Carver Crimson 275 Review (Tube Amp)

[SIY]

I do not believe anyone here on ASR 'reports to' traderitch. I am not sure why his point of view seems to be that experts here owe him a design solution for this.

He has denied repeatedly having any connection to any of the players. Repeatedly. And you would think anyone defending the product or the behavior of the manufacturer or dealers would also have to have the very highest degree of ethics, right?

Let's not be suspicious of someone who merely acts like a shill, over and over and over.

 

[traderitch]

@paulbottlehead
@Billy Budapest
@NTK
@solderdude
@DonH56
(and any others that post after my reply)

I fully understand that nobody would want to be held liable for the advice (process) that they provide in this thread.
(I have carried plenty of E&O insurance over the years)

This is true of all of the DIY type advice I have seen presented on other sites for other inquiries.
I learned a long time ago to read an entire DIY thread before opening a unit that I am working on to modify/remedy
an issue. For example: Working on an old HK amp, it was suggested early in the thread to increase the capacitance values of certain
capacitors... only to discover in a later post that it was poor advice...

I have access to some extremely qualified technicians and typically reach out to them when I run in to situations
that are either beyond by capabilities or need additional equipment to complete (aligning a FM tuner or a high end lytic capacitor tester for big unavailable caps).

I posed the question to mitigate some of the "hindsight" responses that will inevitably be posted when Carver releases
their remedies.

I am concerned for people like @jbhiller. To have his unit modified by Carver and visit this thread and be told he is still in danger.
If the modifications have efficacy and acceptance the thread will revert to the "specifications" dialog.

It is not in the purview of this site but to truly know if the amp presents a dangerous environment (as is) one would have to
create the "short" and measure the voltage at the chassis. Using units on loan doesn't allow this type of confirmation.

 

[SIY]

@paulbottlehead
@Billy Budapest
@NTK
@solderdude
@DonH56
(and any others that post after my reply)

I fully understand that nobody would want to be held liable for the advice (process) that they provide in this thread.
(I have carried plenty of E&O insurance over the years)

This is true of all of the DIY type advice I have seen presented on other sites for other inquiries.
I learned a long time ago to read an entire DIY thread before opening a unit that I am working on to modify/remedy
an issue. For example: Working on an old HK amp, it was suggested early in the thread to increase the capacitance values of certain
capacitors... only to discover in a later post that it was poor advice...

I have access to some extremely qualified technicians and typically reach out to them when I run in to situations
that are either beyond by capabilities or need additional equipment to complete (aligning a FM tuner or a high end lytic capacitor tester for big unavailable caps).

I posed the question to mitigate some of the "hindsight" responses that will inevitably be posted when Carver releases
their remedies.

I am concerned for people like @jbhiller. To have his unit modified by Carver and visit this thread and be told he is still in danger.
If the modifications have efficacy and acceptance the thread will revert to the "specifications" dialog.

It is not in the purview of this site but to truly know if the amp presents a dangerous environment (as is) one would have to
create the "short" and measure the voltage at the chassis. Using units on loan doesn't allow this type of confirmation.

We await a contract outlining scope of work, compensation, and indemnification.

 

[JP]

but to truly know if the amp presents a dangerous environment (as is) one would have to
create the "short" and measure the voltage at the chassis.

 

[amirm]

I posed the question to mitigate some of the "hindsight" responses that will inevitably be posted when Carver releases
their remedies.

The safety remedy is simple and stated many times. The problem is that the unit uses the chassis as a semi floating shield so some investigation needs to be done to make sure it doesn't hum. This is outside the scope of us giving advice. Only the company is in a position to fix this issue and not make the amp performance worse than it is.

 

[traderitch]

He has denied repeatedly having any connection to any of the players. Repeatedly. And you would think anyone defending the product or the behavior of the manufacturer or dealers would also have to have the very highest degree of ethics, right?

Let's not be suspicious of someone who merely acts like a shill, over and over and over.

I have been very deliberate in never lodging personal attacks throughout this discussion.
Your disparaging innuendo is not helpful or relevant to the discussion.

 

[SIY]

I have been very deliberate in never lodging personal attacks throughout this discussion.
You disparaging innuendo is not helpful or relevant to the discussion.

If you shill, don't be surprised if you're called on it.

 

[L0rdGwyn]

It is not in the purview of this site but to truly know if the amp presents a dangerous environment (as is) one would have to
create the "short" and measure the voltage at the chassis. Using units on loan doesn't allow this type of confirmation.

There are multiple members on this thread who have expertise in tube amplifier design. The pointed outcry and criticism of the amplifier is due to it being so clearly and obviously unsafe, it isn't debatable, Carver Corp. did it wrong and they deserve the criticism they are receiving. They may redeem themselves to some extent if they admit their faults and attempt to make it right, but there isn't a scenario where their reputation comes out of this situation unscathed, nor should it, they betrayed the trust of their customers and dealers by releasing a misleading and unsafe product. They really have no leg to stand on, so defending them or suggesting the evaluation on ASR is misleading is going to elicit a predictable response.

 

[paulbottlehead]

He has lost the plot. We are not complaining about copious distortion but the fact that the amp doesn't produce stated power levels and is unsafe. These should never occur regardless of design.

Yeah for those who own these and are hoping for a remedy, seeing stuff like that posted may not inspire a lot of confidence.

 

[EBrumbaugh]

As always, thanks for the review. Your discussion of the internal construction of this amp under review really struck home with me. One thing I definitely like is looking under the hood before I put any money out for my electronics ... one reason I went with PremaLuna when I wanted to get into tube amplification. Love my PL Evo 300 Integrated [picture attached], point-to-point wiring being one of the many reasons. Thanks again, love reading your unbiased reviews ...

 

[Laserjock]

As always, thanks for the review. Your discussion of the internal construction of this amp under review really struck home with me. One thing I definitely like is looking under the hood before I put any money out for my electronics ... one reason I went with PremaLuna when I wanted to get into tube amplification. Love my PL Evo 300 Integrated [picture attached], point-to-point wiring being one of the many reasons. Thanks again, love reading your unbiased reviews ...

Let’s see it reviewed?

 

[atmasphere]

I fully understand that nobody would want to be held liable for the advice (process) that they provide in this thread.
(I have carried plenty of E&O insurance over the years)

This is true of all of the DIY type advice I have seen presented on other sites for other inquiries.
I learned a long time ago to read an entire DIY thread before opening a unit that I am working on to modify/remedy
an issue. For example: Working on an old HK amp, it was suggested early in the thread to increase the capacitance values of certain
capacitors... only to discover in a later post that it was poor advice...

I have access to some extremely qualified technicians and typically reach out to them when I run in to situations
that are either beyond by capabilities or need additional equipment to complete (aligning a FM tuner or a high end lytic capacitor tester for big unavailable caps).

I posed the question to mitigate some of the "hindsight" responses that will inevitably be posted when Carver releases
their remedies.

I am concerned for people like @jbhiller. To have his unit modified by Carver and visit this thread and be told he is still in danger.
If the modifications have efficacy and acceptance the thread will revert to the "specifications" dialog.

It is not in the purview of this site but to truly know if the amp presents a dangerous environment (as is) one would have to
create the "short" and measure the voltage at the chassis. Using units on loan doesn't allow this type of confirmation.

If you look at one of my last posts you will see that I explained what needs to be done. Anyone with technical/engineering training will be able to tell exactly what to do from that post. If the post seems obtuse to you in any way do not attempt to perform the changes on your own- take the product to qualified personnel. One thing I can tell you is that if the grounding is set up correctly, the amp will have a lower noise floor than it does now. There is actually a benefit to audio in doing grounding right in the post-knob-and-tube wiring world

 

[Billy Budapest]

Let’s see it reviewed?

I seriously doubt that the PrimaLuna’s measurements would impress the members of the forum but the build quality looks to be very good.

 

[traderitch]

There are multiple members on this thread who have expertise in tube amplifier design. The pointed outcry and criticism of the amplifier is due to it being so clearly and obviously unsafe, it isn't debatable, Carver Corp. did it wrong and they deserve the criticism they are receiving. They may redeem themselves to some extent if they admit their faults and attempt to make it right, but there isn't a scenario where their reputation comes out of this situation unscathed, nor should it, they betrayed the trust of their customers and dealers by releasing a misleading and unsafe product. They really have no leg to stand on, so defending them or suggesting the evaluation on ASR is misleading is going to elicit a predictable response.

I agree with a few of your points...
There is an impression that I have defended Carver, which is absolutely not true.
One can pose alternative questions without defending.

I am not naive, there will always be those who have some innate need to launch personal attacks which are unnecessary, inappropriate
and counterproductive. "Liking" those personal attacks is an act of complicity.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Agreed that personal attacks upon forum members and the individuals involved with designing, manufacturing, and marketing the amp are in bad taste. I certainly wouldn’t do that. Rather, the products speak for themselves.

 

[traderitch]

If you look at one of my last posts you will see that I explained what needs to be done. Anyone with technical/engineering training will be able to tell exactly what to do from that post. If the post seems obtuse to you in any way do not attempt to perform the changes on your own- take the product to qualified personnel. One thing I can tell you is that if the grounding is set up correctly, the amp will have a lower noise floor than it does now. There is actually a benefit to audio in doing grounding right in the post-knob-and-tube wiring world

"I posed the question to mitigate some of the "hindsight" responses that will inevitably be posted when Carver releases
their remedies."

"I have access to some extremely qualified technicians and typically reach out to them when I run in to situations
that are either beyond by capabilities or need additional equipment to complete (aligning a FM tuner or a high end lytic capacitor tester for big unavailable caps)."

I really appreciate the response

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

I do not believe a quick disconnect is allowed in that particular spot, though I suppose you could solder it on.

Quick disconnects are commonly used on the tabs of power switches such as this. Soldering to the power switch is much less common in my experience, in addition to being subject to bad soldering and the necessity of heat shrink which may or may not stay in place.

 

[paulbottlehead]

I seriously doubt that the PrimaLuna’s measurements would impress the members of the forum but the build quality looks to be very good.

That hardly matters, if the specifications provided by the manufacturer are more-or-less accurate, there isn't a lot to complain about!

 

[Xulonn]

I agree with a few of your points...
There is an impression that I have defended Carver, which is absolutely not true.
One can pose alternative questions without defending.

I am not naive, there will always be those who have some innate need to launch personal attacks which are unnecessary, inappropriate
and counterproductive. "Liking" those personal attacks is an act of complicity.

Your style of writing and communication seems to be a bit egotistical and provocative, and when people react to that, you get defensive. This can lead to a vicious cycle of rancorous discussion. It seems that a lot of the negativity in this thread is related to poor communication rather than the substance of the issues.

 

[SIY]

As always, thanks for the review. Your discussion of the internal construction of this amp under review really struck home with me. One thing I definitely like is looking under the hood before I put any money out for my electronics ... one reason I went with PremaLuna when I wanted to get into tube amplification. Love my PL Evo 300 Integrated [picture attached], point-to-point wiring being one of the many reasons. Thanks again, love reading your unbiased reviews ...

Lower left hand corner. Green wire.