Carver equipement good??


Wondering if Carver amplifiers and preamps were all they were *hyped* up to be back then?
I remember it being higher end stuff when I was younger (1980s, yes best of times!)
Anyway, was it "all that" ?

thanks
427cube
The Sunfire Signature 600 amp is simply outstanding replacing both SS and tube amps costing up to $18,000 per set in my system. They can be found used for $1500. Send them into Rita's Vintage Audio Repair and Bill will go through them updating power supply caps he knows will need replacing and updating. He does much more assuring the amp will sing for another 12-15 years with no problems. Sunfire Signature amp can, over time, need their rail voltages looked at and adjusted for precise imaging.

I use one on my Soundlab M3 speakers. It puts out 2400 watts into 2 ohms and hardly gets warm. The sound is glorious and as good or better then any top dollar, high end amp I have heard.

If you have not heard one totally gone through by Bill at Vintage Audio Repair, then perhaps you might be inclined to doubt what I say. Once you do, you will be floored that such an amp can be had for $1800 or so once back from Rita's.

It is magic on my very hard to drive Soundlab speakers. Very musical and easy on the ears even at 95db plus volumes.Huge stage, smooth and relaxed highs, powerful bass and very dynamic. Great separation and on and on...

It has an input impedance of some 24K ohms so be sure and mate with the right preamp. I have used a Bel Canto Pre 3 and the amazing TRL Dude tube preamp with great results.

This amp was designed and built by Bob Carver with his signature on each one. So yes he can build an amp that competes with well regarded amps by both the big boys and small one man companies.
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Bob Carver just designed a new reincarnation of his famous Silver Seven Tube monoblock amps. A pair of them sold for over $32k on eBay last night. 900 wpc, 4 chassis tube beasts. 25 tubes per side for a total of 50 tubes!

Carver Monoblock Beasts
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Carvers are the best bang for the buck in terms of wattage/power for consumer/home hifi. PRO pyramid/pyle PRO amps are about the same quality as Carvers for half the price, which also has low feedback and high dynamic range up to 4000 watts and bigger sound stage output.

I have own M1.5, M1.5t, M4.0ts, TFM-55s, and Carver Silver 7t.

Carvers are ok for the beginner audiophile. If you want serious high resolution listening i would take the Mcintosh/Levinson monoblocks.
No, the Signature 600 is certainly in a top tier league. These amps are far better then the other Carver amps you have mentioned.
Hi all ! The Carver amps are a heck of a lot better than their preamps . The TFM 35 I had sounded pretty good , not great but good for the price . The preamp ( cant remember the model ) was horrible , no dynamics and very veiled . Didnt really notice this until I put an ESS preamp in the system . After looking at the Carver preamp it was obvious what the problem was ...the whole power supply was no bigger than a walnut , well maybe 2 walnuts but I sure was tiny .