Review: Carver Amazing Speaker

Category: Speakers


I have been the owner of Carver Ribbons (These are the Silvers) for more than 8 years. No other speaker I've heard can match them at anywhere near the pricepoint. Keep in mind that a 75 wpc reciever can power these with "not critical" results and you have one of the best starts to a budding system.
Like all ribbons the Carvers image with uncanny ability, but fail when you don't take the sweetspot. Placed wrong they can sound simply awful, boomy and strident. They require a lot of time to set up and tiny changes in toe-in and distances from walls GREATLY change their sound. I suspect a lot of people never truly got to hear what these ribbons can do in most showrooms.
I currently use them in a HT room using a Paradigm 2200 sub. The ribbons are rolled off at 80hz, with the sub providing enough musicality to satisfy. Paradigm center and rears aren't a close match, but the sound on DTS recordings is dynamic and exciting. Detail, as expected, is excellent. A heavy velvet curtain hanging behind the ribbons calms the highs. They also work better when placed on spiked platforms, which is something I tried with great success.
The carvers will work best away from Sidewalls (I don't have this!) and in a large room. I'm about to add a Rotel or Bryston amp.
Robert B
NY

Associated gear
Outlaw Amp, Paradigm PW-2200 Sub, MIT Cables