Nahash5150

Actually, the opposite is true. Current sources are used specifically for varying impedances and like to see a near short for the best performance. A voltage source struggles into low impedance because of the voltage divider effect. The problem with the tube amp current source is that it has a specific impedance reflection, depending on the load (an ideal current source has infinite internal resistance). This can cause some amplitude distortion effects. Voltage sources, via transistors, perform rather poorly into a changing load, which is why well designed feedback in necessary to tame such problems as Miller Effect, output capacitance and Early Effect, and most especially clipping due to current saturation.

Wow - that could be HUGE! This dude did something...

@TwinsTim Welcome to the Carversite! What a great system! The TFM-15 was the first Carver amp I ever owned. Please feel free to contact me or any of the STAFF if you have any questions.

If what I said doesn't apply to you, then there's no reason to defend yourself. 'What I don't like to see...' is the key phrase in my post. Good, I'm glad you haven't. @UncleMeat I don't think anyone has ever disputed that transistors and tubes work differently. But Bob Carver already proved that a SS amp can be designed to sound like a tube amp. It was one of his claims to fame. He did it with null testing as well, so it's pretty well established that an amp as a whole, not just transistor vs tube, can emulate other topologies.

Our guide for quality does have a baseline in audio - fidelity. For example, if we knew for certain that we owned a power amp that was ideally faithful in reproducing the audio signal into a speaker without distortion or coloration, then we would be listening to the highest quality component we could ask for. The reality is that power amps are not ideal, they distort into a complex load, like a loudspeaker, in various degrees. The 'tube sound' for instance is, like I have stated many times before, is the tendency for the amp to resist changes in output impedance due to complex resistance changes in the speaker. Pure SS amps struggle with this, and can clip quite easily. Tube amps struggle with high output impedance, thus causing microphonic effects and speaker cone ringing. There's a lot to know about audio. There's a lot of science, experiments and engineering lessons that we all have access to. What I don't like to see is people sticking to their own way of thinking simply because it's what they are used to thinking about, then offering up a cop-out like 'we all have our own opinion' or 'everyone hears differently'. While those are true to some extent, that shouldn't be the end of the discussion. How can you ever know for certain your way of thinking is infallible? Isn't it reasonable to support your views with objective, verifiable measurements and formulas? We should strive for knowledge with the resource of this forum, not simply yak to each other how we think audio should be. Because really, if there's no sure way to arrive at quality, and fidelity, and therefore ultimate carefree gear, then we're just wasting time talking about it all. "It should sound like it isn't there" - BillD When you no longer think about your components when you listen to music, you have arrived.

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The TFM-24/25/35 series have some well known issues with blown channels. But if you're getting good audio out of one and not the other, you can try swapping the speakers to make sure its not them, and double check your connections of course. It's possible the output relay on the left channel is flakey or defective - pretty sure those can be replaced. Nevertheless, if the amp hasn't been serviced, it should be. It's overdue.

Seems a bit modern against all the dusty music I see around here - congrats! If you guys like Dido, man, do I have a vault of music that is very similar and just as good. Not on LP though. Happy Birthday Jack!

Welcome!

RIP Chris. You stare into the darkness, its stares back. The world is a dangerous place.

The mono switch sums the channels together, so if your source is playing music on only one channel, then you hit the mono button to hear the music on both speakers. If music is playing on both speakers and the source is 'mono', then the 'bridge' is already performed by the source and you don't need to use the mono switch. Make sense?

Welcome!

That board is very useful for people who don't do these mods all the time. Without that cap board, you have to manufacture something from scratch to hold those 4 caps in place.

Top photo - low rail capacitance modification. Rest of the photos - 'thump fix' modification. Both look like Carver Service Center work.

Good to see you again Walter! Welcome!

Stream rate, compression and sample rate are all different things. Disclaimer: There will always be subjective objections. Changing the streaming rate will not effect the quality all that much. Anything above 192kbs is absolutely impercievable. Compression is a different matter. Some algorithms are better than others. Unfortunately, mp3 is not very good. But the good news is, neither is m4a - so if the latter doesn't bother you then it's unlikely mp3 will either.

Exploring modern music again. Don't know why this brings me back to the 80's...creepy comprehension of the music at that time.

Topic back in service.

okay okay - have your fun but this chatter will be deleted.

LOL Technically, this is a technical topic Kev