FredH 32 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 (edited) I'm not an "audiophile" but I have a compact Carver/Sunfire setup that has served me well for decades. I started with a new Carver "The Receiver" in the early '80s, recommended because it had the most sensitive FM tuner to capture a distant Baltimore station that broadcast the music I wanted (so I wouldn't have to buy vinyl and a turntable). It was only years later I discovered it had a model number, MXR-130. Later, I added a new Carver SD/A-360 5-disk CD player. The MXR-130 had one service back at Carver's Washington address, and in 2012, the CD-player was repaired by Rolland Barr in Oregon. When streaming music was going mainstream (sorry) and the MXR-130 was showing its age after 30+ years, I bought a used Carver TX-11B tuner and a new Peachtree Nova amplifier with digital to analog converter, designed to accept the first Sonos Connect unit. I listed the MXR-130 and extra new parts for sale on a (now closed) Carver forum's classifieds, and it went to a woman in Pennsylvania. Sound comes from a pair of PSB Image T5s and a Sunfire TS-SJ8 subwoofer in the living room, a pair of KEF-C shelf speakers in the library and a portable first generation Sonos Play 5 speaker that goes where wanted. And that's where it all stands today. Sonos wants me to upgrade equipment to operate on their new Sonos-2 software, but I'm dragging my feet on that because it'll require replacement of the Play 5 speaker, too. I'm afraid I am not well attuned to the whole streaming world and its multitude of convenient but odd-sounding choices. Today, the SD/A-360 is packed in its original box for shipping to Mr. Barr in Washington for another service, so the Sonos and the TX-11B are picking up the slack until the CD-player's return. I'll post the photos when allowed. Edited December 26, 2020 by FredH 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk1Bum 9,443 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Hello FredH, and welcome to thecarversite.com. We're glad you're hear. There is a lot of information here, much technical know how, and a pretty good bunch of folks that are happy to help. There are several here who have and still own the MXR-130, the SD/A-360, and the TX-11B. I have that tuner myself, and it's a great tuner. Once you get to Novice status, you'll be able to upload pics of your gear in the Members Systems area. We all like pics of all kinds of audio gear. In the meantime, kick your shoes off, turn up the music, and welcome aboard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Community Admin AndrewJohn 7,223 Posted December 26, 2020 Community Admin Share Posted December 26, 2020 Welcome @FredH - glad you found us! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnrotten 1,053 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Welcome!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie 16,426 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Greetings @FredH ! Nice collection of gear you have there... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Receiver2000 2,103 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Welcome FredH!!!! Great to have you. Look around and enjoy the site!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMAT 1,780 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Not giving up on the 360, bravo. Welcome aboard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 3,773 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Welcome FredH to the Carver site. MXR -150 was my first Carver piece back in 1987 and I had Greg here on the site do a tuneup on it and it’s as good as new. I also have an MXR-130 as an extra that is still kicking. I like those receivers. Good to have you here! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAHBuckeye 238 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Welcome, FredH! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredH 32 Posted December 30, 2020 Author Share Posted December 30, 2020 On 12/26/2020 at 11:06 PM, PMAT said: Not giving up on the 360, bravo.... Well, I read Rolland's email and researched currently available new multi-disk changers. Based on those, I placed the 360 in its original box and took it to the UPS store. I paid $68 for ground shipping from PA to WA; there was no way I was going to put it into the parcel maelstrom over at USPS, and the FedEx location was much further away. The investment calculation of labor, parts and return shipping awaits Rolland's next email. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryG 2,845 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 welcome @FredH , Its good to see another person from the Mid Atlantic. I am in Baltimore County. I came to Carversite years ago and never left. Lots of good people and good information in these threads. Kick back, grab your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and enjoy the music! Bring in 2021 with great music! Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadvw 2,679 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Welcome aboard to the OCCD Carver express! This train runs daily here and has stopping points along the way. We hope you enjoy the ride and the sites along the way.......grin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredH 32 Posted June 29, 2021 Author Share Posted June 29, 2021 On 12/30/2020 at 9:19 AM, FredH said: ...I placed the 360 in its original box and took it to the UPS store.... It finally arrived today (yes, 6 months) from Rolland's shop, and I slipped it back under the Carver TX-11B tuner and the Peachtree Nova amplifier on top of that. We shall see if the household can be weaned back off of streamed music. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredH 32 Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share Posted August 3, 2021 (edited) On 6/28/2021 at 8:26 PM, FredH said: ...We shall see if the household can be weaned back off of streamed music. Alas, there is resistance. It's convenience versus fidelity, and no-one in the house is buying new music on CDs. But the family cheered when I climbed up onto the roof to realign the analog/digital antenna and tighten connections to the masthead signal amplifier, but that was for the Olympics, not music. <sigh!> Edited August 3, 2021 by FredH 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xavionics 1,076 Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 22 hours ago, FredH said: Alas, there is resistance. It's convenience versus fidelity, and no-one in the house is buying new music on CDs. Ah yes, this has always been the case! I have 3 Sonos Connect devices and a Sonos Bridge feeding them all. One in the main rig, one in the garage system and one in my basement/office system. Hard to beat for convenience, fidelity can be bested though. My main rig Connect feeds an external DAC. That helped. But when I am going to sit, chill, and listen, I stream through my 2009 MacBook feeding the same DAC. I have a dresser full of cd’s but no player worth putting into a system. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Community Admin AndrewJohn 7,223 Posted August 4, 2021 Community Admin Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 6/28/2021 at 7:26 PM, FredH said: It finally arrived today (yes, 6 months) from Rolland's shop, and I slipped it back under the Carver TX-11B tuner and the Peachtree Nova amplifier on top of that. And, how does it sound, fresh back from Roland? Super good, I bet ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcake 69 Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 On 12/26/2020 at 10:03 AM, FredH said: I'm not an "audiophile" but I have a compact Carver/Sunfire setup that has served me well for decades. I started with a new Carver "The Receiver" in the early '80s, recommended because it had the most sensitive FM tuner to capture a distant Baltimore station that broadcast the music I wanted (so I wouldn't have to buy vinyl and a turntable). It was only years later I discovered it had a model number, MXR-130. Later, I added a new Carver SD/A-360 5-disk CD player. The MXR-130 had one service back at Carver's Washington address, and in 2012, the CD-player was repaired by Rolland Barr in Oregon. When streaming music was going mainstream (sorry) and the MXR-130 was showing its age after 30+ years, I bought a used Carver TX-11B tuner and a new Peachtree Nova amplifier with digital to analog converter, designed to accept the first Sonos Connect unit. I listed the MXR-130 and extra new parts for sale on a (now closed) Carver forum's classifieds, and it went to a woman in Pennsylvania. Sound comes from a pair of PSB Image T5s and a Sunfire TS-SJ8 subwoofer in the living room, a pair of KEF-C shelf speakers in the library and a portable first generation Sonos Play 5 speaker that goes where wanted. And that's where it all stands today. Sonos wants me to upgrade equipment to operate on their new Sonos-2 software, but I'm dragging my feet on that because it'll require replacement of the Play 5 speaker, too. I'm afraid I am not well attuned to the whole streaming world and its multitude of convenient but odd-sounding choices. Today, the SD/A-360 is packed in its original box for shipping to Mr. Barr in Washington for another service, so the Sonos and the TX-11B are picking up the slack until the CD-player's return. I'll post the photos when allowed. Hey Fred! I AM THAT WOMAN!!!! Still loving it! Good to see you here! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredH 32 Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 (edited) On 8/6/2021 at 5:14 PM, shortcake said: Hey Fred! I AM THAT WOMAN!!!! Still loving it! Good to see you here! Cool coincidence! (I don't keep up, as you can see.) I hope The Receiver is still pumping out music for you. Edited August 12 by FredH 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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