Vintage amps - Carver, Krell

For Krell go to the HIFICRITIC web site and look at the Colloms listings for amplifiers. Martin Colloms has tested just about every one and his ratings are for current sound standard, not at time of original test. Will give you an idea of what someone who has tested and used about all of them thinks.

I had a Carver TFM 24 for about 17 years. It handled every load I threw at it without getting above room temperature. It wasn't the most neutral sounding amp, but definitley loud and powerful. I was looking for a more nuetral sound, it was a bit distorted, that was my only reason for selling.

Stanwal, thanks but the website is hard to find the info you mentioned...

For Carver units, would the TFM be better than the M or PM series?

Would the Onkyo power amps be something better than both of them if we talk about the same output Watts?

For high watts/high current, if you could swing it, I would look at newer Class D amps for best sound and cost effectiveness. Wyred 4 Sound has some relatively low cost units that has attracted attention.

The Musical Fidelity Q#CR in my system cost me $600 used and replaced the Carver m4.0t. It is lower power but high current and should drive most anything in most rooms.

Among Carver amps, I'd swing towards towards the newer TFM units myself with most speakers.