Intro and C9 Refresh Benefits

[Schuitema 22]

Greetings fellow Carver enthusiasts!  I am pleased to find you and look forward to discussing anything Carver.  I am a Carver owner since 1992.  I have the Amazing Silver editions powered by the TFM45 with signal processing by the ECS-U and/or the C9.  I reside in Clermont Florida and Franklin, NC.  I am retired. My equipment was soured from a Carver dealer in Miami, Florida in September of 1992.  For those in the know, that was the year South Florida was impacted by hurricane Andrew.  Needless to say, it was a mutually rewarding transaction for both the dealer and myself all things considered.

 

My equipment has been refreshed (caps, etc. on the amp and foam surrounds on the woofers) except the C9 and the ECS-U.  For those in the know, I am curious if there is any detectable difference in the audio and/or presentation from a refreshed C9 as compared to my factory original?  I much prefer the C9’s holographic presentation to that of the ECS-U.

 

I appreciate your thoughts and comments.

 

Schuitema (sky-ta-ma)

[4krow 7,165]

On 12/7/2025 at 4:36 AM, Schuitema said:

Greetings fellow Carver enthusiasts!  I am pleased to find you and look forward to discussing anything Carver.  I am a Carver owner since 1992.  I have the Amazing Silver editions powered by the TFM45 with signal processing by the ECS-U and/or the C9.  I reside in Clermont Florida and Franklin, NC.  I am retired. My equipment was soured from a Carver dealer in Miami, Florida in September of 1992.  For those in the know, that was the year South Florida was impacted by hurricane Andrew.  Needless to say, it was a mutually rewarding transaction for both the dealer and myself all things considered.

 

My equipment has been refreshed (caps, etc. on the amp and foam surrounds on the woofers) except the C9 and the ECS-U.  For those in the know, I am curious if there is any detectable difference in the audio and/or presentation from a refreshed C9 as compared to my factory original?  I much prefer the C9’s holographic presentation to that of the ECS-U.

 

I appreciate your thoughts and comments.

 

Schuitema (sky-ta-ma)

 

 

  OK, that is my cue. Does a C-9 sound better than itself after recapping? I like to think of it this way. It will sound like it did when new and not so much like 40 years later. There are times when I believe that a rebuilt unit sounds better than an original, but I will say that seems to be more about some sort of synergy rather than a guarantee. The real question that I put out there is why would you use RCA jacks for a signal connection when you could upgrade considerably for another $20? The recap itself is also inexpensive at maybe $10-13 dollars. Actually pretty much of a guess there, but not over $15. There are a lot of other upgrades that can be done as such, but on one hand, I don't think that there is a large difference in sound. OTOH it still only costs maybe another $60 or something. In the end, I ask, doesn't it make sense to spend maybe $110 and get a unit rebuilt to last another 40 years? I could go on, but that is pretty much what I want to get across here. It isn't a very big investment in the audio hobby for this service. And if your good with a soldering iron, most of it could be done by yourself. I would even talk you through it.

 

Welcome to the site

[Schuitema 22]

Fantastic response.  I get you and indeed, the crowning point is I never, ever listen to music on my “carver” system without my trusty C9 engaged.  Perhaps I have settled in to what is my standard, but I remain enthralled if not excited to audition new music and that speaks volumes for what it’s worth to me.  Cheers!

[Sk1Bum 12,409]

Hello Schuitema and welcome to thecarversite.com. Glad you found us.

 

Nice set of equipment there. The TFM 45 is a very popular amp, and the Amazing speaker line is to. 4krow is the guy here for the C9. He won't steer you wrong.

 

What preamp and what sources do you use? 

 

Once you get to Novice status, consider posting pics of your gear in the Members Systems area. We all like pics of all kinds of stereo and home theater gear.

 

 

 

[Schuitema 22]

Thanks!  I have a B&K preamp which is honest and transparent.  My source is typically a streaming service like Qobuz or Amazon unlimited for lossless potential.  From there it runs into my streamer which currently is a WIIM Pro Plus that feeds into a Schiit Audio Modi 3 DAC then onto the C9 and capped (via Nelion Audio) TFM45.

 

I also have over 1200 CD’S and some old TEAC reels, but I honestly am hooked on the streamer and virtually unlimited music selections.

[MattB 262]

Welcome!

 

How will it sound compared to new condition in 1992?  A recapped one should sound exactly the same.   How will a restored version compare to a unrestored 1992 original?  There's always the question whether the caps have deteriorated enough to the point they affect the sound.   You won't know until you replace them.  pulling them from the circuit and testing on a meter is required to find out, and by that point you might as well just replace them.   The good thing- as mentioned above- is the C-9 is easy enough to work on and the parts count is small.  it's not like you are trying to recap a multi channel receiver with a gazillion inputs.

 

Grab the soldering iron and have some fun.

 

[4krow 7,165]

 Speaking of sources (and the fact that you have a lot of CD's), A CD ripper can be a great investment. I did it with a used BluSound unit, and for whatever reason I think that the ripped version sounds just a bit better than the original. Don't ask me why. The best part for me is that I can quickly access any album and sometimes I will do my own mix as I listen. That is something new to me and a lot of fun. 

 The very best audio source that I have ever heard was basically a computer programmed for just that purpose by someone who really knew his stuff. Right up there with magical. The downside for a guy like is that I found it cumbersome and slow.

[Half Life 972]

Welcome from VA!  Enjoy your stay!

[Zenith4me 1,529]

Hello and welcome to TCS!

 

I too have been using a streamer lately and have found that I’m not playing my CD’s anymore. My streamer of choice is the WiiM Ultra and I love it. I also use a Topping E30 DAC. Tidal is so convenient and recommends artists I probably would have never found by myself. 
 

Again, welcome to the site. 

[MattB 262]

19 hours ago, 4krow said:

 Speaking of sources (and the fact that you have a lot of CD's), A CD ripper can be a great investment. I did it with a used BluSound unit, and for whatever reason I think that the ripped version sounds just a bit better than the original. Don't ask me why. The best part for me is that I can quickly access any album and sometimes I will do my own mix as I listen. That is something new to me and a lot of fun. 

 The very best audio source that I have ever heard was basically a computer programmed for just that purpose by someone who really knew his stuff. Right up there with magical. The downside for a guy like is that I found it cumbersome and slow.

Welcome to 1998 with my 4x CD-ROM and Winamp!!!  (It really whips the Llama's ass!)

 

I spent weeks ripping my entire CD collection to mp3 and then archiving on Zip drive once my PCs 320mb hard drive was full.

 

 

Hmm I wonder if I still have that old hard drive.  My wife donated that whole CD collection years ago and mayne I still have it all archived on disc somewhere..  the. Again I'd have to find a PC with a cd/DVD rom and an old SATA drive connection...

[Charlie 17,531]

[AndrewJohn 10,700]

Welcome @Schuitema, so glad you found us.

 

My thinking - and to some this is a religious argument (on FB and other forums, not so much here on TCS)..., recapping anything 35+ years old is going to improve it's performance.  35 years ago, when C-9's and ECS units were coming off the line, capacitors and other electronic components were not of the same quality and specs that are produced and used today...  Like everything, they started out at the level of quality and performance of the day, and degrade over time..., so today's components are a) going to be better to begin with, and b) will re-set that "age degradation" curve.

 

I have an ECS-U that was recapped by one of our techs here..., and I could tell the difference.  I have several C-9's, but none have been refreshed yet - so I'll limit my response to the ECS-U.  It definitely made a noticeable difference to refresh it.  I am going to refresh a couple of C-9's, too, and expect the same, based on my understanding noted above about the "consumable" components in electronics...

 

We'd love to hear your before and after analysis and opinion if you get yours refreshed.  Post your experience in a cool thread in the "Processors"

forum section.

 

This website forum for Carver Fans like you..., works, and the best way to support it is to keep posting, and participating..., it's FREE.  And, the members here are pretty cool and will interact.  Start some threads, post some pictures (cut and paste is easiest)..., we LOVE pictures.

 

Again, Welcome!

[Schuitema 22]

Indeed WIIM make excellent products at more than fair value.  I get similar results discovering music with my current principle source, Amazon music unlimited.  When I do revert to CD or tape and subsequently compare to the streaming version I prefer the “online” versions every time.  This particularly when multiple tracks of the same selection are available.

[Schuitema 22]

Thanks folks for all the comments!  I appreciate each and every one!  I feel empowered to recap my c9!  Anyone have a clue where I could source a specific “kit” ?

[Rob 6,206]

Welcome to the site!!!

[4krow 7,165]

Not so much a specific kit, but maybe a BOM. 

1) 2 ea.- Nichicon Muse bipolar 22uf, 25 volt capacitors

2) 3 ea.- 1uf, 25 volt Nichicon electrolytic capacitors

3) 4ea.- 1,000uf, 25 volt Nichicon FM electrolytic capacitors. Make sure that the caps are no taller than 35mm.

4) 1 ea.- possibly a red or blue led if you damage the original getting it out.

5) 1 ea.- 680pf MLC capacitor

 

 That is just off the top of my head. And if you want to replace the RCA jacks, I use Manley Labs for all of mine, but you have to clip the washers so that they don't interfere with the next jack or the circuit board. It is a tight fit, but well worth the effort.

 Oh yah, while your in there it is pretty easy to replace the AC plug with a snap in AC inlet. Then you can cap the hole for the original AC inlet. This allows you to use a detachable cord if you want to do that. After all of the units that I have rebuilt, it just seems automatic to do these as a basic upgrade of sorts. 

Edited December 11, 2025 by 4krow
added info

[AndrewJohn 10,700]

15 hours ago, Schuitema said:

Thanks folks for all the comments!  I appreciate each and every one!  I feel empowered to recap my c9!  Anyone have a clue where I could source a specific “kit” ?

 

The general consensus here on TCS is that "kits" are very risky..., they can include sub-standard, often no-name parts with dubious quality and tolerances, if they even state them at all, and sometimes wrong, or missing parts..., and you are stuck with them.  Lots of eBay "never again" stories on kits for Carver refresh parts here on TCS...

 

Also, by pulling the cover off your C-9, and building your own BOM ( @4krow gives you a head start ), you can achieve the following:

1. Choose the quality of parts you want (Nichicon and Panasonic are preferred, other lesser-known brands may not have the same high level manufacturing tolerances you want when you put this time into refreshing your c-9..., last thing you want to do is introduce problems from substandard parts.
2. Order exactly the parts that your C-9 needs.  Experience shows that Carver Corp., had many revisions to the C-9 over the life of production.  And also variations in the build on the assembly line..., if you want to put your C-9 back together the way it was originally built on that day it was manufactured, you want to put the exact parts back in - the only way to know what those were is to open it up, and write down the capacitor specs (physical: size (diameter, height, and electronic, uF rating, v rating, temp rating, etc.).

Most of us use Mouser.com, or Digikey.com to purchase parts to refresh electronics.  I personally like Mouser's menu-based interface to plug in all these parameters, and get back the options that they source and carry..., including the reputable brand names of Nichicon and Panasonic..., (there are other reputable brands - these are just the most common in my head as I type).

 

It would be great if you would memorialize your project in a thread here in the Processor Forum section (this thread is in the "Welcome" section..., so starting your own project thread can get more member's eyeballs on it, to help you as you work through it.)  Post your BOM, pictures of your c-9, pictures of your progress, pictures with questions you have as you work through it, and final pictures of your c-9, and your entire system cranking out tunes with your accomplishment added to your audio stack1 

 

Looks like you have a fun project, and I need to get motivated on mine, to get it done. 😉 

 

[Charlie 17,531]

15 minutes ago, AndrewJohn said:

 

The general consensus here on TCS is that "kits" are very risky..., they can include sub-standard, often no-name parts with dubious quality and tolerances, if they even state them at all, and sometimes wrong, or missing parts..., and you are stuck with them.  Lots of eBay "never again" stories on kits for Carver refresh parts here on TCS...

 

Also, by pulling the cover off your C-9, and building your own BOM ( @4krow gives you a head start ), you can achieve the following:

1. Choose the quality of parts you want (Nichicon and Panasonic are preferred, other lesser-known brands may not have the same high level manufacturing tolerances you want when you put this time into refreshing your c-9..., last thing you want to do is introduce problems from substandard parts.
2. Order exactly the parts that your C-9 needs.  Experience shows that Carver Corp., had many revisions to the C-9 over the life of production.  And also variations in the build on the assembly line..., if you want to put your C-9 back together the way it was originally built on that day it was manufactured, you want to put the exact parts back in - the only way to know what those were is to open it up, and write down the capacitor specs (physical: size (diameter, height, and electronic, uF rating, v rating, temp rating, etc.).

Most of us use Mouser.com, or Digikey.com to purchase parts to refresh electronics.  I personally like Mouser's menu-based interface to plug in all these parameters, and get back the options that they source and carry..., including the reputable brand names of Nichicon and Panasonic..., (there are other reputable brands - these are just the most common in my head as I type).

 

It would be great if you would memorialize your project in a thread here in the Processor Forum section (this thread is in the "Welcome" section..., so starting your own project thread can get more member's eyeballs on it, to help you as you work through it.)  Post your BOM, pictures of your c-9, pictures of your progress, pictures with questions you have as you work through it, and final pictures of your c-9, and your entire system cranking out tunes with your accomplishment added to your audio stack1 

 

Looks like you have a fun project, and I need to get motivated on mine, to get it done. 😉 

 

 

I agree totally with what Andrew has spoken; I have one of those "Never Again" experiences with a 'Kit (Mismatched, Missing or low grade and just generally poor parts)' from many years ago working on a TFM 35.  4krow knows EXACLY what he's doing (He refurbished 2 of my C1 (BillD) preamps and they are still going to  this day; Good luck with the project and post some pics if you can!

[Schuitema 22]

The advise I have already received from this site is both amazing and much appreciated!  I will certainly look into this in more detail when time permits and would document and share the results with joy.   In the meantime, it is my wish that each of you have a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!!  Let the music live on 👍

[HoraceAnkle 10]

This has renewed my interest in the C9. I never forgot auditioning one back in the 80s. It really left a huge audio  impression on me. If I pick one up can plug it into the pre out main in area on my MXR-130 ? Also 4krow mentioned upgrading rca connections but to what exactly ? Seems like the rca would make for an easy connection to the MXR 130. It looks like many of the C9s I am seeing have no rack handles but do have slotted holes so they were designed to actually mount in a rack ? Are the sides with the rack mounting slots removable to leave you with a regular rectangle enclosure ? And lastly sorry this is kind of alot but I got excited. 😊 I am listening near field only will the effect be as noticeable this way ? Im literally 3 feet from my ADS L780s toed in and I sit at the triangle point. Thanks in advance for your time and comments !

[3M_Audio 2,226]

5 hours ago, HoraceAnkle said:

This has renewed my interest in the C9. I never forgot auditioning one back in the 80s. It really left a huge audio  impression on me. If I pick one up can plug it into the pre out main in area on my MXR-130 ? Also 4krow mentioned upgrading rca connections but to what exactly ? Seems like the rca would make for an easy connection to the MXR 130. It looks like many of the C9s I am seeing have no rack handles but do have slotted holes so they were designed to actually mount in a rack ? Are the sides with the rack mounting slots removable to leave you with a regular rectangle enclosure ? And lastly sorry this is kind of alot but I got excited. 😊 I am listening near field only will the effect be as noticeable this way ? Im literally 3 feet from my ADS L780s toed in and I sit at the triangle point. Thanks in advance for your time and comments !

yes, pre-out and main-in will do it for you or you can use one of your tape loops. And it's common for some restorers to upgrade the RCA jacks - particularly if the old jacks are badly corroded - but in most cases you should be able to clean up and use the original RCA jacks built-in to the main board without too much trouble. If you do a search here you should find some good suggestions for RCA jack cleaning solutions/tools to help with the job. Just use good quality RCA cables and be *gentle* inserting them into the C9. Those RCA jacks are soldered to the main board in the C9 so you don't want to be flexing/twisting them - that's how solder traces get cracked/broken.

 

And there are a couple case styles. I'm working on one right now with no rack ears - it's just a rectangular box. But others have the rack option and the front panel is removable. There were also 'Appearance Panels' that could be attached to some models to help  better match other 19-inch components.

 

And regarding positioning, you want to be exactly at a nodal point (or at the point of a triangle, as you described it). Nearfield isn't ideal as you'll have a very small sweet-spot and likely some boundary reflections, but you should still be able to get the SH effect. Download the C9 owner's manual from the 'Manuals and Specsheets' link at the top of any page and in it, you'll find some good info on setting up the listening environment including sound-deadening treatments and various room configurations.

[jeffs 3,456]

8 hours ago, HoraceAnkle said:

Are the sides with the rack mounting slots removable to leave you with a regular rectangle enclosure ?

No.  There are 2 versions of the C-9.  One has a rack mountable face plate, the other is rectangular.  The rectangular ones are more common, so if that's what you want, it should not be an issue finding one.  

As @3M_Audio Glenn has mentioned, the rectangular ones can be fitted with with appearance panels.  These panels are somewhat of a unicorn but there is a set on Reverb .... been there for a while .... expensive:

 

https://reverb.com/item/86763175-carver-c-9-tx1-11-appearance-panels-rack-mount-ears-capable?bk=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJqdGkiOiJmNzhlN2QxNC1mMmEyLTQ5MzUtYjQ2Mi1iYzlkNDBhMjI1NGQiLCJpYXQiOjE3Njc4MDU5NzQsInVzZXJfaWQiOiIiLCJzZXNzaW9uX2lkIjoiNTBjZmZiNWMtZTI2Ni00MDg1LWEzYmQtNTY4NzYwZmI4NmIwIiwiY29va2llX2lkIjoiNjNiNTQzZDctM2MyMC00YzkxLWJiZWMtZjA1YWViMTIwMDhiIiwicHJvZHVjdF9pZCI6Ijg2NzYzMTc1Iiwic291cmNlIjoiTk9ORSJ9.-DoBPCo2a2NA7SKvBT8zNxHmPxXUjBbALN83aKfF2eI

 

Note: they don't have rack mount holes ....

 

 

 

[HoraceAnkle 10]

11 hours ago, HoraceAnkle said:

This has renewed my interest in the C9. I never forgot auditioning one back in the 80s. It really left a huge audio  impression on me. If I pick one up can plug it into the pre out main in area on my MXR-130 ? Also 4krow mentioned upgrading rca connections but to what exactly ? Seems like the rca would make for an easy connection to the MXR 130. It looks like many of the C9s I am seeing have no rack handles but do have slotted holes so they were designed to actually mount in a rack ? Are the sides with the rack mounting slots removable to leave you with a regular rectangle enclosure ? And lastly sorry this is kind of alot but I got excited. 😊 I am listening near field only will the effect be as noticeable this way ? Im literally 3 feet from my ADS L780s toed in and I sit at the triangle point. Thanks in advance for your time and comments !

How rude of me, welcome to the site @schuitema. I really enjoyed hearing how you use the C9 as always on.