Carver mk II series audio amplifiers

[RichP714]

Hello all. I'm a new member here, but have been over at carveraudio.com for quite awhile. I'm still working on getting my system listed (Carver, Klipsch, misc.) and due to a recent move it's still a bit in pieces.

I've been researching and experimenting, and came up with a stable, reliable upgrade to the M-500, M-500t and M-1.0t Carver amplifiers.

If anyone's interested, check out carvermk2.com for more info.

 

[skizzerflake]

Hello all. I'm a new member here, but have been over at carveraudio.com for quite awhile. I'm still working on getting my system listed (Carver, Klipsch, misc.) and due to a recent move it's still a bit in pieces.

I've been researching and experimenting, and came up with a stable, reliable upgrade to the M-500, M-500t and M-1.0t Carver amplifiers.

If anyone's interested, check out carvermk2.com for more info.

That's cool. I had one of those monsters for quite a while and loved it until it got hit by lightning. For the past couple years I've pondered finding a replacement (one of those $300 Ebay models discussed on the web site), but a rebuilt replacement would be even better.

 

[RichP714]

Interest in the mk II series has been greater than I expected. I only have a couple of full units left, and I'm booked until April doing upgrades.

I lost my contact emails due to the Carveraudio.com forum's closing. I'd sent out PM's to those interested to firm up dates for upgrading their equipment.

Most had already replied, but if you were interested and don't hear from me, send an email through my site and I'll get you on the list.

carvermk2.com

 

[engtaz]

Rich is a stand up guy and his mods on Carver are truly a work of art. Sound fantastic.

engtaz

 

[RichP714]

New for 2009

The Fulcrum Power Pivot

I mentioned around Christmas that I had a couple of ideas. With mk II upgrades booked through July my choices were to wait until August or multi-task. I wanted to see if this idea was workable, so I decided to pull out my prototype mk II and experiment a bit.

One problem with push-pull complimentary output stages is the emitter resistors allow a condition called common mode conduction. Near zero crossing, both polarities of the output stage are sourcing current through to the load. This allows greater heat levels, and disturbs the integrity of low level signals.

Phase I. The emitter resistors on the M-500(t) are a much higher value than they need to be. Reducing their value narrows the common mode conduction region

Phase II. strapping a transistor (and it's bias network) across both polarities of the output stage prevents both polarities from conducting at the same time.

I've had significant heat reduction, as well as increased fidelity to low level (delicate) passages. I don't have a spectrum analyzer, but I suspect the noise floor may have dropped as well.

Details are on thecarversite.com, but I don't have enough posts to put in links or pics
Details