks again,Mike

    Other older "value for quality" amps I've had good luck with Polk-wise are Rotel and B&K. NAD (like the PE2200) is also great but will require the AI cable. Currently I'm using a Carver AV705X 5 channel in a home theater setup with SDA 1C's as mains. Perhaps a little light on power (probably running 180 - 190 per in stereo at 6ohm) but very nice nonetheless. I see them pop up frequently on EBay. The Rotels seems to be a little more rare.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    Polkersince85 wrote: »
    For the money, the Carvers are hard to beat.

    I think that is one of the best about Carvers. They are always available used, and have price ranges and models from mild to wild.
    Jake
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    I'm running a Carver HR-752 receiver into a pair of SDA-2As. To my uneducated ears, it sounds fantastic, but I definitely could use more than its 100 WPC.
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited December 2007
    zingo wrote: »
    That's awesome, and it all matches so nicely. Great rig schwarcw.
    Mike Reeter wrote:
    Carl,There is nothing classier looking than that rack full of Halo gear...The problem is,I would have to take out a second mortage to be able to afford them

    Thanks for the kind words guys. The Parasound Halo's are just what the SDA needs. These amps have a deep, detailed soundstage. Coupled with the wide laidback sound of the SDA's the sound is heavenly.
    Carl

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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2007
    Beautiful system Carl,,you must have the generators at Penn Power working overtime. :);)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited December 2007
    Looking good Carl.
    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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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited December 2007
    Where's that RTR fit into this rig, Carl?
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