My Poor Carver

Drenis
Drenis Posts: 2,871
edited October 2011 in Electronics
After just over 1 month of ownership... my Carver (Rebuilt TFM-42) has failed somehow.

I just fired off an email to the local Carver guy here who rebuilt this unit. I just can't believe it's failed. I bought it on August 19 with a 30 day warranty (Not that it mattered, he offered this to any buyer even through ebay). I know it will get fixed but... I guess after a long and **** day, past week and weekend... this was the icing. I was going to come home... listen to some music and relax... drink a Stella's. :(

When I turned on my Carver after getting home today (Worked fine last night when I shut everything down), I immediately noticed when I played the first song that I could barely hear anything from the left channel. Swapped IC and speaker wires to learn the problem was not the speakers but the left channel of my amp. It plays music but with no power... :( So I can only assume something within the left channel bank failed inside the unit.

Sorry for the rant... just needed to vent since I can't listen to squat.
Post edited by Drenis on
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Comments

  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    This was one of those 'Clubhouse' type of rants... I don't know why I posted it here.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,982
    edited September 2011
    Always best to have extra gear around for such a day!! :-)
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,877
    edited September 2011
    Drenis wrote: »
    This was one of those 'Clubhouse' type of rants... I don't know why I posted it here.


    Perhaps being from Canada has something to do with it.:tongue:

    If you need help getting it fixed, let me know and I can refer you to the right place.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited September 2011
    Not sure if the Carvers have them, but another amp I had had a main fuse on the power and individual fuses for each channel. I popped one of those, and it acted exactly like you're describing. I replaced that fuse and the amp has been good since.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: dsachs consulting
    Digital: Marantz SACD 30n
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Premier 350
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Perhaps being from Canada has something to do with it.:tongue:

    If you need help getting it fixed, let me know and I can refer you to the right place.
    Har har... :tongue: Fortunately I have someone who will repair it. It's who I bought it off of. It's what the guy does for a living. See link here for details - http://musicalintegrity.com/
    quadzilla wrote: »
    Not sure if the Carvers have them, but another amp I had had a main fuse on the power and individual fuses for each channel. I popped one of those, and it acted exactly like you're describing. I replaced that fuse and the amp has been good since.

    That's an interesting concept. I know there is a single fuse on the back of the unit but not for each channel. However, I'm assuming if a fuse goes, no sound would output. I could check later today.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,687
    edited September 2011
    If you encounter any problems with that repair shop, send it to Bob's new place in Colorado. If he cant fix it no one can lol.....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,877
    edited September 2011
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    If you encounter any problems with that repair shop, send it to Bob's new place in Colorado. If he cant fix it no one can lol.....
    Bob Carver's repair service is in Snohomish, Washington.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,927
    edited September 2011
    here's another great place also endorsed by Mr. Carver. I have sent many items to Roland who does GREAT work.

    http://www.hitechaudioltd.com/
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,669
    edited September 2011
    another source for repair is in Pittsburgh at vintage hi fi
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited September 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    here's another great place also endorsed by Mr. Carver. I have sent many items to Roland who does GREAT work.

    http://www.hitechaudioltd.com/

    Second Rolland, he has repaired a TFM45 and 55 for me. Offers tweaks as well.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    An assumption was made that something to do with a dampening module or control possibly failed. Apparently its a bad design on the Carvers so I was told today. Amp goes in tomorrow morning. No charge for repair either. :)

    It's so nice to have someone local who does very good work.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,927
    edited September 2011
    Drenis wrote: »
    An assumption was made that something to do with a dampening module or control possibly failed. Apparently its a bad design on the Carvers so I was told today. Amp goes in tomorrow morning. No charge for repair either. :)

    It's so nice to have someone local who does very good work.


    Sorry you had problems but i have a problem with that last sentence....If they knew it was a so called bad design you'd think they might of paid more attention to that so called bad design. Sounds like they were hoping that it would make it past the warranty period. I have used both Bob Carver service and Hitech(Roland) and never had to send anything back. Roland now completely rebuilds the amps he fixes ALL the problems they could ever have in one fell swoop.

    It's nice that you don't have to spend anymore money on the fix.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited September 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Sorry you had problems but i have a problem with that last sentence....If they knew it was a so called bad design you'd think they might of paid more attention to that so called bad design. Sounds like they were hoping that it would make it past the warranty period. I have used both Bob Carver service and Hitech(Roland) and never had to send anything back. Roland now completely rebuilds the amps he fixes ALL the problems they could ever have in one fell swoop.

    It's nice that you don't have to spend anymore money on the fix.
    I had a big reply to post but decided it's not worth it. I don't truly know what has failed or what caused the component to fail.

    Instead, thanks for your comments.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited September 2011
    engtaz wrote: »
    another source for repair is in Pittsburgh at vintage hi fi

    and,, these guys will treat you right.I had the opportunity to meet their service guy,,Extremely knowledgeble,,and the type of guy who treats your gear like his own,,I had had to say that cause I was that impressed,,and I have delt with them before,,very positive.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited September 2011
    I bought both my receiver and amp from Pittsburgh at vintage hi fi.I have nothing but good to say about Tom and staff.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited October 2011
    Well she's back home all fixed and modded even further. So nice to hear music once again...

    What's funny is I should have done a search on here for Carver service in Canada, because my unit was sold and serviced by a recommendation here before by TNRabbit. Rob Galayda

    :)
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited October 2011
    Well that was fast service, glad your back in the tunes, care to tell what the issue was?
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited October 2011
    It was what Rob originally thought it was. I'm sure he had said something along the lines of a dampening module. But I'm not 100% sure. It's pretty to look through the fins into the unit and see new wires and components that look so clean.
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  • IRLRaceFan
    IRLRaceFan Posts: 172
    edited October 2011
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    here's another great place also endorsed by Mr. Carver. I have sent many items to Roland who does GREAT work.

    http://www.hitechaudioltd.com/

    My Carver M1.5t just came back from here. Roland is a great guy to deal with and his work is top notch.
    Just note that he has about a 7wk turn around time - for me, it was worth it!
    HT
    Onkyo TX-NR1008 | Magnepan 1.7 | Polk LSiC | Polk VM20 | Polk DSW microPro 2000 | Parasound HCA-2205A | Oppo BDP-93

    2-Ch
    Cary SLP 30 Tube Preamp | Polk LSi7 | Carver M1.5t | Audio-gd Digital Interface | W4S DAC-2 | MAC Mini | Denon DP300f & Pro-Ject Debut III TT's
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