Brian_at_HHH

There were 2 defining albums that everyone had and played during my freshman year at university. Supertramp's Crime of the Century, and Alan Parson's Pyramid. Those two still never fail to be throughly enjoyable. Great memories and great music. Favorites for me: Rudy and Pyramania! ?

... or maybe less...

The best artist, and media quality mean nothing if anywhere along the path, somebody did a crappy job. `hether it's one "engineer"who cranks the levels too high, or not enough, or gets carried away with compression, or someone producing the media messes up. In the case of vinyl, all it takes is someone cutting the grooves a bit too close, trying to pack extra material on an album side, or having the settings a bit off to trash the quality. Digital isn't innune, either. It depends totally on what happened at each step in the process. I've had CD versions of an album that I have the LP for that sound muddy to me, and others where the LP was awful, but the CD great (remastered albums, notwithstanding, of course). There's no way to assume any media will always give great results. Some may have greater potential, but that's no certainty it will be realized.

Moms in Group Therapy A psychiatrist was conducting a group therapy session with four young mothers and their small children. "You all have obsessions," he observed. the first mother, Mary, he said, "You are obsessed with eating. You've even named your daughter Candy." He turned to the second Mom, Ann: "Your obsession is with money. Again, it manifests itself in your child's name, Penny." He turned to the third Mom, Joyce: "Your obsession is alcohol. This too shows itself in your child's name, Brandy." At this point, the fourth mother, Kathy, quietly got up, took her little boy by the hand, and whispered, "Come on, Dick, this guy has no idea what he's talking about. Let's pick up Peter and Willy from school and go get dinner.

That does present a real problem, doesn't it? I only have a relatively small number of box sets, but none are remotely the same size or format. If most of yours are the love sized boxes, that will definitely be the place to look for ideas. If not, then it really becomes a challenge. I don't have any good suggestions - at least right now, but you didn't me realize that I haven't done anything adequate with my box sets and other non standard size CDs. I do agree that you want them close at hand, and also at an easily accessible height. I've realized one of my main CD cabines is partially behind a step, and while I "can" get to the CDs, I just don't. Instead, I just opt for something convenient. That needs to be corrected. If they were in another room, I doubt I'd ever play them. BTW, kudos to you for putting books on the bookshelves!

Thanks @Chas - I've been toying with getting a new cartridge, and that was one I was pondering, but I had no idea whether it was good, bad, or ugly. Very much appreciated! The tracking aspect is definitely of interest. That's always a tough aspect, so it's great to know it holds well to the groove. I can see the OM 30 having issues with that, although the sound in general is likely great. Thanks again - great food for thought.

Good luck with the C-4000 - you can be sure that the folks here will help get it restored for you. On a slightly separate topic, out of curiosity, how do you find the Nagaoka Mp100 cartridge?

Welcome Chas! Nice to have another Canuck in the group - I'm in Pickering, - not next door, but down the road and around the corner, and through the wood to... Definitely beware of @itchitch's and @Sk1bum's predictions. I'm a recent victim of the dreaded OCCD, so I know the consequences all too well. ? That was definitely a considerable gift from your friend - a C-4000 is certainly a nice piece of kit, and will form a great center for a system. I can tell you that the folk here seem to have a real wealth of knowledge and a real willingness to share it. Were you able to help out your friend with his Rega planar 3 issues?

Sigh, that's not failing, it's just getting old. You young kids don't realize, yet, that every morning the floor gets further down as you get older...

And old one, but hopefully worth a laugh. A lady goes into a pet store and takes an interest in a parrot. The owner comes over and says, “I need to warn you that this parrot used to live in a bordello, and he can have some rather crude language as a result.” The lady thinks for a moment and decides that's probably not too bad and can probably teach him new words, so she buys the parrot and takes him home. Once home, she sets up the parrot's cage and uncovers it. The parrot takes a look around and says, “Squawk! New whorehouse! Squawk! New Madam! Squawk!” The lady is taken a little aback, but takes in stride. A little later her daughters get home from school, and go over to see the new parrot. “Squawk! New whorehouse! New Madam! New prostitutes! Squawk!” The lady is perturbed by this, but figures she'll ask her husband for some advise when he get;s home. Her husband arrives and they go in to see the parrot. “Squawk! New whorehouse! New Madam! New prostitutes! Must be Thursday – same old Tony! Squawk!”

This is not original, but one I can relate to, all too well: When the inventor of the USB connector dies, they will try to lower the coffin into the grave, pull it back out turn it the other way around and try to lower it into the grave again. Perhaps several times...

Welcome @Kenny. As others have pointed out, you are definitely in the right place with that M500. Don't let the bait seller get to you - what you have is still a treasure, and it will be a great basis to an excellent system. There are folks here who can rebuild a Carver amp with their eyes closed and make it truly sing. Do beware of the infamous OCCD as @Dnspy007 noted. I know all too well how insidious it is. Hang with this great bunch of people and you will soon have the system of your dreams, with many a piece of gear bearing the Carver logo. That said, people here are by no means anal that everything needs to be Carver. Try to find another group focused on one brand that is open minded like that. Remember, have fun, and always enjoy the music. (Yes, guys, I checked 3 times that this was a new intro this time. ? I'll let omeone else win the "doorknob of the day award for now).

Bad @randog311 - BAD BAD @randog311 - Extra biscuit for you! I don't know where you are getting these, but I almost hurt myself laughing at the conductor one it was so bad.

Doh! Not sure how I found this as a new one. Yes, chalk this up to Stupid User Syndrom!

Welcome Gary - think of the Carver amp as a progression of the Pl. And no worries about your speakers - they are more than fine,and the only thing that matters is that they sound good to you. I'm also a recent arrival, here and I'm following a similar path. I've recently picked uo a c1, and in my case a M`1.0t amp. I've arranged to have the BillD mod done to the C1, and the MkII mod on the amp. Unfortunately, I'm not adept enough with a soldering iron to tackle it myself. I definitely encourage you to go for it if you are - the self satisfaction will be hard to beat. For me, the SH capability was a key element in choosing the C1. I know it's not for everyone, but I love the effect. No matter what route you go, this is a truly great bunch of people - endless encouragement, useful help, and the only "judgment" is done in jest. The only worry, here is the addictiveness of OCCD. Beware, and enjoy.

Welcome @PrISM - as others here have suggested, this site is great, but it creates an addiction to Carver gear that is quite untreatable (aside from feeding the addiction, of course). I was recently the happy, naive owner of a COUPLE. It has been joined in my short time here by a C1 preamp and a M1.0t Poweramp, both of which are headed for upgrades. Beware, but enjoy!

All I can say is "what a fantastic playlist this thread makes!" And yes, @DrummerJuice, you are dating yourself. You young kids, these days... (just like the rest of us - yeah, you're in good company).

Hopefully I've linked this in right...

No problem - thanks for considering it. I just happened to notice it was something I looked for, and thought it could be a useful addition. And yes, Google works, of course.

Hi Folks, This is just a thought - something I found I was looking for at times, especially since my equipment lives in an enclosed cabinet. I was wondering if we could add pictures of the front/back (and sides if it's relevant) of the various pieces of equipment. Having something that shows the normal connectors on the back of a device, and what the various controls are on the front would be useful. Most of the Carver manuals don't have equipment layout diagrams - they are incredibly well detailed and written, and they often describe what these all are in intimate detail. How many makers can write multiple paragraphs about a balance control, and have it all be useful? Most will write 2-3 words. But sometimes a picture can be very useful. I'm sure that many of the long-term Carver addicts can instantly picture what the back of a C-4000 looks like versus a CT-17, etc., but not everyone can. :-) Thanks for the consideration.

Welcome, and thanks for making me not the newest to the group, though it sounds like you may have actually been here for a while, indirectly. You probably know, already, how friendly this group is. From what I can see of the discussions, the closest things get to a flame war wouldn't light a match. Relax, and join in if you want, or sit back and enjoy the interesting banter. ?

B-Man, you have good taste, but that goes with the name. I was hoping you were going to say he was joking, not clairvoyant. Excuse me while I go change my PayPal password to something random that I can't remember .

It looks like most of you are towards the Western end of the country. I'm closer to the midpoint just to the Eastern side of Toronto. To those on Vancouver Island - absolutely beautiful place. I did some work out there years ago, and loved it.

Wow, and Thank You! I've been bouncing around the Internet since well before the first web browser (yes, I did use an early pre-release browser, when the web was just research facilities), and I have never seen a welcome like this, anywhere. If this is an indication of what people are like, here, I think I've found the long lost hiding place of all the good people. I'm not sure I rate in that group, but I'll try. KVE777 you worry me. You have no clue how close I came to adding a C-4000, and M-series poweramp, yesterday. ? Whimper... Pictures have to wait, until I finish fixing the stand. Right now, it's a mess - my cleaner is slacking again, and busy reading Carversite forums. I promise something soonish. dcl, I love the advanced purr generator on your system. I'm sure it improves the sound considerably. Thanks again, all of you. Oops - sorry, I missed peck555's dangerous suggestion, in there, as well. I am definitely doomed... For those asking, my music tastes tend towards Progressive Rock. I have Marillion on right now, but a lot of Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson have been in there lately. But my tastes do wander, so the music does vary.

To start with, I have to admit, much of my system probably rates about the level of an 80's boombox, compared to the average, here, with at least one exception, that will become obvious. the pieces may be more budget than what is appropriate for all of our ears, but they were carefully chosen for sound where it count. So how did it come about? I've had an interest in quality Hi-Fi since I first discovered music in my teens. I always had as good eqipment as I could affort, though being in University at the time, that was typically well below true Hi-Fi . I did follow all the big names and dreamed, including beig fascinated by a neat new company called Carver when it came out with this wonderful sounding concept, called Sonic Holography. A couple of years later, I was lucy enough to get to check out a conumer electrinics show which,back then was primarily Hi`Fi, I wandered around fronm booth to booth, and room to room. Yeah, sounds ok, next. Not bad, next. Decent, but bascally boring. And so it went. Until I walked into one room and WHOAH!!!!! What is THAT! The sound was incredible and filled the room like nothing I ever imagined, let alone heard. Where am I? A quick look, where's the sigh? And there it is ... CARVER! That was my intro to sonic holigraphy, and it left a very serious mark on my audio dreams. I'm one of those lucky people who doesn't need to be right in the sweet spot to get that great effect - it's better, yes, but off center I still hear it. Unfortunatey, life intervened,and I never did get that covetted Carver system. Fast forward to a couple of years ago, and many people are abandonig 2-channel systems for surround sound, so I thought "hmmm, maybe there are one foolish people dumping Carver SH units, that those of u who don't care about vidio could give a new home to?" A quick look online and a willing sucker was found. soon a lovely C`9 was on its way to me.. As fate would have it, the C-9 sat, unplugged on my cabinet until a few weeks, ago, whoen in a fit of (in)sanity, I yanked the back of the cabinet and reworked the cabling adding it in. I fire things up, and start some music, then I hiit the BUTTON. Ahhhhh. The whole room changes and fills with sound - it IS everything I remember from those years ago. So that, folks, is why I'm here.