Are Carver Amps Common Ground?

[Lasareath]

Hello All,

My Polk SRS 2's look like they require a lot of juice from an amp. I was thinking of getting a Carver amp or Two Carver amps and running them bridged mono.

Are Carver amps Common Ground?

What happens if I want to run two of these two channel amps in mono, do they become non-common ground because they will be seperate?

Like these?, will I need to connect their Neg post together since they are seperate units? http://cgi.ebay.com/CARVER-Silver-Ni...QQcmdZViewItem


And this, if I use it for the SRS 2's, can I just hook it up or do I need to do anything special. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2699&rd=1&rd=1

Please explain, because I'm really confused,

Thanks,

Las

[TroyD]

Most of them are common ground. I think the M500t is not.

Two SEPARATE amps, by definition, can't be common ground.

I wouldn't advise using stereo amps bridged mono with SDA's even strapping the terminals. In bridged mode, they aren't recommended to use with less than an 8ohm load.

If you are looking Carver, look for a TFM45/42 or m4.0t.

BDT

[hearingimpared]

Sal, these are the only Carver's that I know of that can be strapped. See attached pdf in this post.

The best thing to do is to make a list of the Carver amps you are interested in and call Carver's support line and ask them. Nothing like hearing straight from the horses mouth.

[hearingimpared]

Hello All,

My Polk SRS 2's look like they require a lot of juice from an amp. I was thinking of getting a Carver amp or Two Carver amps and running them bridged mono.

Are Carver amps Common Ground?

What happens if I want to run two of these two channel amps in mono, do they become non-common ground because they will be seperate?

Like these?, will I need to connect their Neg post together since they are seperate units? http://cgi.ebay.com/CARVER-Silver-Ni...QQcmdZViewItem


And this, if I use it for the SRS 2's, can I just hook it up or do I need to do anything special. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2699&rd=1&rd=1

Please explain, because I'm really confused,

Thanks,

Las

Find out if you can use an AI-1 cable on these SRS 2s , modified for blade/blade.

[TroyD]

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no...

BDT

[snow]

I dont think if you purchase one carver amp you will need any more power than that to be honest.

I used a carver TFM-35X on my sda srs 1.2tls It was rated at 250 wpc into 8 ohms 400 wpc into 4 ohms if I recall correctly. and it would get loud enough that if you had neighbors within a block or so of you they would be pissed without using near the power it had trust me.

so your sda srs 2s are 92 decibels at 1 watt - 1 meter. You will get around 117 decibels or so at 400 watts even if you bought another amp and doubled that to 800 watts you would only gain 3 more decibels.

I understand the passion behind trying to make your speakers sound there best. But IMHO it would be a waste of money to buy another amp and gain so little.

If at all possible borrow a friends carver if you can. Hook it up listen to it and I think you will agree there is no need for 2 amps.


REGARDS SNOW

[Lasareath]

I used a carver TFM-35X on my sda srs 1.2tls

REGARDS SNOW

Hi Snow, I was told that the 1.2TL's are a very easy speaker to drive and that the SRS 2's are not because they are 4ohms. I just want to make sure I have enough juice in reserve so that the amps won't clip.

These SRS 2's are the first speaker that ever made my Onkyo reciever turn itself off.

Sal

[Lasareath]

I used a carver TFM-35X on my sda srs 1.2tls It was rated at 250 wpc into 8 ohms 400 wpc into 4 ohms if I recall correctly. and it would get loud enough that if you had neighbors within a block or so of you they would be pissed without using near the power it had trust me.

REGARDS SNOW

Hey Snow,

There's one on eBay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/CARVER-TFM-35X-P...QQcmdZViewItem

I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens. What do you think that it is worth?

Thanks,

Las

[Lasareath]

Two SEPARATE amps, by definition, can't be common ground. BDT

Thanks Troy, I thought that would be true but nobody ever confirmed it for me or did i find it written down someplace.

Now I know if they are seperate units they are not common ground.

[Lasareath]

Has anybody done comparrisons between Carver amps and other manufacturers?

I've read many posts on the internet that state that the Carver's sound hollow or that something is missing in the musical detail.

[snow]

Hey Snow,

There's one on eBay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/CARVER-TFM-35X-P...QQcmdZViewItem

I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens. What do you think that it is worth?

Thanks,

Las

$350.00 - $400.00 It looks to be in nice condition. the bulbs are burnt out which is very common on these amps no biggie though you can buy a pair of bulbs for around $10.00 or so on ebay. This amp is rated for a 4 ohm load also.

I used to have a sony DA5-ES receiver that was $1500.00 new and a pretty decent receiver but it would go into protect mode if pushed too hard also like your onko did.

I ran this carver on several diiferent speakers some 8 ohms some 6 ohms and some 4 ohms and never had a problem with it, no matter how hard I pushed it.

They really are nice amps, and I really doubt you will ever get it loud enough and playing long enough to go into protect.

(Even at half its rated power) Which is far short of clipping. You will be in the 114 or so decibel range which will really seriously damage your hearing for life, if listened to for very long.

REGARDS SNOW

[george daniel]

more current ,,,Scotty,,, I need more current :)

[snow]

Has anybody done comparrisons between Carver amps and other manufacturers?

I've read many posts on the internet that state that the Carver's sound hollow or that something is missing in the musical detail.

I have done comparasions between the carver TFM-35X and other amps.

And what I have discovered is that the carver was very warm sounding more tube like if you will. And had a very deep and wide soundstage.

other amps I have tried which are adcom and proton are brighter and have less of a soundstage than the carver did.

The proton had better detail but far less of a soundstage.

The adcom had less detail than the proton did. and slightly less of a soundstage than the carver

The proton D-1200. The adcom GFA-555. are the 2 amps that I have compared the carver to.

As far as the carvers sounding hollow or lacking in musical detail these must be people that either hate carver for one reason or another or simply dont care for a warmer tube like sound.

It all boils down to what type of sound you prefer. everyones ears are different.

Anyone of these 3 amps will make your ears bleed and have plenty of reserve power.


If gaven a choice of only having one amp among these 3 to listen to.

Even though I dearly love my proton. And the adcom is a very nice amp.

I would choose the carver. It does more things right and is less fatigiuing to listen to for long periods.

PS. I think Joe. hearingimpaired has a friend that has a adcom GFA-5500 which may be local to you. if so he may let you have it on a trial basis to see if its the sound you like, and enough power to satisfy the sda srs 2s. From what I understand the GFA-5500 has more of a warmer tube like sound than the GFA-555 did because of the mosfets in the output stage. and may be in the same 400.00 or so price range the carver would be.


REGARDS SNOW

[engtaz]

snow what is your knowledge on Outlaw Audio.

[snow]

snow what is your knowledge on Outlaw Audio.

Very little. From what little i know they are a internet only company. They have there own following. They have gotten some nice reviews. other than that you will have to ask someone who has owned one.

Wish I could be more helpful but I dont know nothing about them lol.

REGARDS SNOW

[Lasareath]

Thanks Snow, I will talk to hearingimpared and see if that amp is available.

[candyliquor35m]

Here's one in houston for $300. Kind of a long drive tho.

http://houston.craigslist.org/for/324617895.html

If you plan on keeping one of these, it's not a bad idea to send it to one of the carver repair shops around or sunfire and they will fortify it so it will last another 20-30 years. There are threads already about where to send it.

[Lasareath]

Thanks, I sent an email to the seller to get a quote on shipping.

[RuSsMaN]

If you want Carver, I'd look for something like an A500x. The M and TFM series amps are getting long in the tooth, and not easily fixed when/if they decide to go tango uniform.

[G-2]

We're running an A500-x on our mains(LSi15's) and they sound increadible in 2-channel or with everything else. We're running an Integra 6.5 AVR which drives all our LSi's but when we added the Carver and the Sonance, the speakers just came to life. Russ is right; there are not alot of folks who work on these. We were fortunate enough to pick up a hardly used one at a local shop that deals in used stuff, but keep looking, you'll come across one sooner or later!

[I-SIG]

Parasound was an easy step or two up from the Carver and only slightly more expensive, say a c-note. Well worth it.

Wes

[Lasareath]

The guy on Craigslist is taking it off and shipping it to me, I will also be talking to the owner of the Adcom that Joe is selling to see if I can borrow it for a week and try it out.

So for now I will have the TFM35X for like $360 shipped, double boxed, I will pre-out from my reciever for just the mains, either the SRS 2's or the 1.2tl's

I will put them both thru their paces over the next couple of weeks and see which one sounds better to me.

Sal

[engtaz]

Can you say sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. Congrats

[Lasareath]

Can you say sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. Congrats

Thanks!

[snow]

The guy on Craigslist is taking it off and shipping it to me, I will also be talking to the owner of the Adcom that Joe is selling to see if I can borrow it for a week and try it out.

So for now I will have the TFM35X for like $360 shipped, double boxed, I will pre-out from my reciever for just the mains, either the SRS 2's or the 1.2tl's

I will put them both thru their paces over the next couple of weeks and see which one sounds better to me.

Sal

Congrats on your purchase. I tried to get a peek of that one on craigs list but the pics gone lol. If for some reason you dont like it or if you prefer the adcom that joes buddy has let me know, I may very well take it off your hands. chances are you will like em both so much you wont want to get rid of either of them.:D


REGARDS SNOW

[candyliquor35m]

Dude

[Lasareath]

Congrats on your purchase. I tried to get a peek of that one on craigs list but the pics gone lol. If for some reason you dont like it or if you prefer the adcom that joes buddy has let me know, I may very well take it off your hands. chances are you will like em both so much you wont want to get rid of either of them.:D
REGARDS SNOW

Cool. I want to go to Joe's house and listen to his 565's, Maybe I can get a pair of 565's and power the highs with the Carver. That should work?

The pictures below are of the unit. I got them out of my temporary internet folders ;)

[Lasareath]

I really like that the THD: less than 0.08%. Most Carvers are 0.5%.

[hearingimpared]

I really like that the THD: less than 0.08%. Most Carvers are 0.5%.

Sal, that is one spec that is way overrated in my book...I've heard class A amps with really bad THD ratings and they sounded so liquid and natural.

[snow]

Cool. I want to go to Joe's house and listen to his 565's, Maybe I can get a pair of 565's and power the highs with the Carver. That should work?

The pictures below are of the unit. I got them out of my temporary internet folders ;)

Looks very nice.:)


If you can ask him to take those rack handles off before shipping, they stick out further than anything else on the amp and seem to be a magnent for damage + its easier to pack securely that way.

Yes I think you could do that like joe did with his and the parasound. I have never heard the 565 mono blocks before but they are supposed to be very nice indeed.

REGARDS SNOW