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Carver Crimson 275 Measurements

Zackthedog

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You pay for them and they may take a while to deliver. Last time took 4 months. You can get higher quality transformers (IMO) from Heyboer
Don't be put off thinking their website was composed in Crayolawrite 1.0. They take a while too. That's how it is during a pandemic, apparently.

Mercury Magnetics also makes nice stuff. I'd not be surprised to find these three manufacturers make 90% of the musical instrument output transformers made in the US.

They do a lot of 'hifi' stuff too.

Well, I have Peerless S-265-Q originals and Heyboer copies. The Heyboers are extremely good and come very close to the originals. They make a wonderful "original" American-style Williamson amp. But Heyboer now takes even longer than Edcor, I'm afraid. I've had a pair on order for 6 months now. But at least you don't have to pay up front.
 

ruchwr

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The amps shown appear to be the amps from the 2018 Carterfest where people can build their own amps and not the retail factory amps. The Carterfest amps were 20 watt /channel amps did not have a name plate and the pictures I see remind me of the builds I have done in the past. I am the owner of a factory Crimson275 and would bet that if tested properly would show much different numbers.
 

Zackthedog

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The amps shown appear to be the amps from the 2018 Carterfest where people can build their own amps and not the retail factory amps. The Carterfest amps were 20 watt /channel amps did not have a name plate and the pictures I see remind me of the builds I have done in the past. I am the owner of a factory Crimson275 and would bet that if tested properly would show much different numbers.
There's one on the bench as we speak. The production models have the same 15 watt output transformer, same PCB. Most of us don't expect to see much of a difference, but we could be wrong.
 

jjptkd

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The amps shown appear to be the amps from the 2018 Carterfest where people can build their own amps and not the retail factory amps. The Carterfest amps were 20 watt /channel amps did not have a name plate and the pictures I see remind me of the builds I have done in the past. I am the owner of a factory Crimson275 and would bet that if tested properly would show much different numbers.
These are quotes posted by Frank the owner of Carver Corp over on the Audiogon forum:

"The amps actually put out 90w or so at 1k into 8ohms, one channel, with .6% distortion."

"They put out clean 90W down to 80Hz, and distort more as it goes down, due to the lack of steel in the output transformers."

 

mhardy6647

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You pay for them and they may take a while to deliver. Last time took 4 months. You can get higher quality transformers (IMO) from Heyboer
Don't be put off thinking their website was composed in Crayolawrite 1.0. They take a while too. That's how it is during a pandemic, apparently.

Mercury Magnetics also makes nice stuff. I'd not be surprised to find these three manufacturers make 90% of the musical instrument output transformers made in the US.

They do a lot of 'hifi' stuff too.
Let me put in another good word for Heyboer. Very good quality transformers at extremely reasonable prices -- but here's the other piece. Heyboer's been around forever. They made, e.g., the original power transformers for EICO's venerable HF-81 stereo integrated amplifier-- and they're still happy to make a replacement PT for an HF-81, including a variant that's uprated a bit to contend with modern line voltages (plus to correct for the rather borderline adequacy of the original PT as spec'd by EICO in the late 1950s). I bought one for my late '50s-vintage HF-81 to have a spare, which should hold it for another six or seven decades after the original PT fails (it's still OK, so far).

I understand they're pretty good to work with for made-to-order transformers, too -- but I haven't had 'em do any custom work for me.
 
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AudioTodd

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Zack, I would never besmirch John Curl, God knows I bought enough of his equipment. I just think it is funny every reference about the man starts out "the legendary John Curl." He is a much more modest gentleman than that! And I totally agree with honest measurements. If the amp is seriously less powered than advertised I will look for something else. I am not lying though when I tell you these LFT 8b's and this amp keep me up past my bedtime.
If you like it, why look elsewhere??
 

Chazz6

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These are quotes posted by Frank the owner of Carver Corp over on the Audiogon forum:

"The amps actually put out 90w or so at 1k into 8ohms, one channel, with .6% distortion."
"They put out clean 90W down to 80Hz, and distort more as it goes down, due to the lack of steel in the output transformers."

Right, those words are actually Frank Malice, excuse me, Malitz, offering a quote, he says, "From Edward Suver (our WA tech support, QC and manufacturing supervisor..." The date of the post is Jan. 4, 2022 and it is at
 

MakeMineVinyl

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...........and distort more as it goes down, due to the lack of steel in the output transformers."
Is that the understatement of the century or what? :eek:
 

LTig

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These are quotes posted by Frank the owner of Carver Corp over on the Audiogon forum:

"The amps actually put out 90w or so at 1k into 8ohms, one channel, with .6% distortion."

"They put out clean 90W down to 80Hz, and distort more as it goes down, due to the lack of steel in the output transformers."
Spec is 75Wpc, from 20Hz - 20kHz, THD <= 1%, if I remember correctly. Not much reserve for the rise below 80Hz. We will see ...
 

Chazz6

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Spec is 75Wpc, from 20Hz - 20kHz, THD <= 1%, if I remember correctly. Not much reserve for the rise below 80Hz. We will see ...
Yup. From dealer Jim Clark Stereo's web page for the Crimson 275:
More than 75 Watts Per Channel, both channels driven at eight ohms, from 20Hz to 20kHz with no more than 1% total harmonic distortion. Distortion decreases at lower levels.
https://jimclarkstereo.com/Bob-Carver-Crimson-275-Stereo-Vacuum-Tube-Amplifier-p115352773
 

Vladimir Filevski

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The amps shown appear to be the amps from the 2018 Carterfest where people can build their own amps and not the retail factory amps. The Carterfest amps were 20 watt /channel amps did not have a name plate and the pictures I see remind me of the builds I have done in the past. I am the owner of a factory Crimson275 and would bet that if tested properly would show much different numbers.
No need for testing - just take off the output transformer cover, photograph the output transformer (with clear view of sticker with the power specification) and post the photograph here, please.
 

Larry B. Larabee

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Its easier to see if you observe a sine wave and push it to clipping. You'll see the sharp edges of a solid state amp make the sine wave look like someone clipped the top off with a pair of scissiors. A tube amp will round those corners- you have to push it pretty hard to get the corners as sharp as a solid state does. View attachment 178883

The image is what I'm talking about. If you just look at the distortion curve you won't see this.
Even if surprising to some claiming to be knowledgeable in all things electronic and never hearing about tube amp soft-clipping no one has actually explained the reasoning for this characteristic in tube amps.
A limited bandwidth would explain the rounded corners at clipping.
I doubt that the supply rails are very stiff, so it could have something to do with load regulation and in that same area the load regulation when referring to the damping factor which in these amps is usually low, much like the user's expectations. (yes, I'm taking a shot at tube guys every chance I get.)

Someone surely knows the reason for it.
 

Rottmannash

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I think the draw of S.S. was its reliability, low heat output, and compact lightweight size; no tubes to fizzle out & need regular replacement and no bad backs caused by heavy transformer-laden chasses. My preference happens to go with home brew tube amps & preamps. They're fun to make, parts are readily accessible, and when you're done, there's the music. I'm a happy camper, and if the equipment breaks down, I can readily get it going again. As for the weight, well, I am a gym user, so it's no big deal.
Can't get to the gym? Just curl. deadlift and overhead press your tube amps.
 

Rottmannash

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I could write a book...

:cool:



Kind of hard to prep a house for exterior painting or clean a deck that way, isn't it? Besides, how would the neighborhood hounds feel?
My power sprayer is one of my favorite toys, right behind my leaf blower.
 

Rottmannash

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That's simply because tube amps have a more graceful clipping characteristic. So they can be overloaded and produce a bit more higher ordered harmonic distortion, which the ear interprets as greater sound pressure (the ear uses higher ordered harmonics to sense sound pressure). So as long as the amp doesn't outright break up, its higher distortion will make it sound louder than it really is.
That was my fun fact of the day-didn't know that higher-order-harmonics-to-sense-sound-pressure factoid.
 

MakeMineVinyl

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My power sprayer is one of my favorite toys, right behind my leaf blower.
I just bought a CAT-1800 power washer but haven't had a chance to use it. Looking for dirty things.....
 
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