Bob Carver new tune expected

FWIW, I owned a number of Carver Corporation products during the 1980s, namely the M400t, M400a, C-4000, C-9, and TX-11. All were absolutely reliable, and in fact after about 35 years the M400t is still going strong in the home of a relative.

Sonically the M400t, which was the version of the cube amp that was designed to emulate the "transfer function" (the relation between output and input) of the very expensive and highly regarded pure class A Mark Levinson ML-2, I remember as being quite good, at least with the easy to drive speakers I was using it with. And despite its diminutive size it seemed every bit as powerful as its 201 watt/channel rating would suggest.

Its predecessor model, though, the M400a, sounded poor, with a strange glare often being present.

I found the sonics of the other products to be satisfactory for a few years, if not particularly enthralling, and I ultimately moved on. The M400t, though, I used in rotation with various tube amps until well into this century, when I gave it to the relative.

Regards,
-- Al

P.S: Regarding the Carver TX-11 tuner, my experience differed from what another poster reported earlier in the thread. Despite the special signal processing it incorporated to enhance weak signal reception, it was handily outperformed in that respect as well as in terms of sonic quality by two different Marantz 10B’s I owned during the 1990s, and by the 1954 REL (Radio Engineering Laboratories) Precedent I still have in my main system.

The 10B and the Precedent (which is monophonic, but provides a "multiplex out" signal that can be demultiplexed into stereo by an external H. H. Scott or Fisher "multiplex adapter") are by a substantial margin the most sensitive of many tuners I have owned over the years, most of them being "golden age" tube designs. Both live up to their outstanding reputations sonically as well, assuming of course that they are in top condition and/or well restored.

Regards,
-- Al

clearthink359 posts06-09-2018 6:23amBob Carver produces cheap, unreliable and poorly performing products hence the nicknames for some of his creations such as "Flame Linear" he is a promoter, showman and marketer of the first class however!

clearthink

Could you describe your Carver product experience that would provoke such a throughly negative remark? 

I own the new Raven 350 and I think it is a great sounding amp.

ozzy

I have had a lot of experience with Bob and Carver equipment. Spoiler alert, I love the gear and deeply respect the man. 

My first piece of Carver gear was “The Receiver” that a friend gave to me. This was a big step up from the Goodwill gear I assembled over the years. The receiver produced great sound, copious power and looked great twenty years after it was made. 

A few years later, I found a C-1 Preamp at a stereo resale shop. This piece of gear amp introduced me to the concept of audio “darkness”, no sounds were added or subtracted. Later, I had Roland modify it and the sounds became more pronounced and vivid. 

About five years ago, I bought a Carver modified Eico HF-81 integrated amp on eBay. It was my first journey into the world of tubes. It looked like new and produced a great tube listening experience. After a couple years of use, I noticed some noice on the left channel. I remember that Bob gave his famous “Lifetime” warranty so I reached out to him through eBay. Ten minutes later I received a reply from Bob, giving me his cell phone number and asking me to call at my convenience. Talk about prompt, personal service.

I called Bob, and he couldn’t have been more patient or gracious. He said I could send the amp back or he would walk me through a couple of fixes over the phone. Within minutes, he diagnosed the problem (corrosion on a knob) and helped me correct it. I was back in love with the Eico and gained a ultimate respect for Bob. 

As a newly minted Carver fan, I eyed his most recent creations, The Crimson 350.  I contacted Wally at Underwood and he offered that I could test a 350 at Bob’s lab, if I as interested. I jumped at the opportunity, and a week later I was sitting in Bob’s easy chair listening to the 350s through his new line source speakers. I spent a couple of hours with Bob talking about music, gear and everything else. I loved the monoblocks, and bought them. They are in my A+ system. They have replaced McIntosh, vintage Fishers, and HH Scott gear. 

I realize that Bob is a blend of many talents, physics, electronics, audio and promotion. My recommendation is to first listen to the gear and then you will appreciate the man.