Shopping for decent power amp’s lighting took out two carver TFM-35 x’s

[Mark E. Long]

It doesn't change SQ. I think there is a voltage difference though?

Yes there seems to be but from reading up on these should not matter much . At least that’s what I understand .

 

[Tankini]

The plan is to get them serviced and upgraded to the present spec there just to nice of an amp to park . I’ve had these for 20 or more years . It’s time for a refresh. The Buckeye amp is to fill in till one is done then switch it out and send another in .

My comment was tongue in cheek comment. Plus typos in it. Only experience I've ever had with class d amps was with subs good and bad. Amp crapped out on many of them. TFM (Carver) amps I've owned before. Loved them, tons of power. Colored sound? Subjective sound output sure. I loved the sound, First time I heard the terminology of a neutral sounding amp was back around 2010 and was told, your stuck with that colored sounding amp. Still okay by me. After all audio is to be enjoyed by the individual using it. Some love BOSE speakers still today. Some love ear buds over home audio speakers. Or headphones only. To each other's own I say. Kinda like cake, some like chocolate some like vanilla still eating cake though. Audio? same as cake. Crazy analogies I know. As always I leave the spec chat to well you guys.

 

[Mark E. Long]

My comment was tongue in cheek comment. Plus typos in it. Only experience I've ever had with class d amps was with subs good and bad. Amp crapped out on many of them. TFM (Carver) amps I've owned before. Loved them, tons of power. Colored sound? Subjective sound output sure. I loved the sound, First time I heard the terminology of a neutral sounding amp was back around 2010 and was told, your stuck with that colored sounding amp. Still okay by me. After all audio is to be enjoyed by the individual using it. Some love BOSE speakers still today. Some love ear buds over home audio speakers. Or headphones only. To each other's own I say. Kinda like cake, some like chocolate some like vanilla still eating cake though. Audio? same as cake. Crazy analogies I know. As always I leave the spec chat to well you guys.

No biggie buddy I’ve always herd that they are warm or colored lol I’ve not noticed it at least in my rig they are clean and gobs of power too yes these will be fixed and I’ll have a spare to fall back on .

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What will you do with the new amps after you repair the old amps?

 

[Mark E. Long]

What will you do with the new amps after you repair the old amps?

They will be used for rear surround and rear heights . Although I do run 3 carver amps the one I run bridged for the center is unharmed it could be switched out for a refresh in do time it takes months to get these done if I go with Nylon in Michigan it’s a little quicker . Hey who knows I might enjoy the new amps too .

 

[Verdinut]

Very good point on gain matching I will definitely consult him further and I was wondering about the XLR connection too they claim it makes no difference if you connect an rca to a xlr . I will contact him and see what’s what on it all .

There's no problem with RCA output source to XLR input. It's just a question of different signal voltage. Actually, the line level standard for professional audio is +4 dBu, while the consumer line level standard is -10 dBV.

In my 7 channel AV system, I am using the Denon AVR-X3700H as a preamp to drive QSC Digital Cinema Amplifiers with XLR input for all seven channels. Simple unbalanced to balanced input connections work without any problem as short cable runs are used.

 

[head_unit]

Hey who knows I might enjoy the new amps too .

Hoping so! And ugh sorry your amps got zapped, I lost an iMac that way once. I think they Buckeye stuff is about the best pricing for really good quality...for a different state of the art design this is also interesting albeit pricier.
http://orchardaudio.com
Back in college I had a Carver amp as well. I had started on my loudspeaker design journey with some monster 15" + horns powered by a little NAD (3240 IIRC). My new rich Texan roommate felt someone else's stereo was almost as loud (probably not, I measured 117 dBC, same as a Van Halen concert I attended). He bought a giga-powered Carver touring sound amp. OMG you could hear our room 5 floors up in the attic, it was nuts. Actually things were very quiet because nobody dared crank it up and offend him; one set of fellows who wouldn't turn it down while he was studying for P-Chem were rather surprised when suddenly they could not hear their own stereo in their own room! Bob sure had a lot of wacky ideas, rather a genius in marketing as well as technically.

 

[Mark E. Long]

There's no problem with RCA output source to XLR input. It's just a question of different signal voltage. Actually, the line level standard for professional audio is +4 dBu, while the consumer line level standard is -10 dBV.

In my 7 channel AV system, I am using the Denon AVR-X3700H as a preamp to drive QSC Digital Cinema Amplifiers with XLR input for all seven channels. Simple unbalanced to balanced input connections work without any problem as short cable runs are used.

Thanks for the info ya know I completely forgot about the QSC amps could you recommend some to look at . Ya know at one time I had DBX 231 eq’s in this rig on 5 channels had to have proper cables made up I may have to dig them cables out of storage .

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They will be used for rear surround and rear heights . Although I do run 3 carver amps the one I run bridged for the center is unharmed it could be switched out for a refresh in do time it takes months to get these done if I go with Nylon in Michigan it’s a little quicker . Hey who knows I might enjoy the new amps too .

I would just use the nice flagship Yamaha 3020 AVR until the old amps are repaired.

Unless you absolutely love the idea of buying new amps because you feel these new amps will give you a lot of pride of ownership.

 

[Tankini]

I would just use the nice flagship Yamaha 3020 AVR until the old amps are repaired.

Unless you absolutely love the idea of buying new amps because you feel these new amps will give you a lot of pride of ownership.

Was thinking the same thing actually. OP has two amps now, sure got hit with an act of God kinda thing.

But still repairable. More than likely will last till. Subjective, I actually have no need for that kind of output. To this very day I regret selling off my Carver amp.

In today's world where L/R mains are much better than speakers of days past. 6 1/2 driver in an array set, mid-range driver in a MTM above.

Towers today are well, didn't have tower speakers like what's out on the market today. So makes perfect sense, logically even to stay Pat with that 3020, put all the extra funds into repairing those 35's.

Like, repair dude goes: (For a Few More Dollars) Make both shiny/looking newest smelling. With updated Caps, maybe even a Newest coated PC board>(New Smelling).

That new electronic smell when you first fire up new amp/avr. Vintage amps well= proud of ownership. Talk about bragging rights.

 

[Mark E. Long]

I would just use the nice flagship Yamaha 3020 AVR until the old amps are repaired.

Unless you absolutely love the idea of buying new amps because you feel these new amps will give you a lot of pride of ownership.

Agreed it’s on the table to do that too lol to be honest I’ve never ran the 3020 on board amps except for the front and rear heights and the rear back surround channels the center , front mains and side surrounds have always been on outboard amps hell there like new and there’s plenty of wattage there . With that being said the New Amps or amp is to keep the channels as close to the carvers performance as possible and that’s never a sure thing so these spec close a little more wattage but not a lot . THD is better but hell iam old and can’t hear it anyhow . Iam also looking at ATI’s amps too I like there build quality and performance too .
It’s a big task to dismantle this rig and trouble shoot every thing . To rebuild a TFM is around 375.00 and change with up to date mods 3 year warranty same as a factory when new that is my route iam taking. It’s just a pain to box and ship there heavy .

 

[Mark E. Long]

Was thinking the

Was thinking the same thing actually. OP has two amps now, sure got hit with an act of God kinda thing.

But still repairable. More than likely will last till. Subjective, I actually have no need for that kind of output. To this very day I regret selling off my Carver amp.

In today's world where L/R mains are much better than speakers of days past. 6 1/2 driver in an array set, mid-range driver in a MTM above.

Towers today are well, didn't have tower speakers like what's out on the market today. So makes perfect sense, logically even to stay Pat with that 3020, put all the extra funds into repairing those 35's.

Like, repair dude goes: (For a Few More Dollars) Make both shiny/looking newest smelling. With updated Caps, maybe even a Newest coated PC board>(New Smelling).

That new electronic smell when you first fire up new amp/avr. Vintage amps well= proud of ownership. Talk about bragging rights.

That is on the table too I’ve had Soundcraftsmen , SAE amps and these carvers for 20 years all powerhouses with crazy power. The Yamaha AVR doesn’t lack for power either so that is the easiest move and just get the amps serviced it’s a working solution to the amp problem for sure and yes the rebuild is cheaper than about anything with comparable power . Supposedly with the new rebuild you get more power with the new mods too which nobody needs the power they have now unless you have a large room which I do but have never come close to useing all the wattage they have in reserve .

 

[Tankini]

That is on the table too I’ve had Soundcraftsmen , SAE amps and these carvers for 20 years all powerhouses with crazy power. The Yamaha AVR doesn’t lack for power either so that is the easiest move and just get the amps serviced it’s a working solution to the amp problem for sure and yes the rebuild is cheaper than about anything with comparable power . Supposedly with the new rebuild you get more power with the new mods too which nobody needs the power they have now unless you have a large room which I do but have never come close to useing all the wattage they have in reserve .

You know I'm just polkin at ya right? Actually I'm envious, wouldn't consider donating those two Carver amps would ya? Had the 25.

 

[Mark E. Long]

You know I'm just polkin at ya right? Actually I'm envious, wouldn't consider donating those two Carver amps would ya? Had the 25.

You know I'm just polkin at ya right? Actually I'm envious, wouldn't consider donating those two Carver amps would ya? Had the 25.

B

You know I'm just polkin at ya right? Actually I'm envious, wouldn't consider donating those two Carver amps would ya? Had the 25.
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[Mark E. Long]

B

Actually use a TFM-25 in bridged mode for my center channel it’s a JBL Syntheses Array 880 it’s a good match for the carver .

 

[Tankini]

B

Umm, you must be ole-est like me huh? I post to myself gets my point across to them EE dude's sometimes.

I tell ya! sometimes I wonder if some of them highly educated dudes even have a sense of humor. Nooo! all I get is a dumb hammer, all because I criticize some of them squiggly lines on them amp designs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Agreed it’s on the table to do that too lol to be honest I’ve never ran the 3020 on board amps except for the front and rear heights and the rear back surround channels the center , front mains and side surrounds have always been on outboard amps hell there like new and there’s plenty of wattage there . With that being said the New Amps or amp is to keep the channels as close to the carvers performance as possible and that’s never a sure thing so these spec close a little more wattage but not a lot . THD is better but hell iam old and can’t hear it anyhow . Iam also looking at ATI’s amps too I like there build quality and performance too .
It’s a big task to dismantle this rig and trouble shoot every thing . To rebuild a TFM is around 375.00 and change with up to date mods 3 year warranty same as a factory when new that is my route iam taking. It’s just a pain to box and ship there heavy .

To me, at this stage in life, it’s not about saving a few dollars, but rather about enjoyment or pride of ownership.

So everything we buy, like new amps, has to be about total enjoyment and pride of ownership, not saving some money.

It seems like those Carver amps are big on your pride of ownership and enjoyment. So understandable you want to service them and keep forever.

A few weeks on just the Yamaha FLAGSHIP AVR isn’t going to hurt. Yamaha and Denon AVR amps are known to be very beefy and capable.

So send those Carvers in and enjoy the beefy Yamaha flagship while the Carvers take a vacation.

 

[ban25]

Check out Gene's recommendation for an inexpensive wall-outlet surge protector:

 

[Mark E. Long]

To me, at this stage in life, it’s not about saving a few dollars, but rather about enjoyment or pride of ownership.

So everything we buy, like new amps, has to be about total enjoyment and pride of ownership, not saving some money.

It seems like those Carver amps are big on your pride of ownership and enjoyment. So understandable you want to service them and keep forever.

A few weeks on just the Yamaha FLAGSHIP AVR isn’t going to hurt. Yamaha and Denon AVR amps are known to be very beefy and capable.

So send those Carvers in and enjoy the beefy Yamaha flagship while the Carvers take a vacation.

I do take pride in my amps the whole rig really it took years to find and assemble this set up and I really do like it the cost for a refresh is not bad considering what they do 370.00 for a complete rebuild . The cost of two rebuilds is still less than one new amp so to me I will go that route it just makes sense. Heck they take them completely apart clean and wash everything then run them for 25 hours . I was just worried about heat . But I’ll still be useing the 3 rd carver for the center channel it’s will help take the load off the AVR a lot actually . So the smart thing to do is just use the AVR and rebuild the TFM-35 x’s and Nelion audios 3 year warranty is actually better than the original carver warranty so it’s a no brainer .
I do appreciate the advice and sometimes it helps to see through the tons of information out there . So off the the amp doctor they will go .

 

[Verdinut]

Thanks for the info ya know I completely forgot about the QSC amps could you recommend some to look at . Ya know at one time I had DBX 231 eq’s in this rig on 5 channels had to have proper cables made up I may have to dig them cables out of storage .

The QSC amplifier which would be the closest to the Buckeye

Thanks for the info ya know I completely forgot about the QSC amps could you recommend some to look at . Ya know at one time I had DBX 231 eq’s in this rig on 5 channels had to have proper cables made up I may have to dig them cables out of storage .

The QSC amp that comes with a similar output rating as the Buckeye NC502MP 2 channel amps is the DCA 1622 sells for over US $1300, at about twice the price.

For comparison, the Buckeye represents an outstanding value, also considering that it has even better specs than the QSC. It consumes also less power which is also an advantage.