Carver M400 cube amp, Good or bad choice

faster100
faster100 Posts: 6,124
edited September 2002 in Electronics
I was wondering, I have came across the carver M400 cube amp on several e-bay auctions and for some reason be price,looks and specs decided i might get one, of course they are used and have been out for a long time from what i understand. But what do you guys think or have you even heard of it? or anything good,bad what ever? I read alot of reveiews on audio review and they seemed to really like it. They says it 200 wpc x2 @8ohms. seems like a good choice for rear surrounds??? what do you think
I'm new here so let me know all you know so i can decide, Thanks
MY HT RIG:
Sherwood p-965
Sherwood sd871 dvd
Rotel 1075 amp x5
LSI15 mains
LsiC center
LSIfx surround backs
Lsi7 side surrounds
SVS pb12/plus2


2 Channel Rig:

nad 1020 Pre-amp
Rotel 1080 stereo amp
Polk sda 2B
kenwood grunt Tuner
realistic lab 450 TT
Signal cable IC
Post edited by faster100 on

Comments

  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    Thumbs up for the Carver.....my only complaint with it would be the spring clip connections.


    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited September 2002
    Exactly, But I can deal with that i guess. wish they all had 5 way binding post : ( tHANKS
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    No worries, I've never understood why Bob did that with some amps. I understand the cost thing but really, he could have added good binding posts, charged another 10 bucks per unit and still sold a ton of 'em.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2002
    A great deal for a under a dollar a watt. Rears? Sheesh, this is my main cave amp right now....

    Great amp, but I agree with Troy on the clips.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    201wpc of Carver power will drive JUST about any speaker you could think of. PLENTY of power. Maybe not RBH inwalls, but about anything else.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited September 2002
    So how small is this amp anyways? I heard it was like 7" square thats pretty small. what advantage or idea was behind a amp that sit on the floor(im assuming) rather than in a audio rack? I think it looks cool myself but looks don't make it go either. Neat little amp, Dont know what i want for my rears???? amp wise
    I am into looks as well as sound and so i want a cool/nice looking amp as well being it takes up one wall with the audio rack, 46" big screen and speaker mains. thanks again
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    Yeah it's pretty small, 7" is probably about right. Who knows why, maybe because you could (and they were cheap enough) use them as monoblocks. Quality wise, well, it's a Carver and that is good enough for me.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2002
    Its drives anything I've thrown at it, Polk SDA, Thiel, B&W.... Good headroom, lots of clean (in-expensive) power.

    Exactly a 7inch cube (minus the feet), tips my bathroom scale at 14lbs..

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,408
    edited September 2002
    Mono blocks? I am thinking these were stereo only?
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    I was thinking if you had two and bridged 'em. I'm pretty sure you can bridge them, at least I thought so.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,408
    edited September 2002
    I have not seen one on a while but I was thinking you can't, hey I 've been wrong before. Russman can you?
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2002
    Yeah, you can, 400w/rms into 8ohm bridged, supposedly 2 ohm stable, just under 3db of headroom if I remember right....

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited September 2002
    Well the general con census seem to be great about this amp, So my question was answered Thanks !!!! I am still thinking wheather i want a amp on the floor or on my audio rack??? Decisions decisions........ Thanks
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2002
    I use the m200t also, VERY nice amp. 100w/ch rms * ohm, bridgeable to 200. I've ran 2-4 ohm loads on it with no issues, other than a *little* heat....

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited September 2002
    So the only way of running a lower ohm load is by the speakers right? or is there another way?? My speakers now are 8 ohm RTI 70's
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2002
    Whatever ohm load your speakers draw is what you will run. Some speakers (DQ10's, Maggies) dip very low in impedance, so an amp being 'stable' at a certain ohm could be important.

    Other possible scenarios, running multiple pairs through a switch (with protection circuit disabled) in a whole-house or multi-zone rig (as I do), or for use as a sub amp for low-impedance woofers, multiple woofers, dual-voice coil woofers....etc etc... (depending again on how they are wired)

    After all that babble, the simple answer to your question is 'yes'.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited September 2002
    Great, Thanks, My M-504 is stable at 8,4 and 2 ohm. I really really want the LSI 15's as mains but just dont want to change the whole Line, Center and rears to the Higher priced LSi's, Could i use the cs30 center,rti28's rears and still be happy with the lsi 15's as mains?? I actually have the R15's as rears now but plan to upgrade to the RTi 28's soon.
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • jmasterj
    jmasterj Posts: 327
    edited September 2002
    Hi faster100,

    As you see we like Carver. The M400 cube was the first magnetic
    field power amp Bob Carver made. It hit the scene and became
    a overnight success. It was just what people needed a high powered amp at a reasonable price. I'm glad to hear they are still around that's a testament to the quality. I think the unique cube shape was intended to increase product recognition. If I had one,
    or preferably a pair I would bridge them and have two 400watt amps. Why don't you consider building a small amp stand just for it. doesn't have to be real complicated. I would showcase them/it
    It's a collector's item and a piece of history.
    JmasterJ Polk to the Death
  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,458
    edited September 2002
    A friend of mine has two of these, each bridged, and let me tell you!! Wow, to say the very least! He also has a 200t which I used for a short time.
    Older Carvers are excellent amps, in my OPINION, which doesn't hold much weight anyway. :p
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2002
    Why wouldn't it hold much weight, brochese?

    There are a lot more folks that would agree with you than those who would disagree.

    Old Bob brought high end sound (with amps voiced so as to be indistinguishable from some HIGH $$$ amps) to the masses. He and dear Mr. Kloss were the patron saints of audio for us poor folks.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut