Carver PM-420

[Scott Andrew 6]

I recently bought a PM -420 amp. Finally I own a carver amp! I am looking for a compatible tuner/preamp to go along with it. I’ve been looking at the CT-23. I want all units to be rack mount and from the same era. I’m looking for suggestions. Thank you

[Half Life 1,813]

First, welcome from Virginia!  Enjoy your stay!

 

I have a CT-23 that I pair with a TFM-15 and love it.  Got it used many years ago and refurbished it myself.  It's a good unit that fits well with your amp.

[BobTFM35 3,359]

Welcome to the Carver Site!!

 

Looks like the CT-23 is a nice fit for your two-channel setup. Make sure that it has the remote.

 

If you are thinking of a system beyond a two-channel, say a surround sound configuration then maybe something like the CT-26V or the CT-29v (with the remotes) will be good to start off with. With those two units you can add amps for a center channel, surround and a sub as your system grows.

 

For your 420 amp, you will need to get or make an interconnect cable that goes from an RCA to 1/4" phone jack. The 420s were sold in a US configuration and an export configuration and either configuration accepts balanced and unbalanced inputs. The manual covers this.

 

Again Welcome.

Edited 22 hours ago by BobTFM35

[Jeff Stone 453]

Welcom to TCS!

[AndrewJohn 11,602]

Welcome..., 

 

Unfortunately, if you are looking for a Pre-amp Tuner that "matches" the PM-420 "look", you won't find one...  

 

The PM-420 came out of Phoenix Audio, the group that bought the rights to produce a line of Pro-amps with the Carver brand name on them, after Carver Corp closed it's doors.  

 

The PM-420 is a great amp, and some here really like it - so no disrespect there - it's just that Phoenix Audio changed the faceplate look enough that it doesn't match precisely any of the older Carver Corp preaamp-tuners. 

 

As long as you know that - the CT-23, IMHO, is one of the best..., it doesn't try to be an AV-receiver wanna-be like the CT-15, 27, 28, and other models that are positioned as AV receivers..., why is that important - it may not be..., but none of those AV receivers can hold a candle to a modern AV receiver that supports ARC and HDMI, and modern AV requirements..., they just came out back when Video was primarily connected by the yellow RCA-like "composite" configuration - that no one uses - or Sony's proprietary S-video, that is all but obsoleted by HDMI.  For 2-channel, the can suffice, but a nice entry level Marantz AV receiver will blow them away... 

 

Of course, that's just my "opinion"..., but i have tried them all.  I regret letting the CT-23 go (I had a mint unit, in the original box, all papers, etc... I sold to a collector). 

 

Beware that only a few of the aforementioned preamps have rack-compatibility..., the "rack handles" are positioned such that they don't align with standard rack units, like the PM-420 does.  You'll want to get a "rack shelf" so it just "sets" on a shelf in your rack - assuming you are looking at a "pro rack" where the faceplate bolts onto the left and right rack posts...

 

Welcome!  And enjoy the journey! 😉 

[Scott Andrew 6]

This is great advice. I see that  I can buy 1/4” to RCA cables so that won’t be a problem. I was looking at the back of the CT-23. I don’t see where the output connections are from the preamp to the amplifier. What am I missing? Plus I can’t find a CT-23 free manual on line. Any suggestions?

[Sk1Bum 13,650]

18 minutes ago, Scott Andrew said:

This is great advice. I see that  I can buy 1/4” to RCA cables so that won’t be a problem. I was looking at the back of the CT-23. I don’t see where the output connections are from the preamp to the amplifier. What am I missing? Plus I can’t find a CT-23 free manual on line. Any suggestions?

 

https://thecarversite.com/manuals/mandir/Carver CT-23 Preamp Owners Manual.pdf

 

https://thecarversite.com/manuals/mandir/Carver CT-23 Preamp Schematics.pdf

 

 

[BobTFM35 3,359]

@Scott Andrew On the back of the 23 you use the audio out to go to the input of the amp.

 

 

 

[Scott Andrew 6]

I didn’t see that in the pic I had. Thank you

[Scott Andrew 6]

[Scott Andrew 6]

Not sure why my pics are different than yours

[BobTFM35 3,359]

They are different because what is shown is a CT-26v.

 

What I show is a picture that represents the model you mentioned in your post, a CT-23.

[BobTFM35 3,359]

Are the pictures that you posted are they of the unit you are thinking of purchasing?

[Scott Andrew 6]

These are pictures from eBay. The person selling it listed it as a CT-23 for sale. Thanks for the heads up on that. I zoomed in and see that the model number on the back

[BobTFM35 3,359]

take a very close look and I mean a very close look at the RCA connection points for the tape input and output and for the pre outs for the front.

 

For me they look broken as the outer shell is missing.

 

 

[Scott Andrew 6]

It’s nothing that I want. I just wanted to see the connections. It is a unit I would not buy. Thanks for your close inspection. I appreciate your input. In the end I just want to have a solid stereo carver setup. What would you suggest for a separate Carver tuner and Carver preamplifier if I were to go that route?

[Sk1Bum 13,650]

30 minutes ago, Scott Andrew said:

It’s nothing that I want. I just wanted to see the connections. It is a unit I would not buy. Thanks for your close inspection. I appreciate your input. In the end I just want to have a solid stereo carver setup. What would you suggest for a separate Carver tuner and Carver preamplifier if I were to go that route?

 

Pre amp: Carver 4000t, C-1, C-11

 

The 4000t is big, double height of the C-1 or C-11. All can be modified to play evenly with pre's that cost thousands more. The C-1 can have a champagne or anthracite faceplate, and the C-11 has a black faceplate. There are other differences in the C-1/C-11, but one of the techs would have to chime in to explain them. I think gain has been reduced a bit in the C-11.

 

Tuner: TX-11a, TX-11b 

 

Both tuners are excellent, with the obvious difference the 11a has the anthracite faceplate, and the 11b has a black faceplate. The 11b has some improvements over the 11a, but again one of the techs will have to explain them.

 

[BobTFM35 3,359]

I would go with this preamp,

 

 

Its a Carver C-4000, it looks smart and classic old school.

It is available here, last one in the list,

https://soundsclassic.com/preamps.html

 

Next one after that would possibly be either a c-1, c-11 or c-16

 

Tuners as suggested by @Sk1Bum

 

 

[BobTFM35 3,359]

I will also go along with @Sk1Bum for the C-4000t because of the addition of the Digital Time Lens function.