Carver stuff

I just picked up an M-200t for 115, shipped, off of ebay. Nice amp, I will probably Biamp a center channel with it. I havent listened to it long enough to give you the full run down. It has spring clips, which might be a problem if you are running preterminated wire, but otherwise you should be ok. I have the C-1. M-500t and M-1.0t, as well, but Im not going to give you a review because I dont have much to compare it to. Blows the pants off my JVC receiver, however.

Hey Big Dan R,

Welcome to the forum, back in the day the mid 80's I use to have a Carver M1.5t power amp, and C-2 pre-amp. This combo was really nice with the Polk SDA-2's I miss it. I let it get away from me. It was the best 2 channel system I've owned. Today I have a Carver TFM 35x though not a powerful as the M1.5t was it still kicks my RT1000i's. I can't wait to hear the LSIi 15's on this amp. Never had any Adcom, dont know any one who has any.

No coloration with the Carvers. Almost clinical sounding. Not always the most pleasant sound but very dynamic, clean and true. Too much so in my opinion. No soul. Don't get me wrong, I love mine but most of the time I prefer something more musical and less clinical. (I'm sure I probably spelled clinical wrong).
madmax

my completely partisan opinion is the carver, just because I own it and hope so! If you do a head to head, let me know!

BDR,
Another big thumbs up for the M1.5t. Great powerhouse of an amp that made my SRS's VERY happy for over a decade.

Never owned Carver pre-amps, went from Yamaha to B&K. Point is don't overlook mixing manufacturers.... it's part of the beauty of going the separates route.

EDIT: Almost forgot, if you go M1.5t via ebay or such, go for serial number 10,000+, or an earlier one that has been serviced by Carver. Deal is the 1.5's went through a couple mod's during their production run and got sweeter sounding. I am the original owner of #2787 and had to send it in a few a years ago for a repair. They threw in tweaks that brought it up to the level of last ones produced. Difference was both noticeable and enjoyable.

BTW going ebay prices have been $350 to 450 depending on cosmetic condition with a couple outliers higher (including one that went for an unbelievable $700). Since Iraq listings have fallen off, but prices have too. Cosmetics vary a great deal as many of these amps were used in DJ rigs and have quite a few "battle scars".

A lot of the TFM amps are M-X.Xt amps in new clothing. (Uglier clothing if you ask me). I dont think the M-500t has a TFM conterpart. I own the M-500t and I like it a lot. I have an M-1.0t as well, and I might be looking to pass it off to someone, because I would rather have two M-500's. Let me know by email if in the future you decide to go carver.

I'm reaching here (and a little too busy/ lazy to pulll an old reference), but as I recall the "t-function" was a previously undefined amp quality that Bob Carver quantified and believed gave different amps their "sound".
He then developed the "t" line to mimic a famous amp line (some said it was Krell). Later on, after he designed his Silver Seven tube amp, he mimicked it. The M-4.0t Silver Seven was the most famous example of this.
Whether a difference can be heard is up to the individual. But as I said earlier, I thought my updated M1.5t came back from Carver sounding better than ever.

Uh, you guys realize this thread is over 6 1/2 years old don't you?