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Hello everyone. It is a pleasure to have found this site with so many interesting resources and people willing to help others by sharing their knowledge and experience. My interest in power amplifiers began when I was just a teenager, more than 50 years ago now. I have designed and built both solid-state and, above all, tube amplifiers during this time.

Hello to all from Italy ! My name is Frank and I am a DIY tube stuff designer and repairer and I hope to get help from this community because I have tried to search and contact every where and every site related to CARVER products but invane ... In short I have the opportunity to get my hands on a not working but in very good condition SUNFIRE CLASSIC TUBE PREAMP but I can't find the schematic, so I am asking if any of you can suggest where to find it ( a scan or by download) ... obviously I can Pay for this but It seems that this schematic is not available on this site either ! Can anyone help me ? Thank you very much in advance !

I bought a Carver M-400t new in 1986 from the Comiso Air Station Air Force Base in Comiso, Sicily. I would never sell it!!! I even got Bob Carver himself to sign it when I sent it to be serviced in Washington nearly 15 or so years ago. Anyway, ... that's my story!

I just don't understand why people don't know how great carver equipment is it boggles my mind

Hi all! - I stumbled onto this site while looking for preamp options to pair with a power amp that I am having built for me. Have heard a lot of good things about Carvers, especially those that have been upgraded/modified. Current equipment is a Yamaha S701 and '86 Klipsch Cornwalls. I mostly stream music using an older Macbook and Topping D10s. Decided to go back to using separate components which i haven't done since my youth. I'll start looking through the postings regarding preamps and preamp modifications to get some ideas. Anyway, welcome your thoughts and suggestions for taking my system up a notch or two! Jeff

I went to see this today, and I've not been in a movie theater since pre-covid. I was pleasantly surprised with recliner seating, adult beverages, and not so pleasantly surprised at soft drink and popcorn pricing. Coyote Vs. ACME was so much fun. My date and I giggled all through the movie with a few hard laughs. It's a blend of live actors and animation. John Cena is the villainous lawyer for ACME, and Foghorn Leghorn is the CEO or ACME. If you can get into this as a weekday matinee with a senior discount, it's a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

Hi, I’ve been following Sunfire subwoofers ever since I heard a Super Junior at a relative's house—an experience that opened the door for me to the world of DIY audio. As fate would have it, that very Super Junior has now ended up in my hands with a busted cabinet and a blown amplifier (three IRF640s and the 2121/5949 transistors are gone). So, I’ve taken on the task of trying to repair it. Thanks for letting me join the community, and I hope to keep you all updated on the progress. For now, I've been thinking about upgrading the semiconductors—using MJL4302/4281 and IRF640N—but I'm not sure if the 1943/5200 are good replacements for the 2121/5949. Could someone clarify that for me?

Greetings. I recently unboxed the Carver HR-722 Receiver and TL-3200 that I bought in the early 90s. They have not been powered up for many years but now I live in a house where I can set up a decent audio room so I thought I would bring them back to life. I'm sure the receiver needs capacitors. While I'm no stranger to that kind of work, I'm hoping to find some guidance in the forums. I found the schematic and service manual here so I am very thankful for that. I remember shopping for my audio gear back in the 90's. I spent a lot of time at the local audio store listening and doing A/B comparisons. I finally narrowed it down to a "high end" Sony receiver and the Carver HR-722 and I came home with the Sony. I hooked it up and realized almost immediately that the receiver was not up to the task. So I took it back and came home with the Carver gear. I listen to my collection of vinyl and CDs but I really enjoy the quality and diversity of music I hear on my local public radio stations.

Hi everyone, I wanted to introduce myself to the community. I’ve been a huge fan of Bob Carver’s engineering since the 1980s when I bought my very first piece of Carver gear. Over the decades, that passion turned into a bit of a collecting hobby. Since the 1990s, I’ve been quietly accumulating TFM-55 and TFM-35 amplifiers. The ultimate goal has always been to build my dream "wall and room of sound." I’m finally making that dream a reality. Currently, 10 of my Carver amps are over at HiTech Audio getting a complete refresh and overhaul. The plan is to pick them all up in January, and I'll be sure to share lots of updates, photos, and progress reports as we get closer to that date and begin the heavy lifting. I'm looking forward to connecting with fellow enthusiasts here and sharing the journey with you all! Best,

Hello my name is Michael, I have been a huge Bob Carver fan going all the way back to Phase Linear, I am here because of my passion for his Sunfire gear and the tube amps he was working on before retiring.

Hello, I frequented these parts years ago when I was sssembling my second Carver/sunfire system. At that time we were building an audio system for our boat. Many years have passed and I am finding myself back in the Carver obsessive compulsive behavior zone. I am currently beginning to purchase the equipment for our future audio video room that will be located in a remodel that we have not even done yet. Carver components on hand today: 2 M1.5T’s restored by hi tech audio 1 Carver receiver 2K restored by HTA 1. Carver 400 Cube 1. Carver M500T (new in the box never opened) 2. CRM2 1. CRM 3C 1. Sunfire 1. SD/A -450 1.SD/A-490T 1. C2 preamp 1.XTEQ-8 carver Sunfire components needed to complete system: 1. XTEQ-8 2. Silver 9 T 2. CRM-2 2.CRM-BIP Cheers,

Hello my name is Tom and I am a longtime Carver fan like all of us. My current Carvers in use are a very nice m1.5t and for my surround system I am using the 17" wide Arcitects Choice Cinema Grand Signature edition. It has the upgraded torodial power supply and it is marvelous. I currently have this as my two channel system: A Sansui 5500 pre outted to the 1.5t into a restored pair of Large Advents with the masonite woofers and fried egg tweeters. I also will run a set of stacked Advents every now and then to show them off to friends. My living room system is a Pioneer lx505 with all pre outs to the front 5 into the cinema grand which I bi wire a set of NHT 2.9 voltage source for the woofers and current source for the tops and use a NHT Classic 3C center and 2 NHT C1s for rear surrounds and bedlayer speakers and the front heights are NHT-SB1 powered by a B&K stereo 120 and I have 2 Hsu VTF-TN1 subwoofers. I am quite happy with it and I do not use any Dirac or room correction. I like it better flat and no eq or room correction applied. It sounds monstrous and delicate. No complaints. I am sending the 1.5t and my other tfm42 in to Nelion this coming February and having them both completely redone and upgraded. Anyway, hello everyone.

@sparda236 If I may offer a suggestion to possibly get better exposure for your question. I would create/start a new topic/post in this area, https://thecarversite.com/forum/137-sunfire-speakers/ @Sk1Bum

Looking for manual for cassette deck TDR1550?

After replacing the power supply capacitors which were an interesting dual cap model with 4 Nichicons from Mouser of the same values and best esr profile I could get, the amplifier came back to life. I made a PC perf proto-board replacement to hold the 4 capacitors modeled after the one sold on Ebay, soldered some stiff wires into the perf board, and fitted it in to replace the old capacitors. I will still need to give it stress test, but all appears to be good now. The hardest part was getting the old caps out, which I did by a combination of cutting the legs with a dremeal tool and removing the remaining soldered stubs and cleaned the wholes needed for the replacement board.

I recently bought a PM -420 amp. Finally I own a carver amp! I am looking for a compatible tuner/preamp to go along with it. I’ve been looking at the CT-23. I want all units to be rack mount and from the same era. I’m looking for suggestions. Thank you

Thank you. Looking forward to it. Came across the Phoenix site (and this site) while looking for repair options for my old PL 200. Decided to go with the White Oak Audio 400 build for the amp. I am going to start off combining it with a C-1. Found a nice one owner piece that I think will work, but will have to look into some of those other Carver preamp options you listed. Yes, with the purchase of the C-1 an appointment with Nelion Audio may be in cards!

My C-1 and M200f were new when I got them over 40 years ago. It has been reliable until just about a month ago, which is why I sought out this forum. Any insights are appreciated. It plays only one speaker. And sometimes the sound goes off abruptly. Im able to get sound back by repositioning the C-1 and the M200f amplifier, which are stacked one on the other. I just had the connector array for the speaker wires replaced because it was falling apart. After the installation of the connector panel, the speakers both worked for about 6 months. Then about a month ago one speaker stopped carrying sound. I’ve switched the speakers to be sure that’s not where the problem is. Has anyone run into anything like this? Mike

😪 need RECAP service

My daily dose. Sahara (album)

for welcoming me to the site everyone. Old audio head trying to figure out how to get the old stuff up to snuff. Have an ancient Leach amp, that seem to work, a rare partially functional Mitsubishi pre amp tuner, Denon direct drive table, various stylus'. Updated with new Klipsch speakers. I'll be wandering about looking for info, perhaps sale items. I'm in Guelph, Ontario, about an hour west of Toronto. Be safe, all!

My daily dose. The Rippingtons, Weekend In Monaco (album)

My daily dose. The Rippingtons, Curves Ahead (album)

I have a pristine c16 and an upgraded tfm 15cb a rega Jupiter cd transport a pioneer sg9500 eq and am currently looking for a music hall 25.3 DAC all my cables are moon audio or gr research and I have upgraded gr research davantii bookshelves and a svs pb1000 sub but I have many carver pieces and am on the Hunt for the elusive c19 pre amp. my passion is jamming tunes and have an insane listening chamber and I also do crazy woodworking and make carver signs and all sorts of goodies. I am excited to network with all of you to hopefully attain many more carver pieces as I would like to collect one of every piece bob ever made

Good evening folks, I am pleased to announce that Musica V1.1 is in final validtion/release testing. Musica has been upgraded with Notes V1.0. Notes is a browser-based UI that can run on an Apache server or as a stand-alone python-based web server. It comes with a full UI that allows users to Query/Add/Edit/Delete the Musica database from the browser frontend. Notes works with any currently supported browser: Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, Safari, Internet Explorer. It is a python-based application that can run on Win 1X, MacOS and Linux. A few screen shots are posted below for a quick preview. Once the release completes release testing and documentation is revised, I will post the link to github. Joe

Amazon Prime gets you free popcorn and soft drinks at most major movie chains..., it's hard to find the link that describes the process for screenings in movie theaters, but I've had good luck. Some movies are also FREE - at same chains for prim membership.

We used to have 3 boy dogs until recently. 2 have crossed the rainbow bridge. Pepper was a 6 pound miniature poodle who live a full and happy life until the ripe age of 19 and his old pal Stewie was my black pug and my bestie buddy. He lived until he was 18, he went the year before Pepper and now we are down to our Papillon Benny who is 14 now. We called them the 3 amigos they were inseperable. We thought he would grieve for the other 2 but he had one for a year and then he was the only dog and he really took to being the only boy and he has spent the last year or so getting all the attention and spoiled rotten. He loves being the only dog and that makes us happy that he is happy. Other than having exactly zero teeth and being on soft food only, you cant tell he is 14 by looking at him or by the way he gets around, still very spry.

If I had the space I would make the 3.3 my main 2 channel system mains but I do not. I am a big fan of the NHT sound and the 2.9s do great in my 7.1.2 system. I am running them full range, center as well, and they are stupendous for surround work at least to me that is. YMMV of course. I was lucky enough to find all of the NHT speakers in one large lot and bought them all from the original owner who was downsizing into assisted living and he had all NHT everything even the sub amps for the 3.3. I think they are SA2 not the 3 but still super nice amps. I no longer use those due to the Hsu and the 2.9 or 3.3 need no help in bass thats for sure. I like the speed of the 10 over the 3.3 is 12" in my room the deep bass is handled by the tn1s quite nicely so the 2.9s just cruise right along. I have some NHT 1.1 and 2 sets of Super Zeros and one set of c3s still to incorporate when I use the rest of the lx505 channels. Its nice to have so many same voiced matched speakers for a killer cohesive sounding Atmos setup which is what I am working on now. Trying to find a way for the rear heights to look good in a open room with odd measurements and a 15 vaulted ceiling isn't easy. It has to be right or im not going to do it I will stick with the 7 speakers and 2 subs. Sounds pretty good to me like it is so no hurry.

Thank you for the welcome and I am looking forward to sharing pics of my systems. I also have a very nice set of the 3.3 but I prefer the 2.9s in my room and the depth of the 3.3 wont work where I need them to so I will leave them in storage until I need them again. I am a NHT fan for sure but I also really enjoy my second hand set of Krix Lyrix floorstanders with the tfm42 behind them they sound really nice too. I am re foaming some DQ-10s right now and just finished recap of a set of B&W602 bookshelfs. I am going to try them with the Cinema Grand next when they are ready just to see how they sound with power behind them. Looking forward to sharing pics with everyone.

Because... I need some Russ Freeman

Fats Domino Blueberry Hill (1957)

@sparda236, I agree with @BobTFM35. If you will start a new thread in the area that BobTFM35 linked to, I'll be happy to move your post to the new thread. No worries, no harm, no foul. Easy-peasy.

Johnny Cash I Walk The Line (1956)

My Carver Amazing Platinums sound wonderful but the woofer cover fabric has a few slight stains from years ago. I've looked at a couple different fabrics on parts express and found Mellotone, SoundAssured and the "house" brand. Obviously not all created equal. Looking for recommendations from the community here on what others have used to recover their speakers and are happy with. Thanks in advance, always appreciate the advice here.

My amazings came to me with some party-stains on them - I assume spilled beer? I don't know for sure. I carefully used a steamer, the kind to remove wrinkles from clothes, and they lifted right out. I took the grills off, first, so I wouldn't steam the honeycomb woofers.

TFM-25 trying to find binding post for this amp; all ones Ive seen the mounting post is about 2x to big around

Eric Essix, Streets of Gold was released on July 17, 2026. "Since the release of his debut album, First Impressions, in 1988, guitarist Eric Essix has remained committed to documenting his musical journey—offering listeners an intimate look into both the artist and the man behind the music. As Eric often says, he has maintained consistency “by keeping my head down, moving forward, and focusing on the work.”" You can read the rest of the review here...

Hi everyone I'm Mark from florida and I have owned carver since the early 80's and most recently recapped my C1 preamplifier and M-500t amplifier and I'm currently in the process of restoring a M-500t I recently obtained. The M-500t I most recently recapped took me most of the day to remove the large power supply caps that were clued in place and get everything cleaned up. I have a great appreciation for service technicians. Take Care and be safe out there.

My daily dose. The Rippingtons, Brave New World (album)

Jeff Rupert Quartet, Sea Spell was released on June 26, 2026. "Jeff Rupert’s Sea Spell blends elegant saxophone work, maritime-inspired atmospheres, and sophisticated quartet interplay into a timeless jazz album that bridges tradition and contemporary artistry." You can read the rest of the review here...

Welcome to the Carver site!! What type of amp are you having built? I like your idea of using separate components because in this way you have versatility. There are so many options that you can choose for a Carver Preamp. You have units like the C-1 up to the C-19 that are excellent performers. My system is built on using seperates. Two preamps, the C-4000 and 4000t, are units that have some special features that I particularly like. My son purchased a C-4000 and after it was restored, I used it for an extended period of time in my system to break it in. Each of them have unique features such as Peak Unlimiter, Auto Correlator noise reduction system, and its Time Delay and Sonic Hologram Generator. You can also look at the HR and the CT line and choose a model that incorporates pre outs into their design. This way you can introduce more amps into your system as it grows. These have remotes with volume control function. The C series can be retrofitted with remote volume control. The C-19 is a tube preamp if that is of interest. Here is a reference for a place that specializes in restorations and upgrades. Greg is a member here. "Choosing Nelion Audio means more than selecting a repair shop; it signifies embracing an ethos that values your musical enjoyment and the longevity of your hard-earned gear. We are prepared to guide you through the world of high-fidelity audio, ensuring worry-free experiences with vintage equipment. Join us on this journey as we explore and create new and exciting audio adventures together. We are here for you!" Services - Nelion Audio

Enoch Smith Jr, This is What Love Does was released on August 28, 2026. "Joining Smith on the record are his usual accompanists, bassist Kai Gibson and drummer Logan Bogdan. This trio is as cohesive as possible, bringing to mind the tightness of the great Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, and the soulful lilt of the Ahmad Jamal Trio with Jamil Sulieman Nasser and Frank Gant. The only exception to this trio format is the smooth Latin-tinged groove of "When I Think of You," Adding a delightful layer is Paula Winter on auxiliary percussion." You can read the rest of the review here...

Are you looking to replace broken/damaged originals? Or are you looking for a replacement solution?

Zaccai Curtis & Insight, A Genesis was released on May 29, 2026. "Brothers Zaccai and Luques Curtis are the driving force behind the group Insight, whose A Genesis is a spirited blend of Latin jazz with elements from other genres. Pianist Zaccai composed most of the songs and the music is arranged and performed with skill and energy." You can read the rest of the review here...