Carver and Polk synergy
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I had a TFM-55x once and also an A-500x.
The x series amps didn’t have the Transfer Function Modification circuitry. So they sounded very different from the predecessors with that circuitry.
I have had four TFM-45’s over the years. I got my last one right here on the forum. It was modified and upgraded. I currently use it in my home theater system.
I have had two TFM-25’s in the past as well.
I’m currently on my second Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature.
I still can’t believe how the left rear channel blew catastrophically and I never even knew it. It just stopped playing sound from that channel. I thought it was the preamp. The amp continued to play the other channels just fine. It would turn on and off like it was supposed to and the meter and lamp even worked.
I found out what happened to the left rear channel when the guy who bought it from me on eBay sent me a pic.
I’m going to see if I can find it and post it here. -
At one point, I had 13 Carver amplifiers at my house, all at the same time. They were a lot of fun!
I am now down to just one. Bob himself signed it when my son was just 2 months old. I will give that signed 4.0t, along with a photo we took of Bob Carver himself, my wife and son all together the day he signed it, on his 18th birthday.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
The TFM35, anything with an X and later Carver gear came after they forced out Bob IIRC. The TFM 22 & 25 also were NOT transfer fuction mod architecture. The 42 & 45 were the only truly TFM amps. Straight out of Bob's mouth to me in a phone call after Rita forked up my C16 preamp. It (C16) and my TFM 25 had to go back and Bob fixed her work. Bob is/was a straight up guy.
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The TFM35, anything with an X and later Carver gear came after they forced out Bob IIRC. The TFM 22 & 25 also were NOT transfer fuction mod architecture. The 42 & 45 were the only truly TFM amps. Straight out of Bob's mouth to me in a phone call after Rita forked up my C16 preamp. It (C16) and my TFM 25 had to go back and Bob fixed her work. Bob is/was a straight up guy.
Cool
My understanding was that the TM-35x and TFM-55x were for the THX certification and he was still with the company and got booted out shortly thereafter. Plus it was never explained WHY they removed the transfer function circuitry. The A-500x and the A-760x that replaced those amps were not his designs.
If I got any of this wrong please let me know.
Also an interesting anecdote about the TFM-55x. The bass was loose and sloppy unless you reversed the polarity on the speaker cables.
Positive to negative and vice-versa. I know because I found out about it and tried it on my SDA-1C's and it worked! -
Rita.....now, that's a name I haven't heard in a while!
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
The guy that played Boss Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazzard" had a wife named "Rita".
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My understanding is Bob did not want to become fodder for Circuit City and wanted to go up-market. There were several projects in the works, spun off from the Silver Seven tube amps he wanted to pursue, but the folks on the board wanted to chase the buck and bail. Bob is a brilliant designer and hype man, but as a businessman, not so much.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 MiND2 Shunyata Triton/Typhon Rotel RP9400 Turntable
“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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I don't even remember him or her. For some strange reason, the name does ring a bell though. I just can't remember, it has been so long.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Lonnie Mack - Attack of the Killer VPolitical 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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Rita yelled at me over the phone. She blew her top because I wanted to have my signature 600 repaired. The left channel, maybe the right shorted out during a relaxation session.
She yelled because she was tired of fixing Carver amps at a fixed price. She said they lost money on most of the fixes. I was SHOCKED by her yelling about it.
I just followed the instructions on their website. I was supposed to call first and set up a # pertaining to my amp's service that would be performed. I was calm and said NOTHING to provoke a freakout.
It was expensive to ship it across the country but I bought it for 1,500 so I thought why not. I think the repair was a flat 350.00 and I pay for all shipping. The meter was not repaired though. They didn't have anymore.
I had it hooked up to my SDA-SRS 2s. It sounded pretty good.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
--Mark Twain.
“If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright -
I definitely wouldn't mind getting my ears on a signature 600. Last one I saw on eBay was fully restored and going for like three and a half grand. it was there for a long time and eventually sold. Anyone ever have Carver do the Scintilla Mod on a Sunfire amp?
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I had a pair of non tl 2.3s paired with a Carver tfm45 many moons ago and I thought it was a great combination at the time. That pairing served me well till 15 years ago when upgraditis sunk it's teeth in and both are gone now.
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Ah yes the dread disease Audiophilia Nervosa.
A disease of the wallet which afflicts mostly the males of the human species.
There is no known cure and they do not have any twelve step programs (yet) to address this affliction.
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I picked up a M4.0 at Salvation Army for $100 figured it didn't work but it did. Used it to demo a pair of 2.3's in my barn. The guy was so impressed he bought both the amp and speakers.Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre Upgraded with Mundorf Supremes
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Honestly what I wouldn’t give to hear a Krell amp with some Polk SDA’s.
I KNOW it is NOT a match when you are looking at mating a very high end and expensive amplifier with some loudspeakers that have always been considered entry level high end at best.
It’s just one of those stupid bucket list goals in the back of my head taking up space rent free……………… -
The better the gear feeding upgraded SDA speakers the better they sound.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 -
Honestly what I wouldn’t give to hear a Krell amp with some Polk SDA’s.
They sounded very good! June, 2019....IIRC Ed the SRT King from NY was picking them up. It was a mostly Lenco/vinyl day.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Yeah I remember those pics.
MAN I wish I had been there!! -
I agree that SDA tech. is better sound wise than Carver sonic Holography. Anyway, I like the sound I like the sound of the SDA's better than other speakers using a Carver C-9 that has been went through. I do disagree with some folks that claim "you need your head in a vice" in order to benefit from SDA or S.H. Carver. Both sound very good to me and I do not have a vice in my listening area unless you count the fact that I enjoy my vape and coffee in there on occasion. As far as amplifiers go, Phase Linear (White Oak Audio Restoration) and the White Oak Model One Amplifier are extremely good. Don't listen to me. Listen to one. Just try and not get your feelings hurt. When I did I got my feelings hurt a little bit. I had been through so many amplifiers and pre amps looking for the sound I found with a simple and not really expensive change. Are they the best amplifiers in the world? That would depend on your needs and what you think sounds best. Have I tried literally 100's of amplifiers and finally found the ones that I like best regardless of price. Yes, without a doubt. Yes, I own Krell and Conrad Johnson.. I will take a Phase Linear 400, 700 or Model One White Oak Audio though.
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SCompRacer wrote: »Honestly what I wouldn’t give to hear a Krell amp with some Polk SDA’s.
They sounded very good! June, 2019....IIRC Ed the SRT King from NY was picking them up. It was a mostly Lenco/vinyl day.
Yes, you would like to hear that! And F1 is totally correct ask me. The better equipment up stream to the Modded Polk SDA's the better!! -
Not trying to start a war here by the way by mentioning Phase Linear. Bob Carver as I am sure most know was Phase Linear....
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Bob Carver is a hack....
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Okay Doro....
LOL
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Who the hell is Bob Carver?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 MiND2 Shunyata Triton/Typhon Rotel RP9400 Turntable
“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? -
One of the greatest and most respected tube geniuses of our time.
He won the Carver challenge.
While he may be at the end of his life? He will not be forgotten, many centuries from now, for his contributions to the audio world.
I know you are being sarcastic, but he is, and will be a legend.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
One of the greatest and most respected tube geniuses of our time.
AgreedHe won the Carver challenge.
Yeah...well...ummm, since he had to stand there constantly tweaking it and admitted it could never be a production piece I personally don't see that as a feather in his cap.
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
