Chipp4 Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 Has anyone had experence with Carver power amps (like M1.0 or M1.5) and how do regular Carver brand amps compare with Sunfire amps? I know Sunfire seems to get great reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickey Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 Chipp, Click below for an intersting discussion on this whole topic: http://216.37.9.58/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000953.html I've used several Carver amps throughout the years, including the M1.0t, and more recently the 35x and Lightstar. The latter two (IMHO) are very musical with my Klipsch. Click on My System link to get an idea of how I have them configured. Hope this helps, Colin ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kornwall'd Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 I have owned a set of Cornwalls for about 7 years or so and I must say that I had really never "heard" them until recently. I just purchased a Sunfire Cinema Grand amp & Sunfire Theater Grand II pre/pro. This appears to be a match made in heaven! My speakers have taken on a whole new life. CD's I have played 100 times sound new and refreshed. Movies are incredible! I feel that my Cornwalls are world class speakers and they deserve to be driven by a great amp, like the Sunfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckears Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 Chipp... I powered my Fortes for 11 or 12 years with a Carver M200t power amp and Carver C2 preamp... the sound was good: fairly realistic and quiet, but lacking in kick-in-the-gut punch. The McCormack upgrades I made a couple of years ago, along with better cables, has re-kindled my enthusiasm for audio and music in general. I would have to say that the Carver amps sound good, but pedestrian... I was never brought near to tears as I was with the McCormack DNA1. ------------------ Klipsch Fortes, Oiled Oak Klipsch KLF-C7 Center Channel Klipsch RS-3 surrounds McCormack DNA-1 Power Amp McCormack TLC Pre-Amp Harmon Kardon AVR520 Receiver Sony 5-disc changer NHT SA3 Subwoofer Amp Hsu TN1220 Subwoofer Old Akai cassette Deck Nordost Solar Wind interconnects Nordost Moonglo Digital Coax Kimber 4TC Speaker Cable (Future upgrades to include): A big-*** HDTV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickey Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 Chuck, Never having heard the M200t power amp, I can't really be sure, but I'm willing to bet the bigger part of the problem with your old setup was the C2 preamp. I too owned the C2 and it was exactly as you described, pedestrian. Thankfully, I upgraded to a better pre/pro and the problem was solved. BTW, those McCormacks are oh so sweet... Colin ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 Carver/Carver designed amps are the last choice I'd make for horns. I'd even buy tubes before Carver. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc1091 Posted June 3, 2002 Share Posted June 3, 2002 What I've always heard about Carver amps is that you should get the ones that were made by Bob Carver and his company before Harmon Kardon bought out the name. Fortunately, Bob Carver bought the name back from Carver and started the Sunfire line. The only amps from Carver that I would own are the Cube amplifier (forgive me, I don't know the model number) and the TX-11 receiver. All else is junk (at least that is what I've heard). Sunfire has a great sub. The Theater Grand is incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckears Posted June 4, 2002 Share Posted June 4, 2002 chickey, In regards to the Carver C2, I did actually replace it with the McCormack TLC-1 before I replaced the Carver amp, running the TLC through the M200 for a few months. The sonic differences were nearly indiscernable until I replaced the Carver amp with the DNA-1. At that point, angels descended from on high and sang with many Hallelujahs. That Carver cube, BTW, was the M400, if my memory is correct. I never heard it, but everything I have read about the other Carver amps seems to bear out my own listening experience: Good sound, but not great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickey Posted June 4, 2002 Share Posted June 4, 2002 cc1091 raises a good point. The Carver amps circa the earlier 90's are probably his best designs. At that point, he had developed the tracking downconverter, and had also done a lot of work to voice the amps so that they sounded less solid state and more tubelike. These designs were the basis for the last set of amps he developed while at Carver (including the Lighstar), and represent the foundation upon which the Sunfires are built. The tracking downconverter also is the reason the Sunfire subs have such prodigious output. Chuck - Thanks for the clarification. If the M200t was of the same vintage as my old M1.0t, it was probably based on the magnetic field power supply. Stepping up from that to McCormacks was probably equivalent to going from Honda to Ferrari. Those old mag field amps were an interesting design, but weren't the most musical amps (and they hum like an SOB). Colin ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipp4 Posted June 4, 2002 Author Share Posted June 4, 2002 Sounds like the Sunfire road is the way to travel for high power and no Pro Audio amp fan noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kornwall'd Posted June 4, 2002 Share Posted June 4, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Chipp4: Sounds like the Sunfire road is the way to travel for high power and no Pro Audio amp fan noise. Trust me on this one. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that Sunfire amp. You will find that a lot of audiophile types will bash it around a little because it doesn't weigh 150 lbs. Check out the reviews at audioreview.com on the Cinema Grand and see for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted June 4, 2002 Share Posted June 4, 2002 nothing against carver, but b&k also makes some nice quality, real klipsch-friendly multi-channel amps. use the 7270 here w/ klf & cornwalls w/ great results. ------------------ My Home Systems Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickey Posted June 4, 2002 Share Posted June 4, 2002 Chipp, If you elect not to go with the vintage Carvers circa 91-93, then by all means get the Sunfire. It's basically the same amp in new clothes, and sounds terrific. Colin ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipp4 Posted June 5, 2002 Author Share Posted June 5, 2002 Checking on Ebay, it looks like it could be possible to get a deal on a Krell Theater Standard amp. I wonder how this would compare with Sunfire Signature Series (obviously the Sunfire is rated at twice the power). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.