Carver M-500 Power Amp

strider

Up for grabs is my Carver M-500 amp. 251 wpc into 8ohms, bridgeable, 2 big analog meters behind a 3/8" thick piece of plexiglass. I'd rate it a 6.5 on the Audiogon scale; pictures and (hopefully) more detailed specs are forthcoming.

I purchased it in 2000 and it's been in pretty much constant use without a hiccup. Lighted meters are fully functional; always had the dimmer switch set to low on the bulbs, swing consistently, and are fun to watch. The faceplate is in very good condition, all lettering behind it is the same. Some wear on the top, more so on the edges of the sheet metal case then it's middle. As far as I know the top's never been off it, a quick CSI peek at the screws doesn't show any marks of entry, but I don't know for certain. Plenty of power, I've never had it clip or run out of steam before my ears didn't like me. It's been exercised but not abused running either a pair of RT55's or more recently my SDA 2B's. For those using SDA's, be aware this is a non-common ground amp. If you need assistance with a blade/blade AI-1 interconnect, I'll be happy to help.

I'm asking $315 including shipping and insurance in the lower 48. I was planning on using USPS, but am open to other methods if the buyer wishes. Please post interest here first and PM me as soon as you can.

strider

I picked up a Rotel 980 recently. It was either build an Avel based AI-1 to go with the Carver, or get a common ground amp. It was a real tough choice, but I was overdue for a change.

strider

Here are the pictures. There's a scratch about 3mm on the left side of the faceplate, a nick in the top edge top edge of the plexiglass panel about 2mm; slight scuff marks on the top surface, marks on both top edges of the sheet metal case.

strider

Specs for the M-500t are below. While this is an M-500, which has slightly different sound and no power switch, these specs are the same as far as I know.



Slight technical difficulties. Please regard this as a bump for the time being.

strider

Still available.

Rated at 251 w/ch into 8 ohms continuous at <.15%thd

for "long term rms power for music":

500 w/ch into 2 ohms
400 w/ch into 4 ohms
300 w/ch into 8 ohms

Bridged into 8 ohms 700 watts

treitz3

I'm surprised that this hasn't sold yet. I have the "t" model of this amp and it's one of Carver's best [overall] sounding amps without getting into the esoteric and rare Carver's. This is the same amp as mine, only it is not emulated to sound like a tube amp. Pure SS here.

thaddeussmith

came upon this post randomly when trying to research some gear locally on craigslist. is this you? http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/ele/1372027882.html

PSOVLSK

thaddeussmith wrote: »

came upon this post randomly when trying to research some gear locally on craigslist. is this you? http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/ele/1372027882.html

Since this thread is from February 2008 and he is from Baltimore, I doubt it.

kcoc321

thaddeussmith wrote: »

came upon this post randomly when trying to research some gear locally on craigslist. is this you? http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/ele/1372027882.html

Thad,
That is also a MKII upgraded by Rich @ Carver Audio. While Strider's add is from 1.5 years ago, I am hesitant to say more, without knowing if he has sold his.

thaddeussmith

kcoc321 wrote: »

Thad,
That is also a MKII upgraded by Rich @ Carver Audio. While Strider's add is from 1.5 years ago, I am hesitant to say more, without knowing if he has sold his.

That's the crux of my situation (and why I'm no longer pursuing it) ..the ad text is verbatim from Rich's site and the pictures are from this old post. I didn't want to jump to conclusions without trying to verify, but there's just too many red flags.

kcoc321

Might I suggest starting your own thread regarding this amp. I, and probably others. would be happy to discuss the merits of this, but not on Strider's ad thread (if he still has it for sale)

thaddeussmith

kcoc321 wrote: »

Might I suggest starting your own thread regarding this amp. I, and probably others. would be happy to discuss the merits of this, but not on Strider's ad thread (if he still has it for sale)

I'm well aware of the merits of this amp. I'm trying to figure out if the amp locally listed is scam or not since the pictures in the craigslist ad are from this FS post. If the CL poster and strider are the same person, then I'm interested in pursuing ..if not, he should be aware that people/person are trying to pass his images off as proof for illegitimate sales.

mmadden28

I'll comment since it appears that Strider sold this (see this thread) so no harm no foul at this point....

It's also a possibility that the seller of the CL unit didn't have a camera, was lazy, etc., and searched the web to find some photos to post. Kinda like taking stock photos from a vendor site or Amazon. Wouldn't be the first time pics from this forum were used with or without a scam being the reason. Was it wrong to do so? Perhaps from a copyright perspective (but its not like he was making money of the pics themselves) Anyway since Craiglist is for local sales where you meet in person and see the product in person-give the guy a call or email and ask him for some better pics or a time to meet (but don't let him know you know about the copied pics). Otherwise the CL seller doesn't make any claims as to the condition of the unit and the pics used aren't detailed enough to show condition or flaws.

Just sayin'

Welcome to Club Polk if your sticking around-It's a good place. Good luck.

strider

Yeah, Ricardo's had my old amp since October '08, and neither of us live in Dallas.

Pics are definitely lifted a la Google images or it's ilk. Hopefully just laziness on the Dallas CL poster's part and not a scam......

strider

....on the other hand, the two links thaddeussmith found that make up the Craigslist post are the second and third hits on Google.

Now, I'm not the smartest man in the world, but.....

snow

This has been discussed over at the Carversite forum and no 500 - MKII amps modded by Rich at his site have been sold in Texas so this CL ad is a fraud in every way.



REGARDS SNOW

Ricardo

And Strider's amp and pre are sitting in my basement.

George Grand

I didn't know the "t" version had a tube amp as the target amplifier. What was that tube amp? I know that I've seen this statement about all his amps being transfer function modified to emulate tube amps. As far as I know, only the M1.0t and every amp after it had a tube amp as target amps. The M1.5t had a ML solid-state amp as the target amp, and I heard he once used a Berning amp as a target amp, but who knows what amp and what for. The Cube thing? The M-500?

I have one of those M-500t's that I use for something and I have another in the closet.

kcoc321

snow wrote: »

This has been discussed over at the Carversite forum and no 500 - MKII amps modded by Rich at his site have been sold in Texas so this CL ad is a fraud in every way.
REGARDS SNOW

Interesting...so they know where every ONE is? That is quite a feat.... Course MKII owners are quite loyal, I know there was not any even up for sale back when I bought my M500

Not saying the guy is NOT a fraud.....

On the other hand, the guy did post his name and #...seems like something a fraud would not do. But maybe he was counting on shipping it.

sucks2beme

You got my interest. I sent him a message. Lewisville is the next town west of me. I guess I'll see where the bear poops.

snow

kcoc321 wrote: »

Interesting...so they know where every ONE is? That is quite a feat.... Course MKII owners are quite loyal, I know there was not any even up for sale back when I bought my M500

Not saying the guy is NOT a fraud.....

On the other hand, the guy did post his name and #...seems like something a fraud would not do. But maybe he was counting on shipping it.

There has been less than 50 of these modded amps sold so it's not the feat you might think lol. Im pretty sure he does have a Carver M500 for sale but its not the one in the pics and its not any that Rich modded, so yes its a fraud in the sense that what he is selling is different than described. He also states this amp has been serviced a year ago and Rich hasnt even been selling the MKII upgrades for a year, so pretty easy to see that it cant be one of his.



REGARDS SNOW

kcoc321

Be interesting to see...wish I was close, I would go by just to find out what is what.
I'd even give him $150 for it.....
Oh weeeeeelllllllllllllllllll...

thaddeussmith

oh i called the number ..it went to a generic "hello, no one is here to take your call" type VM. the guy never replied to my e-mail. the only reason it struck me odd was that i had a similar situation with some vintage marantz speakers. the price was right and so i researched them ..found the pictures from the CL post in a thread on AudioKarma. I contacted the AK member who appeared to own them and he indicated that someone had been lifting his pictures and posting the gear as available ..made it sound like a bit of cyber-harassment, etc.

the stock info taken from Rich's MKII site and the images here combined with the lack of response on CL raised red flags. not sure if someone is harvesting info or what ..just be aware this type of stuff goes on.

mmadden28

I have the generic prerecorded message on my VM-What's so suspicious about that?

thaddeussmith

mmadden28 wrote: »

I have the generic prerecorded message on my VM-What's so suspicious about that?

nothing on it's own ..but when evaluated in context of everything else, it's suspicious. look, i just want to know if strider was the guy (or knew who was) behind the craigslist post. got my answer, so no need to keep this thread going.

treitz3

George Grand wrote: »

I didn't know the "t" version had a tube amp as the target amplifier. What was that tube amp? I know that I've seen this statement about all his amps being transfer function modified to emulate tube amps. As far as I know, only the M1.0t and every amp after it had a tube amp as target amps. The M1.5t had a ML solid-state amp as the target amp, and I heard he once used a Berning amp as a target amp, but who knows what amp and what for. The Cube thing? The M-500?

Hey George, the M-500t wasn't designed to sound like any particular tube amp, just to have a sonic signature that was like that of a tube amp as opposed to an SS amp.

nooshinjohn

I thought the T-mods were originally patterned after the Conrad Johnsons, with the later TFM series being done to mimic the Silver Seven Tube amps...

TheHippy

Please contact me, That's the amp i need

Thanks

Ricardo

Sorry, not for sale anymore. Unless you want to pay $500 for it.

(I did send it to Rita's for a complete overhaul.....)