Carver M400 cube amp, Good or bad choice

[faster100]

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

[TroyD]

Thumbs up for the Carver.....my only complaint with it would be the spring clip connections.


BDT

[faster100]

Exactly, But I can deal with that i guess. wish they all had 5 way binding post : ( tHANKS

[TroyD]

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

[RuSsMaN]

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

[TroyD]

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

[faster100]

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

[TroyD]

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

[RuSsMaN]

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

[hoosier21]

Mono blocks? I am thinking these were stereo only?

[TroyD]

I was thinking if you had two and bridged 'em. I'm pretty sure you can bridge them, at least I thought so.

BDT

[hoosier21]

I have not seen one on a while but I was thinking you can't, hey I 've been wrong before. Russman can you?

[RuSsMaN]

Yeah, you can, 400w/rms into 8ohm bridged, supposedly 2 ohm stable, just under 3db of headroom if I remember right....

Cheers,
Russ

[Zero]

I have the model below it, the 200t. Its one hell of a small amp, in fact, its the smallest source I have. But dont let its size and suprisingly decent price fool you- its a powerhouse!

[faster100]

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

[RuSsMaN]

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

[faster100]

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

[RuSsMaN]

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

[faster100]

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.

[jmasterj]

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.

[smglbrth]

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

[TroyD]

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