Synergy recommendations for Pre Phono using Carver TFM-45

thsmith

Looking for recommendations from Carver TFM series (preferably 45) owners that have found a Pre Phono that was a good match.

My TT is a Technics SL-1300, cart is Shure 97 but have Denon DL-160 on the way. Speakers are SDA-1Cs.

Have not determined which Phono cables I will add yet but most likely will go with Ben's if he has any left. being that is what I use between my AVR and Carver TFM

Recommendations so far have been the following but I had not asked the Carver TFM synergy question when I received these:
Cambridge 640p
Musical Fidelity x-lps v3 Phono Amp
Project Tube Box ll
Adcom GFP-750Jolida JD9A

Budget I guess is best bang for the buck considering I am a newbie. Also, i have no idea is tube pre phono is a good idea considering rest of the system is SS. Pre phono should support MC and MM.

My system sounds warm, to me and not looking to go bright. Detailed is fine.

If this request does not provide all information required let me know.

Thanks,

2-tall

I have been using the Cambridge with my tfm 24's and have had good results.

2-tall

That was a 540p that I used

thsmith

Thanks 2-tall, any other Carver users out there with a favorite Pre Phono

skipf

Carver C-19 tube pre
Carver C-1 - excellent phono board & SH
Carver C-2

All pair exceptionally well with the TFM series amps. The C-19 is the best and has a black faceplate like the TFM's. The C-1 & 2 are older model SS pre's with the anthracite color face.

I'm using a C-19 w/ silver 9t blocks and a C-1 with a pair of M-500t amps.

thsmith

skipf wrote: »

Carver C-19 tube pre
Carver C-1 - excellent phono board & SH
Carver C-2

All pair exceptionally well with the TFM series amps. The C-19 is the best and has a black faceplate like the TFM's. The C-1 & 2 are older model SS pre's with the anthracite color face.

I'm using a C-19 w/ silver 9t blocks and a C-1 with a pair of M-500t amps.

Thanks Skipf, I wonder if there would be any problems with Carver's Holography and the SDA's playing well together ?

Polkersince85

I'm using a Carver C-11 with my TFM-55. The Denon 160 will overpower the MC input on the Carver C preamp with your TFM-45. The 55 has the gain knob which helps in taming it a bit. Full gain I could only have about 9 O'clock volume control without knocking the pictures off the wall.

thsmith

Polkersince85 wrote: »

I'm using a Carver C-11 with my TFM-55. The Denon 160 will overpower the MC input on the Carver C preamp with your TFM-45. The 55 has the gain knob which helps in taming it a bit. Full gain I could only have about 9 O'clock volume control without knocking the pictures off the wall.

Now we are getting somewhere. Thanks polkersince85. Let me do some research on the C-11.

No issues with the SRS's and the Holographic pre ?

Polkersince85

thsmith wrote: »

No issues with the SRS's and the Holographic pre ?

There is a on/off button which will disable the Holo. No problem. It's nice to have hooked up to the Monitor 7's sometimes. C-1 and C-11 are about the same. You can usually find one cheap. They are getting some age on them though.

Fongolio

I have used both a Carver C-1 (which has low output moving coil capability) and a Carver CT-Seven for pre/phono duty with my Carver TFM-25 before it went up in smoke. Not the pre's fault by the way. Both worked superbly. The C-1 sounds slightly better but the CT-Seven has a remote and I'm fat and lazy.

ozzy21236

I find it hard to believe that more polkies do not have Carver TFM amps and listen to vinyl. I can tell you that I have a TFM 35x ,am currently using an Adcom GFP 555 MK ll 2 channel pre that has a built in phono section that is considered acceptable but I prefer the Cambridge Audio 640p that I use connected through the adcoms audio section of the video input.
I am curious if you have had the opportunity to hear your friends Parasound . Please list your impressions when you do. Also , you may already know this but the Denon DL160 you ordered as a HOMC , should be used in the MM section of a phono preamp. Sorry if you knew that,not trying to talk down to you. Sooo a vote for the CA 640p. MM and MC capability.Good price - less than $200. There are better of course but you will have to climb the price ladder a good bit.
You could do some searching at vinyl asylum , AK and audiogon to get more opinions, but nothing beats hearing it yourself of course.
Hope you get some more input.

Russ

thsmith

Thanks Russ, I will hook up the Parasound this weekend. I got distracted this weekend picking up a pair of minty SDA-1Cs in oak. Spent lastnight swapping out the SL-2000s for the RDO194s.

Denon cart showed up last night and headshell should arrive today so I want to spend some listening time using Denon AVR then go to Parasound this weekend.

Keeping my eye out for a used Cambridge but If I like the Parasound I will most like try the Cambridge.

I am hoping the Denon cart and Phono stage live up to what you hear. In the end if I can keep my Technics SL-1300 with upgrading cart and phono stage would be sweet. I like the SL-1300, it does what I want and works good.

skipf

thsmith wrote: »

Thanks Skipf, I wonder if there would be any problems with Carver's Holography and the SDA's playing well together ?

The C-19 has no SH circuit. As Polkersince85 mentioned, the SH circuit can be turned off on the C-1. SH and SDA don't play well together as they are basically the same circuit and tend to conflict with each other. SH is done in the pre before the signal goes to the speakers. SDA is done in the speakers themselves.

thsmith

Thanks Skipf, I have read good stuff about the C19. I need to file that away for future reference.

skipf

Good luck finding one, they are rare and folks that have them seldom part with them. If you do, grab it, you'll like it. Mmmmmmmmmmmm tubes.

thsmith

What is a fair price for one ?

skipf

If you can get one for $500 or less, you got a steal. The few I've seen for sale lately have gone in the $800-1000 range. Keep in mind they are 20+ years old, so a re-furb may be in order. There are a couple of shops that are run by ex Carver/Sunfire techs that will bring them up to original specs for less than $300. They are a very solidly built pre though, and if you can re-cap and touch up the cold solder connections yourself, that's about all they ever need.