Carver Amazing Line Source Speakers

I heard them at the Chester Group Audio Show in NYC in November, 2016.  I was extremely impressed.  It was hard to find fault with them, although the demo was in a large room with a very high cieling.  I remember thinking that they would never fit in my room which has a very low cieling.  If you have some room for them to breath, I think they are worth a shot.  I can't tell you what you would hear if you listen to them, but I know I was really taken with them.  Very relaxed yet detailed sound, holographic soundstage, excellent transients with no glare or stridency.

They are exactly what Bob promises them to be... AMAZING! I was at his home in Snohomish as these speakers were being designed, and got to hear the prototypes on my custom Carver Monoblocks. The sound was jaw dropping. 

There is a shop in Los Angeles that has a pair for demo. I was there when Bob came down to demo them, and everyone I talked to after the demo was as blown away as I was. I believe several pairs were sold that day.

And to top it all off, Bob is an absolute gentleman, and a man of integrity. Buy with confidence.

I've had a pair for 2 years, and can't listen to them enough.  My listening room is impossible - roughly 20 feet by 25 feet, but with six walls and 3 huge open arches, and a 14' ceiling. I've tried many speakers in this room, and finally decided that I needed line sources to fill this wheat field.  A visit to Bob in Washington convinced me that the speakers were great, but the question was whether they'd do the job in this room.  The answer is definitely yes, albeit supplemented by 2 SunFire Trios as well as 2 SunFire subwoofers.  So with 76 Bob Carver speakers firing out of a McIntosh 452, I couldn't be happier.  The last movement of the Mahler 10th literally shakes the walls, but string quartets and viola da gamba solos have loads of presence and resonance.

@ ozzy, Dude!, Frank just said  he would pay for your flight and stay to Chicago or Washington state to do demo, I would like you to do it,  and post here or email me about the sound and experience,  cheers 🍺🍹🍸🍷🥃

Ozzy, 

I really couldn't say that with the little time I listened jammed in a small hotel room with a lot going on.  I like the idea of the private listening session offered if your really serious.  You gotta love them to spend that kind of money.  

parkhurst,

Thank you for sharing that visit. 
Did you think the soundstage was set too high as some others have posted on other forums?

ozzy

To each his own, but my first experience with the Carver Line source was the recent axpona show.  Three of us listened to these in two different rooms.  We left each of the listening rooms smiling and agreeing the sound was very good if not the best we heard in our afternoon.
I don't claim to have another pair of $19,000 speakers to compare them to but listened to many more expensive speakers at the same show.  None made my want list.

Since that day my son now 29 keeps asking when I'm getting them.  Would really love to know how they would sound with the old Sunfire vs the current Thiel CS 3.6.
I'll keep dreaming.

fmalitz,

Thank you for your comments.

czarivey,

I'm not sure I follow your comments.

ozzy

sweetness and quality of sound may turn into nightmare of maintenance of these amazing speakers. 

Lancelot,
A little thin? If there's anything we're guilty of, it's too much low end, especially if Bob's there. He LOVES big bass. Fortunately,it's completely adjustable, of course.We're like kids with car audio. Can't help but kick a little ass. Please accept my apologies; a bit too much bottom, but thin? We're flat to the low '20s at very high levels.

The demos vary from cut to cut and we play about 60 selections to provide variety. Stick around next time and be sure to ask for an ass-kicking cut.

Sorry about the vulgarity but I'm from Chicago.

Hi guys,
No commercial blather here bragging about performance (I'm Frank Malitz, partner and CEO of the Bob Carver Corp). Never believe anyone; listen for yourself.

Instead, I have a few comments about the shows we attend and our unusual policies. Also, just a little note to let you know that we do have a small but growing dealer network but yes, we will pay for a qualified individual to visit my home in Chicago or to our facility in Washington state for a relaxed, extended and fun-filled listening session. Simply call me at 847-668-4519. We don't bite and there's never any pressure. Call even if you need help with a defective product designed by Bob Carver of any of his past brands or models. It's our hobby too--just like you.

While all manufacturers believe in their product, we put our money where our mouths are--tube warranties from five years on our new entry-level power amp to 15 years on our mid-priced amps to lifetime on our biggest monoblocs along with free trips to prove our mettle! As you know, other fine tube-amp manufacturers warrant their tubes for a mere three months! I believe Prima Luna gives six months due to their innovative circuitry. Still, five years on our $2500 tube amp, including tubes? Not too shabby. Never re-tube again!
 
In case you didn't notice, we do not use any room treatment at any demo despite having 36-drivers pointing the wrong way! We also do not use MQA, Hi-Res, SACD or any after-market or digital room correction. We just want it to sound like it does in one's normal home listening to music you enjoy--no audiophile-only recordings.

We've exhibited in the smalllest rooms (2018 Axpona and RMAF) to huge grand ballrooms (Capital Audio Fest, NY show at the Park Lane or the giant double-room in Bangkok) but never complain or make excuses about acoustics. Again, we know we are all limited by our dwellings so why try to fool the public at HiFi shows?

I'll make no performance claims. That's for you to decide.

Peace and Harmony to all.
Frank

I heard them at RMAF last year and wasn't expecting much since the room was very small.  Contrary to my expectations, they sounded amazing.  If I were to start my system over, I'd strongly consider getting them over my Magnepan 3.7i's.

If you are very serious, Carver will pay for your flight and hotel stay. This is true, as they would rather have you hear them properly set up instead of at some dealership where they only hope they’re correct. Instead of selling them for less to a dealer, they would rather pay for your travel. You only need to agree that you are ready to buy if you like them. No tire kicking.

bmwzm8,

You know that's a good idea. Perhaps I will do that.

ozzy

If your going to spend 20K for speakers...........Spend 500.00 and fly to hear for your self........... What you like may differ from reviews ........

@ozzy 

I would say a little thin but this was in a cavernous, mostly empty room with terrible slap echo so perhaps an accurate impression would be had in a more friendly space.

Koestner,

Interesting I wish I could hear them. Thanks.

ozzy

I heard I heard them at RMAF and was very impressed! They compared to the plus 50-100k speakers in some other rooms. I love a large room filling sound, and these do it. I would get them, but I already have large room filling sounding speakers.

david_ten,

Thanks I'll check out that video.

ozzy

@ozzy  I believe there was some positive show coverage from  the recent Axpona (going off memory, so I may be wrong). Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-ROChTI5gE

Thanks lancelock

Could you describe the sound a little more? Was the soundstage tilted up or too thin sounding?

ozzy

@ozzy ,

I heard them at CAF. Bob had huge room. It was a big sound but overall I wasn’t impressed or just did not appeal to me. I didn’t hang out in there too long so maybe I didnt hear a real quality recording.

stereo5,

Thank you for that info. I appreciate it.
There was a review in 2015 in Absolute Sound that really praised the speakers but not much since then.

ozzy

I heard them at the RMAF in the Bob Carver room.  They were driven by his 350 tube monoblocks and the sound was very full and engaging..  I really wasn't paying too much attention to the sound as I was busy talking with Bob about life and things.  However, what I did hear was really good sound.