Carver Crimson 275 Review (Tube Amp)

[Jim Clark]

Sorry master contributor .. Have fun keep your session going enjoy!

 

[Jim Clark]

You have no room to talk about class, Sir.

Best wishes.

 

[Larry B. Larabee]

How would this be relevant

Simply to hear someone say 'and it sounds like a peice of shit, too'.

And risk blowing a 4th fuse ?

After the first fuse blew I would have searched around for a slow-blow, maybe even 4A, just for testing.
There's no way the 3A would blow listening to music.

 

[fordiebianco]

Listen to it? Why do that? Audio Science Review is about sine waves and powering resistors, not music powering loudspeakers.
If its cheap and built to test good, its golden, no need to be musical. Audio reviews without listening. If you don't actually listen to an audio product in a review, your name might be more accurately called Resistor Science Review. Never had a 275 returned for lack of power making music. People that use it with music, powering speakers love them.

Dude. Really?

An experienced dealer like yourself realises that sound reproduction is based on physics. Measurements establish whether the never changing, basic laws of physics (or electroacoustics, if you want to be fancy) for good sound reproduction have been followed.

People like their music to sound like it left the studio. ASR is there to establish whether that's happening. Looks like this particular amplifier doesn't meet the critieria.

Not much to quibble.

 

[SIY]

Simply to hear someone say 'and it sounds like a peice of shit, too'.

After the first fuse blew I would have searched around for a slow-blow, maybe even 4A, just for testing.
There's no way the 3A would blow listening to music.

If the power transformer is as badly specified for cost-cutting as the output transformers, that could result in a smoking, sparking disaster.

 

[paulbottlehead]

If the power transformer is as badly specified for cost-cutting as the output transformers, that could result in a smoking, sparking disaster.

This is what was used in the Carverfest version. I'm a little hesitant to take anything apart on the one I bought since it's going back, but they do weigh the same.

 

[abdo123]

You have no room to talk about class, Sir.

Best wishes.

It would be really classy to sell a product that doesn’t have the potential to blow up other electronics in the household, or even worse, setting someone’s home on fire.

How would you live with yourself if someone’s home was on fire because you decided not to ground these amplifiers? Did you even think about it?

This is way past questions like ‘does this amplifier sound good’.

 

[bkatbamna]

Maybe you could send 1% of your savings to Amir to fund ASR.

Consider it done.

 

[amirm]

Listen to it? Why do that? Audio Science Review is about sine waves and powering resistors, not music powering loudspeakers.
If its cheap and built to test good, its golden, no need to be musical. Audio reviews without listening. If you don't actually listen to an audio product in a review, your name might be more accurately called Resistor Science Review. Never had a 275 returned for lack of power making music. People that use it with music, powering speakers love them.

I planned to listen to it but with our house flooding and the only time to test this being midnight, I did not do so. But figured this excuse would come a mile away.

Anyway, the issue at hand from the start has been specifications with simple sine waves and resistors that claimed this product produces 75 watts into 4 ohm. Is there a plan from the company and you as a dealer to remove such specifications so customers are not mislead? After all, few if any customers are in a position to measure power to know they were not given what they were promised.

 

[Larry B. Larabee]

This is what was used in the Carverfest version

It looks like the bobbypollooza cultists used the #6 screws to hold the transformer and #8 screws to hold the cover instead of the other way around.

 

[amirm]

Not here to argue bottledick. See ya.

Oh. This is the type of representation you want to provide for this brand? Listen: poor measurements are one thing. Don't add to it by showing the people behind it may be just as bad. Be professional. Do your part best and don't add insult to injury here. I swear some people in the industry need take a PR class just to know how to conduct themselves in public....

 

[Billy Budapest]

Listen to it? Why do that? Audio Science Review is about sine waves and powering resistors, not music powering loudspeakers.
If its cheap and built to test good, its golden, no need to be musical. Audio reviews without listening. If you don't actually listen to an audio product in a review, your name might be more accurately called Resistor Science Review. Never had a 275 returned for lack of power making music. People that use it with music, powering speakers love them.

I think the problems people here have with the amp are not with the sound quality, but rather with other just-as-important considerations;

1). Poor QC
-loose screw inside unit (also a safety consideration)
-cold solder joints or loose wiring at transformer (also a safety consideration)

2). Cost cutting measures inappropriate for the relatively high price
-glued-in meter
-extremely thin speaking wiring

3). Safety issues
-no chassis ground/completely disconnected ground pin from the power cable
-no UL or FCC certifications

4). Amp is advertised as a 75wpc amp but uses 15 watt transformers and is not capable of meeting the 75wpc spec.

These non-audio considerations can and should be rectified by the company. It will make a better product and happier consumers.

 

[audioholic63]

I wonder if one of these will output 75 watts?

Martin

The seem to weigh enough so...no worries.

 

[PatentLawyer]

Well, that's certainly a reasoned and intelligent way to deal with the revealed product defects.

Isn’t “bottledick” kind of a compliment? Sort of like “beer can”?

 

[amirm]

If you bought that amp from me within the last 30 days I will be happy to refund your money.

So says the guy who says he has an ointment that grows hair. Or pills that cure any kind of cancer. Would you purchase either for the promise of 30 day return if they don't work?

Don't put yourself in that bucket. Money back guarantees have been used to sell all kinds of non-effective things. And do you realize there is a ton of hassle to buy and return things and hope to get your money back?

Anyway, I suggest working the issue within the company. Put the effort toward honest advertising. It is Bob's reputation we are dealing with. Don't be part of the problem that is tarnishing that.

 

[bidn]

Or just place a micro LED inside as a "placebo", saves electricity Or behind/below, because of the vacuum inside.
/edit: Those "fakes" are even commercially available LOL https://www.google.com/search?q=faux+vacuum+tubes+LED&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=AOaemvKrjl75LXZFJ2Zw9yquZEMPEM3usw:1642360604353&ei=HG_kYZHfFPCOxc8P6pKrMA&ved=0ahUKEwiR3aiD_rb1AhVwR_EDHWrJCgYQ4dUDCA0&uact=5&oq=faux+vacuum+tubes+LED&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyCAghEBYQHRAeMggIIRAWEB0QHjIICCEQFhAdEB4yCAghEBYQHRAeOgcIABBHELADOggIABAWEAoQHjoECCMQJzoGCAAQFhAeOgUIABDLAToECAAQEzoICAAQFhAeEBM6CggAEBYQChAeEBM6CggAEAgQDRAeEBM6BQghEKABSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUNcXWO1TYOBVaAVwAngAgAH3AYgBwheSAQYwLjIxLjGYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-w

Thank you, I found this to be funny!

 

[SIY]

View attachment 179471
This is what was used in the Carverfest version. I'm a little hesitant to take anything apart on the one I bought since it's going back, but they do weigh the same.

That's... remarkable. Yeah, I wouldn't change out the fuse.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It's been replaced, apparently, by the Carver Raven 275.
Not sure how different the Raven is to the Crimson. I am guessing chassis color.

Bob Carver - Crimson 275 Tube Power Amplifier

www.musicdirect.com

Bob Carver Raven 275 Stereo Vacuum Tube Amplifier

Stereo Vacuum Tube Amplifier by Bob Carver with KT 120 tubes for 75 Watts per channel. Ultra-stable. Hand crafted in the USA. Full 5-year Warranty including tubes. Beautiful audiophile amplifier sound quality. Call to check stock or scheduled delivery. These amplifiers provide the awesome...

jimclarkstereo.com

note the URL at the Bob Carver Corp. website.
https://www.bobcarvercorp.com/copy-of-crimson-raven-features-spec

The same weight of 19 lbs tells you everything you need to know.

 

[mhardy6647]

After the first fuse blew I would have searched around for a slow-blow, maybe even 4A, just for testing.

That would definitely void the warranty.
Not to say that I wouldn't have done that, too -- but I'd be well aware of the implications of deliberately undercutting (so to speak) a safety device.

 

[_thelaughingman]

Not here to argue bottledick. See ya.

Way to sound like a little dick yourself. If you're here to defend a product that you sold, then be a bit more professional and face up to the criticism or shut up and leave. “Ooh, I'm going to get into a dick measuring contest on an online forum”. Clueless buffoon.