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

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

DCA 1622

Crystal-clear, breathtaking, seat-shaking cinema sound is here with the DCA 1622 Digital Cinema Amplifier by QSC

www.qsys.com

By comparison, the Buckeye represents an outstanding value, also considering that it has better specs than the QSC. Because of its efficiency, It consumes also less power which is also an advantage.

 

[Mark E. Long]

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

DCA 1622

Crystal-clear, breathtaking, seat-shaking cinema sound is here with the DCA 1622 Digital Cinema Amplifier by QSC

www.qsys.com

By comparison, the Buckeye represents an outstanding value, also considering that it has better specs than the QSC. Because of its efficiency, It consumes also less power which is also an advantage.

Those are very nice amps too you run these ? Are the fans quite I had a high power Soundcraftsmen amps that had two stage fans if I remember correctly they were 350 watts a channel too but very quiet.
Iam leaning on rebuilding these as it’s cheaper to have them completely rebuilt than to buy really anything new with this kind of power these run so cool you have to touch them to make sure there on and I won’t have to change any cabling which is not a big deal unless you look in my box of misfit toys and cables. The AVR does have the amps to run this rig for how ever long it takes to get them done but I wouldn’t mind haveing a spare to throw into the mix if something goes south again thank you for the info .

 

[Verdinut]

Those are very nice amps too you run these ? Are the fans quite I had a high power Soundcraftsmen amps that had two stage fans if I remember correctly they were 350 watts a channel too but very quiet.
Iam leaning on rebuilding these as it’s cheaper to have them completely rebuilt than to buy really anything new with this kind of power these run so cool you have to touch them to make sure there on and I won’t have to change any cabling which is not a big deal unless you look in my box of misfit toys and cables. The AVR does have the amps to run this rig for how ever long it takes to get them done but I wouldn’t mind haveing a spare to throw into the mix if something goes south again thank you for the info .

I run three DCA 1222s which have a 200 watt rating at 8 ohms and 325 watt 4 ohms for the front channels, each one bi-amping the speakers, with a 200 Hz filter frequency between the subs and the mid-bass drivers. Crossovers between mid-bass and tweeter frequencies are passive.

With regard to the fans, if you don't sit closer than 10 feet from them you shouldn't hear them. The big advantage with those QSCs, you can't kill them. They use a SMPT power supply and they weigh only 21 lbs. Those DCA series amps were released in 1998 and their circuitry design has never been modified since.

 

[Mark E. Long]

I run three DCA 1222s which have a 200 watt rating at 8 ohms and 325 watt 4 ohms for the front channels, each one bi-amping the speakers, with a 200 Hz filter frequency between the subs and the mid-bass drivers. Crossovers between mid-bass and tweeter frequencies are passive.

With regard to the fans, if you don't sit closer than 10 feet from them you shouldn't hear them. The big advantage with those QSCs, you can't kill them. They use a SMPT power supply and they weigh only 21 lbs. Those DCA series amps were released in 1998 and their circuitry design has never been modified since.

My big jbl towers are 4 ways and are 4 ohm nominal and the carvers run 350 or more the jbls are 250 watt rated now I’ve never maxed it out but I have pushed it louder than anybody would want to listen too lol . My niece husband plays in a band and does sound too he swears by them he’s also a great cable maker . He told me that there pretty much bulletproof carver gear is pretty much the same too he uses a few pro carver amps in some setups they are a little different from the home gear but has some different back hookups balanced xlr inputs ect .

 

[Verdinut]

My big jbl towers are 4 ways and are 4 ohm nominal and the carvers run 350 or more the jbls are 250 watt rated now I’ve never maxed it out but I have pushed it louder than anybody would want to listen too lol . My niece husband plays in a band and does sound too he swears by them he’s also a great cable maker . He told me that there pretty much bulletproof carver gear is pretty much the same too he uses a few pro carver amps in some setups they are a little different from the home gear but has some different back hookups balanced xlr inputs ect .

Mark, here is a chance to pick up a used DCA 1622 which looks like an item that has been taken care of. You could possibly get it for $300-325 which is darn cheap and you would have a good spare amp:

QSC DCA1622 DCA-1622 Dual Channel Digital Cinema Power Amplifier #1925 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for QSC DCA1622 DCA-1622 Dual Channel Digital Cinema Power Amplifier #1925 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

 

[Mark E. Long]

Mark, here is a chance to pick up a used DCA 1622 which looks like an item that has been taken care of. You could possibly get it for $300-325 which is darn cheap and you would have a good spare amp:

QSC DCA1622 DCA-1622 Dual Channel Digital Cinema Power Amplifier #1925 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for QSC DCA1622 DCA-1622 Dual Channel Digital Cinema Power Amplifier #1925 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

That would make a great spare amp are those speak on connections hard to wire up never used them but have seen them on a lot of pro type amps . It certainly has the power iam used to and there not bad looking amps either . After browsing QSC amps on eBay it come to my attention that someone have connections that accept regular Banna plugs is this item that is common on there gear .

 

[trochetier]

The specs for Hypex NCx500 2 channel amps from Buckeye or Apollon looks really good on paper. I like the input and gain control flexibility of the Apollon.

Is anyone using either to drive Magnepan 1.6 or 1.7s or LRS? What's your experience? I am currently using a Bryston 4BST but getting an upgrade bug.

 

[Golfx]

Get those amps service!!! Why go Class D?! You'll lose that (warm) TFM sound! No way I'd go Class D!! Buckeye buckaroo whatever.. Class D? Yuk!!!

Guess you are not a measurement kind of guy. Warm huh?

 

[Golfx]

I did a deep dive a few months back on surge protection. You will not find “THE” definitive article or forum post on what to buy or use. So “they” (multiple forums or articles) summarized recommendations as whole house surge protection plus added suppressors (non sacrificing) for expensive devices.

I too have 20amp lines and bought zero surge https://zerosurge.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2R-Series-01-24.pdf.

You can find cheaper ones that ”sacrifice” themselves but unless they smoke you will not know how much protection is still left after a surge.

Zero surge held the original patents which they licensed to brickwall and surgex and others. Seems like a minimal amount of money for protecting expensive AV devices.

 

[Tankini]

Guess you are not a measurement kind of guy. Warm huh?

Guess you are not a a fan of Carver amps huh? Drive Cores are Junk!! Warm enough for you?.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Guess you are not a measurement kind of guy. Warm huh?

I’ve always liked measurements ever since I got into this hobby. Every time a new issue of HTM, S&V, Stereophile came out, the first thing I would do was looked at the measurements, not the subjective reviews.

But the longer I’m in this hobby and older I get, the more I feel that measurement isn’t the only important thing. Other things like pride of ownership, build-quality, and aesthetics are just as important as sound quality and measurements - the “whole picture” sort of speak. Especially when I realize that a THD+N of 0.00001% isn’t going to sound any better to me than 0.01%.

Some people won’t buy anything made in China because it doesn’t give them “pride”. Any time they see anything “made in China”, they automatically think “Chinese Junk” regardless of how it measures or even cost. Can’t change how they feel. In car analogies, it’s like how some people will only buy Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc., not Kia or Hyundai Genesis, etc.

Some people don’t want to buy cheaper components because they feel the build-quality isn’t as good regardless of the measurements.

If chasing after the best THD+N and other measurement are salient to someone because that’s what makes them happy, then it’s fine.

In the end it’s about what sounds best to the person and how good it makes them feel - there are more than one factor.

We can all have what we want - what gives us the best feeling of ownership regardless of the reasons.

 

[Tankini]

I’ve always liked measurements ever since I got into this hobby. Every time a new issue of HTM, S&V, Stereophile came out, the first thing I would do was looked at the measurements, not the subjective reviews.

But the longer I’m in this hobby and older I get, the more I feel that measurement isn’t the only important thing. Other things like pride of ownership, build-quality, and aesthetics are just as important as sound quality and measurements - the “whole picture” sort of speak. Especially when I realize that a THD+N of 0.00001% isn’t going to sound any better to me than 0.01%.

Some people won’t buy anything made in China because it doesn’t give them “pride”. Any time they see anything “made in China”, they automatically think “Chinese Junk” regardless of how it measures or even cost. Can’t change how they feel. In car analogies, it’s like how some people will only buy Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc., not Kia or Hyundai Genesis, etc.

Some people don’t want to buy cheaper components because they feel the build-quality isn’t as good regardless of the measurements.

If chasing after the best THD+N and other measurement are salient to someone because that’s what makes them happy, then it’s fine.

In the end it’s about what sounds best to the person and how good it makes them feel - there are more than one factor.

We can all have what we want - what gives us the best feeling of ownership regardless of the reasons.

Edit: Deleted. 01-02-2024
Time: 1:58 CST. Chrees! "TFM's Rules"!

 

[Mark E. Long]

I’ve always liked measurements ever since I got into this hobby. Every time a new issue of HTM, S&V, Stereophile came out, the first thing I would do was looked at the measurements, not the subjective reviews.

But the longer I’m in this hobby and older I get, the more I feel that measurement isn’t the only important thing. Other things like pride of ownership, build-quality, and aesthetics are just as important as sound quality and measurements - the “whole picture” sort of speak. Especially when I realize that a THD+N of 0.00001% isn’t going to sound any better to me than 0.01%.

Some people won’t buy anything made in China because it doesn’t give them “pride”. Any time they see anything “made in China”, they automatically think “Chinese Junk” regardless of how it measures or even cost. Can’t change how they feel. In car analogies, it’s like how some people will only buy Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc., not Kia or Hyundai Genesis, etc.

Some people don’t want to buy cheaper components because they feel the build-quality isn’t as good regardless of the measurements.

If chasing after the best THD+N and other measurement are salient to someone because that’s what makes them happy, then it’s fine.

In the end it’s about what sounds best to the person and how good it makes them feel - there are more than one factor.

We can all have what we want - what gives us the best feeling of ownership regardless of the reasons.

Yesterday I I pulled the rig out from the wall and unhooked all the carver amps and am running everything threw the 3020 it all works although there is definitely a level difference between the two setups must rerun the calibration was interesting to see and hear the difference in outboard versus onboard amps I always knew the Yamaha was no slouch running by itself lol . With that being said I checked all speakers, driver with test cds tone sweeps and calibration disc’s every thing is good so off To Nelion Audio they will go after researching all kinds of amps after talking to them and on a couple carver sights I'm on it seems they went into DC lock from the double lighting strikes or surges .
Yes I’ll bite the bullet have them restored and run them for another 24 years for a price versus power and performance it’s a no brainer at least for me . The whole system is built around them and there performance and I liked the sound . I pulled the center I used for the center too it developed a low hum in one channel so for safety sake it’s wise to protect the JBL Array 880 center .
I’ll keep keep the thread updated as this goes along thank you Gents for your response’s .