Wjl33611 0 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Just want to introduce myself and say how great it is to have found this site. I've been a fan of Carver since I was in grade school when my Dad used to take me to the BX here at MacDill and I would sit in their fully foamed listening room listening to Carver components with the 901s selected on the big push button selector panel in the front of the room. All the while he's cashing a check, buying his pipe tobacco, and picking up auto belts etc and the like. None of these $$$$$$ components of course was remotely within reach until high school when I saved up for a CM-1090 that is still sitting at my parents house today. Later to add a SD/A-360 that stopped working and can no longer seem to locate anymore. With Infinity SM-100s, I remember having the best and loudest stereo in the fraternity house! That was replaced with some DPL receiver and the Bose cubes as my time dimished and hobbies were replaced with four young boys...no regrets though! Needless to say, I've now decided to build that Carver components system that I always wanted due to the influence of a good friend and audiophile. I've but recently acquired a C-19 to build around and hope I made a good choice. Seems to be mixed views but unlike my younger days, I thought putting my money into the preamp first was the wiser choice... Now I'm wondering if I should have gone with a modded C-1! Either way, I'm committed so I'll ride it out. Pretty sure I'll be happy regardless. Power amp(s) are next and have been reading a lot here on them and contemplating 1 vs a couple bridged. Prepared to do this slowly to get it right and want to keep this system for a long time. The technical discussions here are fantastic and give me all kinds of great reading material for a while. So far, the only audio tool I have is my ears but am glad I can learn new things here. I'm wide open to recommendations. Again, thanks for creating this site look forward to the days ahead. Billy
zumbini 6,147 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Howdy Billy and welcome to the forum. Thanks for introducing yourself. The C-19 is an excellent preamp. It's just not as easy to work on, or as well documented, as the C-1/C-11. Have you done any tube rolling or does it still have the original Sovteks? I suspect the problem with your SD/A-360 is either a loose drive belt or a dirty laser lens. Both are easy fixes. Feel free to post photos of your toys. WE LOVE AUDIO GEAR PORN!
peck555 366 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 A C-19 is a good preamp, with a built in tube buffer, but if you want to trade for a C-1 I'm your guy
Wjl33611 0 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Posted February 21, 2016 No tube rolling (yet)....expect to receive it this week. I'll let you know as soon as I open it up. Thanks for the feedback- does everybody on the forum pretty much work on their equipment themselves or send it off? I'm pretty technical but not about to mess anything up (yet)....
chiroacademy 833 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome to the site Billy! It's the best place on the planet for people who love Carver.
PMAT 2,038 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome mr c-19. I hope to add to your Carver affliction.
Blues Pwr 766 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome to the site, your just down the road from me.
zumbini 6,147 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 ....does everybody on the forum pretty much work on their equipment themselves or send it off? I'm pretty technical but not about to mess anything up (yet).... We have a mix of master techs, junior hobbyists, and folks who enjoy Carver and music but never take the cover off. We have members who are chefs, computer whizzes, mechanics, professional engineers, retirees and salesmen. I'm in the "retired and know enough to be dangerous" category myself. We're a (generally) friendly and helpful group, so grab a beverage, pull up a chair and enjoy yourself!
BluesMan57 1,411 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome to the forum Billy. Glad to have you.
jazzman53 1,276 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Hi Billy, and welcome to the Carver asylum
BarryG 2,853 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome Billy, starting with a C-19 is a great start. You have found a great community, kick off your shoes, grab a beer, and turn up the volume! Most of all enjoy the music! BarryG
loner_t 2,568 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome, Billy. Consider a TFM42/45 to go with your C19. What speakers are you considering?
oldtexasdog 2,456 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome. Enjoy the music don't chase it.
dcl 3,276 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome, Billy, lots to browse here, kind of like opening a dictionary to lookup one word but getting all off course as other words [topics] willy-nilly lead astray. Get lost & enjoy the music!
Wjl33611 0 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks guys. Appreciate all the welcomes and have been reading relentessly for the last day? Already have obsessed for 30 yrs...just now having a relapse. @loner- Speakers still an open issue. Looking for some flexibility on amps to be able to simply add more as my addiction increases so looking for a set that sounds good with a nice single stereo amp but ability to grow to 2 mono or bi amp option over time. Not sure if that speaker exists but it's my initial plan. Open to any quality brand/size that will sound nice with the C-19. No constraints there other than money and time to save. Are the ALS series really that incredible?I remember when they first came out - I just thought it was weird to see "Carver" on a speaker, but then again, they were also cost prohibitive to me and my immature ears had never heard tube amps either. Re:Amp(s) Want to get set up with a nice 250-350 wpc to start (TFM series maybe?)...still doing my research there. FWIW- I do want the system to "match" but if a different amp offers "way" better sound quality, I don't want to sacrifice that. I like being wide open at this point...nostalgically, I want to build the best "carver" system I can reasonably afford not just the best "audio" system. And to my 80's roots, I will of course have a tape player in the mix....and phono, and tuner- true vintage component approach. So I'm now getting ahead of myself...I need to focus on power amps that are a good "growth fit" for the preamp and want to either get something recently seviced or am willing to take the time to wait to build it "right"- caps, necessary mods, etc. Partly because I'll be doing this over the next several paychecks. Anyone know a good service shop here in the S. Tampa area? Thanks for all the feedback. I try to do more searches than ask questions and will take any feedback anyone wants to bring. And yes, once I get my preamp delivered (and my stuff from Mom's) I will start posting pics of my "build"...still just acquiring at this point. Thanks again- b
Dadvw 2,876 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Welcome to the site Billy! You will find all kinds of info here and "someone" will always answer your questions. That's what makes this site great.....
loner_t 2,568 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 In most cases, speakers are chosen on factors like space, decor, SQ, price point, etc. Infinities K9s, Carvers, JBL, DQs and many vintage brands to choose from. Newer brands also have some really nice ones - JM Labs, Vienna Acoustics, VRs, Polk, Klipsch, DCM, NHT . Your ear should be the ultimate judge.
gold98gtp 295 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks guys. Appreciate all the welcomes and have been reading relentessly for the last day? Already have obsessed for 30 yrs...just now having a relapse. @loner- Speakers still an open issue. Looking for some flexibility on amps to be able to simply add more as my addiction increases so looking for a set that sounds good with a nice single stereo amp but ability to grow to 2 mono or bi amp option over time. Not sure if that speaker exists but it's my initial plan. Open to any quality brand/size that will sound nice with the C-19. No constraints there other than money and time to save. Are the ALS series really that incredible?I remember when they first came out - I just thought it was weird to see "Carver" on a speaker, but then again, they were also cost prohibitive to me and my immature ears had never heard tube amps either. Re:Amp(s) Want to get set up with a nice 250-350 wpc to start (TFM series maybe?)...still doing my research there. FWIW- I do want the system to "match" but if a different amp offers "way" better sound quality, I don't want to sacrifice that. I like being wide open at this point...nostalgically, I want to build the best "carver" system I can reasonably afford not just the best "audio" system. And to my 80's roots, I will of course have a tape player in the mix....and phono, and tuner- true vintage component approach. So I'm now getting ahead of myself...I need to focus on power amps that are a good "growth fit" for the preamp and want to either get something recently seviced or am willing to take the time to wait to build it "right"- caps, necessary mods, etc. Partly because I'll be doing this over the next several paychecks. Anyone know a good service shop here in the S. Tampa area? Thanks for all the feedback. I try to do more searches than ask questions and will take any feedback anyone wants to bring. And yes, once I get my preamp delivered (and my stuff from Mom's) I will start posting pics of my "build"...still just acquiring at this point. Thanks again- b Welcome! I bought my first Carver (his first The Receiver) in the mid 80's to replace a similar power level Pioneer. Couldn't believe the difference in sound. The Receiver really made my Time Window's sing. There are many Carver amps that will work well for you. My first Carver separates were a C-7 tuner / preamp and a TFM-25 amp. Loved the C-7 with the remote control, and the TFM-25 sounded great. When the C-7 died I found this site and started researching for a replacement, and it looked like the C-1 was what I wanted; easy to upgrade and repair, no custom IC's that are no longer available, and with the BillD mod it's a world class preamp - I now have two C-1's, one needs some repair and I will be doing the BillD mod on both. For a tuner I found a version of the TX-11B (PSB-11) on ebay, it sounds great. When I started listening to more audiophile LP's and CD's, the TFM-25 was frequently pegging the meters. So I found a nice TFM-45 on ebay and it's awesome. Will be getting a recap on it soon, it should sound better than now and will likely last for my lifetime. If your speakers require lots of power (like 500 watts), the M1.0t or M500t can be upgraded to a MK II configuration that was developed by a site member ( MK II upgrade ). Enjoy the ride. Mark
danowood 2,167 Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 No tube rolling (yet)....expect to receive it this week. I'll let you know as soon as I open it up. Thanks for the feedback- does everybody on the forum pretty much work on their equipment themselves or send it off? I'm pretty technical but not about to mess anything up (yet).... Welcome to the site Billy. To answer your questions there are a few on here that are capable of DIY. There are some Techs on here that does pay for service. There are fortunately tech's here that advise, assist, to those that want to do it themselves but need a little assistance or walk through. Here we enjoy sharing the knowledge in what ever your endeavors are. Great camaraderie here so grab a and enjoy the ride
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