Dementia5 16 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 (edited) Hey folks! I do have an issue and I want to gather some collective wisdom from y'all, but first I want to say "Hi!" because I just discovered this forum. I'm a proud owner of a Carver unit, something I've been hankering after for many years and this one needs a little TLC and more importantly a bit of troubleshooting. I picked up a second hand MXR 130. Thing is built like a tank. I know this because it was shipped to me in the second worst packaging and careless handling I've ever witnessed and it still fired up. Tested audio with some records and Bluetooth tube preamp that I attached to the auxiliary port; sounded great. Shuffling some of the stereo components back to the original position, the cable connected to AUX got loose. It was very noisy and angry... I pushed it back in and got some loud buzzes and oddly to me a high-pitched squeal that triggered the relay. But no static per se. Now when I play through the Bluetooth preamp, it is mighty silent but >0 dB. All in the high frequencies, audible at higher volumes but heavily filtered. Thinking it was the port, I switched to another input but the problem remains. Even the phonograph, which was never even connected to the unit that was connected to the crackle port we'll call it fails in the same way. If I jiggle the connector, I sometimes get that high pitch squeal which lasts for a fraction of a second. Like a chirp. Help! I really dig the unit, and although I knew it needed some TLC (LED display doesn't work and I'll need to get a crossover circuit for my subwoofer, but that's design related) I really didn't think the audio would be this compromised. I'm assuming it's age of course. I'm hoping I didn't blow the amp, but like I said I'm hearing music, just reduced to about 10% gain. It's not in any protected mode, the relay does its job. I can hear it click on power up and it even triggers when the volume is too high, like 8 out of 10, even though it isn't that loud. I ordered some Deoxit, I plan to spray it liberally. But I'm open to any suggestions. Including repair centers in Massachusetts, or reputable ones that I could ship this to. Thanks for reading this long post, if you come this far you owe it yourself to help out LOL 😆 Edited February 14 by Dementia5 Clarity, details 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3M_Audio 879 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 (edited) Welcome! Congrats on the MXR 130. Try a search here in the forums on 'MXR 130' and you'll get some good history and service suggestions for your unit which will hopefully get it on its way to recovery. And go easy with the deoxit - it's good stuff but a little goes a long way for cleaning pots. Too much creates its own problems. And if you can wiggle a connector and get some static or squealing, there's definitely a solder joint or connection that needs some attention. That type of problem isn't uncommon on some of these older units and if you are planning to keep your MXR 130 for a while, it's worth having the entire unit gone through by an experienced tech/shop. Finally, even though I live in Massachusetts I don't have any local service centers to suggest. You really need to find a shop that understands Carver gear. Nelion Audio would be one, and Carver Audio Repair another. Edited February 14 by 3M_Audio typos, as usual 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kve777 6,677 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 Welcome, D5! Sounds like several things going on there. Tracking down these issues is not for the faint of heart. From my experience, it sounds like you have a $300-$400 repair bill on that one. I'm near Philadelphia, in NJ. My wife will be in Mass this weekend. If you could get it to her, I could have it up and running in a few weeks. Since I have a couple of working units for parts, I should be able to get it going for minimal cost. Message me if that is of interest. 3 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobTFM35 1,622 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 (edited) Welcome to the site! The extent of my help is limited to asking questions. Sorry. In addition to what @3M_Audio and @kve777 said, offered and suggested ....Does your unit have jumpers between the "Pre-Out and Main In" jacks? Did the unit work on its own before using the external tube preamp? Edited February 14 by BobTFM35 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt 1,389 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 welcome to the Carver Site! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 4,305 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 Welcome to the site. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 4 hours ago, BobTFM35 said: Welcome to the site! The extent of my help is limited to asking questions. Sorry. In addition to what @3M_Audio and @kve777 said, offered and suggested ....Does your unit have jumpers between the "Pre-Out and Main In" jacks? Did the unit work on its own before using the external tube preamp? Yes, to both questions! Jumpers are in place and I tested it with the turntable first, and it sounded good. I am thinking the solder joint theory is holding up. If I'm lucky I will be able to eye ball it for myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 (edited) 4 hours ago, kve777 said: Welcome, D5! Sounds like several things going on there. Tracking down these issues is not for the faint of heart. From my experience, it sounds like you have a $300-$400 repair bill on that one. I'm near Philadelphia, in NJ. My wife will be in Mass this weekend. If you could get it to her, I could have it up and running in a few weeks. Since I have a couple of working units for parts, I should be able to get it going for minimal cost. Message me if that is of interest. Generous and helpful group! I will PM you, thanks. Edited February 14 by Dementia5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Receiver2000 2,464 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Welcome!!! Hope you get that sweet MXR130 running again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 Hey folks, just wanted to report that I got the MXR130 up and running! Turns out I didn't blow a component on the unit after all, I simply blew my speakers. Replacements are on the way... But I had some Bose 201s lying around, so I plugged them in and I'm off to the races! I am enjoying the sweet sound of the Carver unit. Nice sound stage, cleaner than the Pioneer 3700 I've been using since the 80s. Thanks for all the support! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobTFM35 1,622 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Excellent news, About that it is working. Sad for the speakers. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 Was thinking of upgrading anyhow 😜 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 4,305 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 7 hours ago, Dementia5 said: Nice sound stage, cleaner than the Pioneer 3700 Carver is always cleaner. Glad to hear it's up and running. I have had mine for 36 years and it's still a beast when it comes to a clean high powered receiver. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cring08 149 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Community Admin AndrewJohn 8,184 Posted February 17 Community Admin Share Posted February 17 Welcome @Dementia5, glad you found us. Give us an update! Pictures? Love to see how you come out on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 (edited) Just reporting in! Receiver still sounds great, getting daily use. New Polk speakers are good also, a small upgrade from what I can tell. Even though they were packed and shipped just as poorly as the Carver (separate seller, what are the odds?!) I had to massage the silk tweeters into shape, as they were dented and crushed. Got most of it (see picture. Open to suggestions having tried finger pinching, duct tape tugging and even a vacuum cleaner). Dude removed the protective grills before shipping (!), you know the shields that guard the domes and cones of the actual speaker, and shipped them like so. Told him not to do that for future customers. He compensated me 35% so I'd say ceterus parabus as it all worked out. Pictures you ask? Love to! Let's make a game out of it, who can tell me which song is spinning on the Oppo? I'll be lurking for a while on the forum so reach out! Thanks for all the support and a real shout out to kve777 who gave excellent advice. Edited March 3 by Dementia5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Receiver2000 2,464 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Good to hear that the 130 is up and running!!!!. I have successfully helped distraught friends pull dented tweaters out carefully with reverse-rolled duct tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementia5 16 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 5 minutes ago, Receiver2000 said: Good to hear that the 130 is up and running!!!!. I have successfully helped distraught friends pull dented tweaters out carefully with reverse-rolled duct tape. Yeah, this had the best success. Tried electrical tape, which was not as effective as using duct tape. Which has 1001 uses, now 1002. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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