Carver & deParavicini Tube Amp
quadlover -- Sun, 07/11/2010 - 11:26
Anybody else see this or know anything about it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Stereo-Mono-Monoblock-Tube-Amplifiers-Amps-Carver-KT88_W0QQitemZ180526476885QQcategoryZ50593QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D20%26pmod%3D180502457652%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7277896789102791063
Bob is a master merchandiser but he also made great tube amp under carver name and Tim needs no intro.
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I know about it- I'm thick in the middle.
Bob and I are getting together to discuss the project. We will reminisce on all the great Carver projects, products and controversies. Without letting too many cats from the bag, there will be a blast from the past that will positively knock your blocks OFF.
I will be writing all about it. Plus shooting video.
Peter B.
Its been 5 months since I posted this item. In the newest TAS you mention the Carver Cherry's. Did you buy them of Ebay or do you have a pair for review? Care to share any info?
Happy Holidays Quadlover!
The Cherrys are here for evaluation and commentary, as are the gazillion'd tubed Silver Sevens. In fact ,the Sevens are the very first pair ever made [cat out of bag]. As luck would have it, I'm sorting out an issue with one of my MBLs. These high powered amps are begging for the MBLs- so all must be perfect. Imagine these two Carver bad boys vs. the Jadis JA500. Don't worry, I'll have a full report on all things Bob Carver, past, present and future.
I can't get my head around the idea of Bob C building a tube amp. Wasn't he at one stage notorious for claiming he could reproduce the sound of thermionics by engineering 2nd harmonic distortion etc into solid state amps?
Yes he is. However his Silver 7's were considered awe inspiring back when they were released. Bob Carver is an amazing designer of audio products, but his "showmanship" and choice to market to buyers from a more mainstream position rather than the rather limited high end market caused many to not take him serious.
Using cars as an example...which manufacturer would garner the most respect and market share...the one who attempts to make the finest luxury or sports car regardless of price or the one who makes the best affordable vehicle that aspires to being 90-95% of that finest vehicle?
Then what if that affordable company turned their designer loose on a no holds barred product that he builds with the help of another highly respected designer?
Excellent analogy. If you read interviews with Bob, all his early amplifier designs pre Phase Linear and Carver were tube designs. The Silver Seven was a cost-no-object assault on the high end and was all tubes. HP gave them "amp of the decade" honors. OK, so now where is the promised review of the Cherry Sevens, Silver Sevens, or whatever Bob has up his sleeve since leaving Sunfire?!
Hi rep4years,
I got a call from Bob last week and he has an output stage design change for the Cherrys. So back they go. Figures, I just set them up for their first round of serious listening sessions. HP is receiving a brand spanking new pair this week so look for his words of wisdom on the redesign. The Cherry’s were a fine match for the new MBL 101e MKII. They produced a very spacious stage with a buttoned down lower midrange. I compared them, in one session, to the massive MBL 9011s in monoblock formation. Both amps excelled in the mid-alto to soprano vocal range (450hz to 1100hz). The higher frequencies were more effervescent with the MBLs. Now the Carvers did not lack air or image exactitude, they just did not have the majestic float the super MBLs gave to the higher frequencies. The Carvers excelled in image layering and the things tubes do that output devices don’t do. The bass, no contest, it was smack down time for the MBLs. The interesting note to this very short story is how well a tube amp can match with MBL 101eMKIIs. I wonder what the redesign has wrought to this gem of a tube amp? HP will see before me.
Just noticed it's been over 7 months since HP got the Cherrys. Any word? I see the Silver Sevens will be reborn as well. I'd like to see someone speak to the ability of the new amps to put out more power as impedance drops, an ability Bob credited to some special circuit he and/or Tim de Pavarancini (sp?) had designed. In my (limited and unschooled) experience tube amps typically put out less power as impedance reduces. Also, I'm curious as to the output impedance on the amp you auditioned. Rolled off highs, not your words but mine, typically ensue if that impedance approaches 1 Ohm. Another phenomenon of high output impedance is a low damping factor, simple math that means "smack down time" is not going to be the name of the game. Bob's description alluded to monstrous bass and control, something that won't typically happen with low damping/high output impedance. Your listening seems to indicate high output impedance. I appreciate your insights and staying with this. Happy New Year!