i have my parts connexion account locked and loaded to order the caps etc etc!!
thanks in advance! 🙏
Peeking inside a Carver Crimson 275 Tube Amplifier
so jbh - would you please write a short post with specifics as to your passive components mod (sorry to make you repeat this), so that i can pass the info to my tech to replicate your successful minor surgery to the unit? i have my parts connexion account locked and loaded to order the caps etc etc!! thanks in advance! 🙏 |
@jjss49, Sure thing. 1. Output Coupling Caps: Four (4) .68uF 630v ClarityCap CMR Four (4) .1uF 630v ClarityCap CMR Available at PartsConnexion. 2. 2 Caps on Pre/Gain Tubes. Note, I don't have a schematic so I'm taking my best guess as to what caps ore on the signal input side of things. Available at VCap. Two (2) .22uF V-Cap CuTF 300v (matched to at least 5% or lower) 3. Resistors Two (2) 36k ohm (36kR) 5watt. Kiwame Two (2) 39k ohm (39kR) 5 watt Kiwame Available at PartsConnexion. *********** Some notes: If I did this again, I might use VCap ODAMs throughout. They are so amazing. ClarityCaps are very good to excellent too and I adore their sound as well. ODAMs can sound better than even the VCap CuTF to me. Your tech is probably better and smarter than I. But, those two sets of 36k and 39k resistors right in the middle of the board are placed counterintuively. They do not seem to be symmetrically placed to the circuit. Even though I took photos in case I needed to see the original layout, I still installed one channel's 36k and 39k resistors incorrectly--I swapped them. Well, that channel was super faint as an extra 3k ohm of resistance (I had a 39k where a 36k should go) made the output too low. Takeaway--be sure to follow exactly how they are in there to begin with. It's easy to do one side/channel and mirror it on the other, which is incorrect. You won't blow anything up, but it won't work right and you'll know it. Here's a photo from my virtual system for your tech. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9364#&gid=1&pid=7 PS--There's no need to duplicate exactly what I did. Any decent cap will be an upgrade over the cheap, generic caps that were in there. There's a couple of giant Dale dark grey/black resistors on the input side of things. I suppose you could look at Mills, Ohmite, etc. |
@fmalitz Frank thank you for this response.. however I’d like for you to respond to why the 275 does not even come close to its specs? Why does an amp spec’d for 75 watts per channel only put out 17 wpc? Why are the transformer covers very large fake covers over very small transformers that are only capable of 15-18 wpc? I almost bought a 275. I am glad I did not, seeing how I know from experience that my speakers need at minimum 75 to 100wpc. Can you imagine how angry I would have been finding out it can only put out 17 wpc?
I visit Audiogon often but hardly ever post.. I was moved to post this question. I’d like an honest answer. |
The 275 is under scrutiny on at least four other audio forums as we speak. Interestingly on one, the negative comments are largely removed. I’m happy here we can have a warranted inquiry without censorship. I’m not sure why the forum mods are protecting truth on this other audio forum.. but the real measurements and specs are all over the internet like wild fire. Multiple sources sharing the same failures to meet published spec in epic proportion. As a previous fan and owner of Carver products I’m anxious to hear the other side. My confidence has waned and I’m becoming bias with facts that will be tough to refute or explain. |