Carver being rebuilt.

[ohskigod]

My Carver 4.0 is currently sitting in Oregon about to be rebuilt, also getting "bypass caps" for 60 bucks I figured what the heck, though I have no idea what it is. Roland at Carver Vintage Audio explained it and like an idiot I pretended to know what he was saying. Basically, he said it makes a noticable difference so I got it.

anyone have a clue what this is? either way I know I'm gonna get a great amp back. No qualms putting the $ into it as this has been my favorite amp for a LONG time (bought in 04?)

[thsmith]

Can't answer your question but if you call Roland he will break it down for you. You made a great choice on who to go through your amp.

I have used Rolland on at least 2 occassions and was happy.

[zingo]

Bypass caps would probably be added to the coupling caps or other signal path caps. Bypass caps are high value caps which are added to lower quality caps to try to improve the sound quality or adjust the sound quality. It does work, but with the creation of audio specific caps, bypass caps are not used as much because you can get the same result by just using a higher quality cap; which can also cost a little or a lot more money depending on the application.

[nguyendot]

How much it setting you back? Are they still doing the flat rate fix? I have a TFM-25 that I need serviced.

[ohskigod]

for the most part, the flat rate for a rebuild is 299.00. he replaces all the caps and whatnot in the amp to where it is, for the most part, a new amp.

the bypas caps were another 60 bucks or so........there was also the option of getting an IEC conector for the power cord (this amp has a built in power cord, this option would allow you to use whatever power cord you have) this option was 100 bucks and I opted against. Juice didnt seem worth the squeez, even Roland intimated that if I was going to choose one option to get the best result, the bypass caps were the way to go.

he can also change the binding posts, but he noted the binding posts on my 4.0 were the good ones....apparently some of the 1.5's binding posts can be a train wreck....h actually told me not to bother for my amp.


the rebuild, the caps, and shipping to my door came out to 392.00 pricey? yeah, but where am I gonna get an amp for the quality I will get for 392?

I will report results when I get it back. I had this amp since 2005 and loved it as is until it started to sound a bit fuzzy in one channel, thus spurring me to send it in. I liked this amp WAAAY too much to write it off. Have I heard better amps? yeah, did they cost ridiculous sums of money? yep.

I'm keeping this amp until it burns to an effing crisp

[George Grand]

You appear to be burnt to a crisp.

[Joe08867]

I have never heard anyone do this before. Hopefully it works out but sounds like smoke to me..

[AudioGenics]

like to know more of the details of a "rebuild"
the type of components that are used.

was there something originally not working with the amp
that it needed fixing ?
was the amp purchased new in 2004. That is only 6 years old
and components don't wear out that quickly.

How many "bypass" capacitors? for $60

[Face]

$100 to install an IEC jack, F that!

[nguyendot]

I wonder if it's worth it on my TFM-25. I want to get it fixed, but alas $300+ can buy me a good amp on the used market..... 225w/channel is nice however.

[Lasareath]

was the amp purchased new in 2004. That is only 6 years old
and components don't wear out that quickly.

How many "bypass" capacitors? for $60

That amp is at least 15 years old


My TFM-35X's are from 1993, one day i will do that same with them and it will be well worth it i'm sure

[EndersShadow]

like to know more of the details of a "rebuild"
the type of components that are used.

was there something originally not working with the amp
that it needed fixing ?
was the amp purchased new in 2004. That is only 6 years old
and components don't wear out that quickly.

How many "bypass" capacitors? for $60

He got a somewhat detailed list of what he does on his site...I have an email into him for a quote on refurbing my Carver 705x as we speak....

http://www.carveraudiorepair.com/prices.html

[AudioGenics]

15 years old - 17 years old.
TFM-35x
MSRP: $ 900.00
Description: 250 watts (1993-1996)

Well, I've spent way more on restoration and upgrades....

Let us know if there was any significant improvements !

[Lasareath]

He got a somewhat detailed list of what he does on his site...I have an email into him for a quote on refurbing my Carver 705x as we speak....

http://www.carveraudiorepair.com/prices.html

There's some before/after pics at this url:

http://www.carveraudiorepair.com/workmod.html

[Lasareath]

15 years old - 17 years old.
TFM-35x
MSRP: $ 900.00
Description: 250 watts (1993-1996)

Well, I've spent way more on restoration and upgrades....

Let us know if there was any significant improvements !

I paid $740 shipped for my two TFM-35X's used 3 years ago. Well worth the money.

[TNRabbit]

Caps are pretty much toast by the 20 year point, if not sooner. Rolland does the most complete, top-to-bottom Carver rebuilds of anyone I've ever heard about & has ZERO complaints that I'm aware of.

[ohskigod]

You appear to be burnt to a crisp.

I dont know george, if I wanted another Carver 4.0 used, I'd spend the same amount if not more, but without it being refurbed. like I said, the amp was starting to go (right after Polkfest, the right channel started getting some distortion, actually thought it was the AR9's at first and was relieved to a degree to find it was the amp .)

it was either get another used amp or go this route. I'll report my feelings more when I get the amp back, though I have spoke to some here on the forums that have told me I will not be dissapointed.

and Sal is correct, I did not buy this new in 04, it was used at the time. probably early 90's

[ohskigod]

$100 to install an IEC jack, F that!

yeah, I thought that too, hence no IEC jack for me.

[nguyendot]

yeah, I thought that too, hence no IEC jack for me.

That's an easy mod you can do yourself...and choose your own jack.

[mmadden28]

I dont know george, if I wanted another Carver 4.0 used, I'd spend the same amount if not more, but without it being refurbed. like I said, the amp was starting to go (right after Polkfest, the right channel started getting some distortion, actually thought it was the AR9's at first and was relieved to a degree to find it was the amp .)

...

Are you sure it was the amp?
Remember that issue with the right channel on the Plats when Antny and I were hooking up the Silver 9t's? We ruled every part of the system out but couldn't find the actual cause. After it was working again, he thought it might have been my Dodd ELP but I wasn't convinced at the time.

Then the other day I had a similar issue at home. I was listening fine one day, then the next I had very little right channel output-just like at PF--I was like WTF!!!. I tried in vain for about 20 mins to figure out what was wrong, then for kicks and giggles, switched the input selector on the Dodd to the other input and then back again, and WHALAA everything was fine again. I recall now that one of the last things I did on the Dodd at PF was switch the input selector and back before it started working again.

I'm thinking that the contacts in the switch need some cleaning and that may have been the cause of the issue at PF, and quite possibly, if it was still in the audio chain, the cause of the distortion??? Or were you experiencing distortion after PF?

[ohskigod]

it was distortion after polkfest, I troubleshot it extensively. switched L?R inputs on the source, preamp to amp. all stayed right channel. switched speakers, stayed on right channel. swapped speaker wires, stayed right channel.

swaped out amp, problem went away. hooked the amp to another system, there it was....subtle, but there. might not hear it if I didnt point it out and only when a music track was relatively quiet, like an acoustic guitar or something. if the track was loud and dynamic you'd never know.

These Carvers are known to have there caps go bad so I figured it was time for the refresh. I knew it was coming.

I initially though it was a bad tweet or dome mid on the AR9's initially, oh my god I freaked out.

[EndersShadow]

Just as an FYI here is a small excerpt from the email I just got back from them. It lists a little bit more about what they go through and replace (if you do a chassis refresh):

The chassis refresh does run a bit more (than the 179-229) but will restore the amplifier to factory new performance wise as we will on top of all repairs replace all of the electrolytic capacitors throughout

[drumminman]

I wonder what it would be for My TFM 42. I'm starting to get a little crackle in one channel, though it still sounds fine.

[ohskigod]

same problem I had. the basic repair I believe is 299 (your tfm42 is the same amp internally as my m4.0)....I did a bypass cap mod that added to the price.

gotta factor in shipping there and back as well to the overall cost to see if it is worth it for you, it sure as hell was for me. I love this amp more than i ever did now.

[mewisemagic]

yeah, I thought that too, hence no IEC jack for me.

can you use one from and old psu out of a pc?

[Big Dawg]

can you use one from and old psu out of a pc?

Probably, but why would you? You can buy a new one for about $2.00.

[mewisemagic]

didn't know what they cost