Leaderboard

Hello all, I picked up a M-400t a few days ago and a C1 today. The M-400t was services by Nelion in 2022 (yeah). As I was researching the C1, I ran across info on the BillD mod. The mod info also lead me here. I'm excited to get started on the C1 updates,,, and I haven't even plugged it in yet.

Hi! My name is Brayden. Recently got introduced into the world of older sound tech from my dad since I do some light work with sound for film production. Joined to talk about and hopefully get some more insight about Carver gear, since my dad has a lot of it from back in the day!

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.

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 !

Hi boffins I have a C-4000 and C-1 that need service and upgrades. I contacted Nelion and they were happy until I mentioned a transformer change from 120V to 240V. Is there anyone in the UK that would like to do this work. Looking to start September after hollibobs. Thanks

Greetings. I’ve picked up an M-200T and am going to build a budget system around it. (Pairing it with a Classe CP-35 pre that I also found for a smoking deal!) I’m aware that a refresh of the caps is likely in order. I’m in the Seattle area and would like this group’s suggestions on where to have that done. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey everyone - glad to be a part of the community. Looking forward to reading through some of the posts and getting more knowledge of amplifiers and circuits. Build and repair amplifiers (notice I didn't day design) for almost 6 years now, which started with designing and building speakers about 15 years ago.

Hello all, I'm Jason and i got bit by the vintage audio bug spring of 2025 when i watched SkyLabs audio's YT vid 'We Used To Love Them! What Changed?' I ended up with what was advertised as an mxr130 but it turned out to be the 150 and all it needed was the trim cap and the display glued back to the faceplate. So i got a hold of the circuits and concepts cap kit, performance regulator, and 1 replacement knob to do a good service to it. After all that i'm here wondering about a few hot components and already finding answers, very grateful forums like this with the info we need still exist! I am a YT content creator and you'll likely see at least 3 mxr units gone through and vids posted... eventually! The 150 and a hopefully easy fix 130, but also a 2000 that blows fuses on power up or at least that was the ebay description!

Thank you for allowing me on this site. I've been a fan of Carver Corp since I bought a A-760X in the mid 90's. I now have a M400, 2 M500-T's, and my original A-760X. I also have a C-4000, C-1, and CT-17 pre-amps. All have been restored and upgraded by Nelion Audio in the last couple years. I joined for somewhat selfish reasons, I wanted to download an owners manual for my C-1, but looking over this site I see a lot of good comments and information on all Bob Carver products.

I'm a huge fan of Carver equipment.

Anymore, 99.9% of my music is local digital and served up from Lyrion Music server. I can either use the jump list on the left or the scroll bar on the right. No more flipping through vinyl or CD's, they're all safely stored away.

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

Reason for the join, is this forum was mentioned to me from DIYAudio.com, where I posted for some help on a Carver A-220 and setting the bias. A friend found a working, decent condition A-220 at an Estate sale and asked me to look it over before he hooked it up to any speakers. It all checks out, all original (it appears), except for a 14-gauge plug, although it's still only 2-prong. I checked the repository and there is a Specs Sheet and Owner's Manual, but no schematic or Service Manual for this model amplifier. Like I said, it works (listening to it as I write this post) and sounds great. I only want to check what the Bias procedure is, because when I check the voltage over the emitter resistors I get 0-1mV and the heatsinks are barely above room temperature after 2 hours of playing music. I would expect there to be 10-20 degree rise over ambient after that long. So mainly want to see if this design requires special bias procedure, and what the voltage measurement at what points is correct for factory spec. Thanks and appreciate any help or comments.

Welcome to TheCarverSite, @roryhamilton. I take it you are in the UK? I don't have an answer for you on the power supply change to 240..., maybe someone else here might have an old EX (export) unit for parts you could use. ...another question: Are we to assume you already have a US C-1 and C-4000 that is made for 120v? And you want to convert it for UK use? What about using a transformer, and keeping it at 120v? That might be easier to achieve.

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...

Welcome! There's a couple of places; Home - Carver Audio Repair Service - Hi-Tech Audio LTD Nelion Audio - Authorized Carver Repair Can't speak to lead times but both warrantee their work so I doubt you could go wrong with either one.

Alan Parsons - Can't Look Down

Thank you for the warm welcomes! My pops has a couple of things; currently out of the house so I only have a picture of one right now, which is this 5 disc carousel. Not sure what the specific model is? Still very cool though. Otherwise, a couple of amps and preamps. He's encouraged me to sell/trade some of the ones he's not using to trade up, so I might even look into that too honestly. Happy to be here!

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...

Skinny Hightower, Feels Like Destiny was released on August 21, 2026. "Skinny Hightower blends jazz, funk and 1970s soul into a modern, deeply personal sound, revealing a remarkably versatile musician with plenty more to say." You can read the rest of the review here...

Jim Rotondi & Dena DeRose, Out Of The Past was released on August 21, 2026. "Although trumpeter Jim Rotondi and pianist-singer Dena DeRose had wanted to record together for years, life always seemed to get in the way. Finally, when they were both on faculty at the University for Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Rotondi decided to make it happen. He booked a studio in Vienna, enlisted the services of esteemed Austrian bassist Danny Ziemann (his studio) and drummer Mario Gonzi, and on June 23, 2024, the quartet recorded Out of the Past. Barely two weeks later Rotondi was dead, the victim of a heart attack less than two months before his 62nd birthday. As the album had been on a back burner, so to speak, for more than three decades, it was released posthumously as a final tribute to Rotondi's remarkable talents." You can read the rest of the review here...

All of his recordings are so well done too.

Keb Mo, The Breakdown was released on August 21, 2026. "The 10-song collection was recorded at his home studio outside Nashville and written in the wake of life-saving open heart surgery, the end of his nearly 20-year marriage, and a period of profound personal upheaval. Stark and deeply honest, The Breakdown is Keb’ at his most revealing, grappling with the passage of time and the inevitability of change while still holding on firmly to the hope, faith, and love that have always guided him." You can read the rest of the review here...

Sullivan Fortner, Leave That In There was released on August 28, 2026. "Sullivan Fortner’s Leave That In There is a deeply personal jazz album rooted in New Orleans, memory, history and Black musical traditions, blending acoustic piano, Hammond B3, synthesizers, marimba and Bàtá percussion." You can read the rest of the review here...

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...

Hello everyone, I am a retired electronics design engineer who designed mostly digital and embedded microprocessor designs with a smattering of some analog circuits along the way. The Carver PM-1.5 is quite the challenge. I bought it many years ago and it worked well until the large power supply capacitors failed. I replaced them and it worked for quite a while longer and failed some years ago. I removed the dual power supply caps and found they had failed which is at least part of the problem. Now I am looking at sourcing replacements for them ( I have seen the EBAY replacement board with 4 caps), but I will probably make my own. Then I will see what else is wrong with it if I am able to . I appreciate any suggestions along the way. Especially how I can isolate my digital oscilloscope so I can use it to safely view wave-forms should I get that far. I have a Variac specially for this, but have never had the issue of needing to also isolate a 'scope to make measurements. Ways to do that would be greatly appreciated and thanks ahead of time if any one out there has the way.

Thank you. I saw that Carver Audio is in Washington State and that will probably be where I take it. I was just curious if there was a unknown gem of a repair shop a bit closer to home. I love the Hood River area, so heading to Stevenson isn't an errand I'll mind performing.

Lee Jones, Smooth Jazz Grooves Volume 1 was released on May 1, 2026. "Lee Jones is a multi-instrumentalist. Playing woodwinds (flute, clarinet and alto sax), guitar, bass guitar, keys, composer and occasional vocals. His self produced music features him playing multiple instruments on a recording." You can read the rest of the review here...

E. Pruitt, Bass Graffiti will be released on August 28, 2026 except on youtube where the complete album is available now. "Built around Pruitt’s custom 7-string bass guitars played not simply as foundational rhythm instruments, but as commanding lead voices, Bass Graffiti is a muscular, melodic and surprisingly soulful take on contemporary jazz." You can read the rest of the review here...

Bob Baldwin, BSpoke was released on July 31, 2026. "BSpoke is a vibrant and sophisticated Smooth Jazz project from acclaimed pianist, composer, and producer Bob Baldwin, showcasing his signature blend of contemporary jazz, soul, Caribbean influences, and urban grooves. The album captures Baldwin’s ability to create music that is both musically rich and radio-friendly, continuing a recording career that spans more than three decades and dozens of releases." You can read the rest of the review here...

Welcome, from San Antonio! Without a service manual, you may still be able to look at the amplifier section, identify the output stages and any variable resistors nearby. Typically, in most amp circuits I have seen, the process is to measure output transistor emitter current as a voltage drop across the very low value, and usually a 5-watt emitter resistors. Look around, see what you may find. I the amp is running cool, no distortion in the output signal. there may no need to adjust anything.

They would be fun to see live

Larry Goldings Peter Bernstein Bill Stewart, Rhombus was released on August 7, 2026. "Some albums announce themselves with grand concepts and sweeping statements. Rhombus needs neither. From the moment it begins, Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, and Bill Stewart make it clear that they have returned not to revisit a celebrated past but to demonstrate how decades of shared experience can deepen an already extraordinary musical dialogue. Few ensembles in modern jazz have sustained such a distinctive identity over so many years, and fewer still continue to sound this inspired. Their new recording feels both timeless and completely alive, reaffirming why this trio remains one of the defining small groups of contemporary jazz." You can read the rest of the review here...

Welcome to the site!!!

Welcome, @bullittstang. The A series amps came in the timeline late in Carver Corp's life. A little less rigor on the service manuals and schematics production - so we haven't found a copy for the library, yet. If you find one out there, we'd value adding it to the library. Another tech here (I'm not one) might have the answer to your question from their experience. Glad you like the amp! It's easy to fall in love with these Carver components! Again, welcome!

Jo Stafford You Belong To Me

Welcome to the Carver Site!! I'm kind of reading behind the lines, sounds like these units were maybe operating in a 120v location then they moved to the UK? On the C-1 have you taken a look inside? Some have a switch (SW15) near the power supply. Switch in question - Black item, far right center below white card on top of power supply. If the C-1 has this switch already installed then maybe at least the C-1 has a chance of being restored and upgraded by Nelion. The type of plug will also need to be looked at. What type do both have? US or European? As for the C-4000 I have no Idea if it has a similar switch. While not the most elegant of options it does sound like a Step-up transformer might be the first option? Maybe. When you get 5 or more likes please post some pictures.

Larry McCray, Heartbreak City was released on June 13, 2025. I know it's over a year old, but I just found it today. "Joe Bonamassa identified Larry as one of the most under-appreciated but talented blues musicians performing today and vowed to raise awareness of him. Joe and Josh Smith stepped into the producer’s chair for Larry’s 2022 album Blues Without You and the duo returned to produce this album, Larry’s eleventh release." You can read the rest of the review here... Mr McCray's voice reminds me a great deal of Jeff Taylor, lead singer of Altered Five Blues Band.

Welcome to the site!!!!

Common with the TFM-15's is an issue where the amp gets stuck in protection mode and a giveaway is that there is a relay involved and after power on, the 'click' of coming out of protection never happens. A search here will give you lots of info about this issue and troubleshooting these amps. Here's one to get you started:

My nephew is an up-and-coming singer songwriter in the Atlanta area. I am happy that he has agreed to entertain us the night of our Shrimp Boil at Cab9n 8. This will be at 6PM , Sept 16.