2. vintage
  3. 166282-160753

Bob Carver C-500 worth restoring and/or upgrading??

Hi...
I have a Carver C-500 that I am the original purchaser of back in the 80’s.
It has been stored well, but has not been used for 30 years. I have a need for a good amp with some power to drive some DynAudio Contour 20 4ohm-rated speakers.
Can anyone "with experience with C-500s" tell me if the amp is worth refurbishing/upgrading? Where I should get it done? ...and a guesstimate cost range? I am looking for good work, not a cheap price. I also respect skilled, knowledgeable technicians... The unit has nostalgic value to me, so if it can compete with today’s solid state amps from a performance standpoint, once refurbed...I want to do it up, RIGHT!
At the very least I will need the capacitors replaced.
Any takers??? (Bob Carver BASHERS need not respond, although I am open to knowledgeable criticism of the C-500 with specific evidence! 😎).
Thanks guys!

bobo1000
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Get a variac and plug the amp into it and turn on both with the variac set at zero. Slowly turn up the variac over a 12/24 hour period until 120 volts are reached. This will let the caps reform without shocking them with a sudden turn on. Next hook up the amp and have a listen. No hum/noise is a good sign that the amp is working fine and can be used without need for new caps.
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
If it continues working and sounding fine leave it alone! I'm sure the C-500 sounds as good as any of today's overpriced amps!
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Audio Classics in Vestal, NY can restore/repair any electronic component. I bought a nicely restored SAE Mark XXX amp from them at a reasonable price!
bobo1000 OP
25 posts
 
Hi Jason...thanks for the input. I am of the mind to have the amp checked out by a skilled tech. It’s well over 30 years old and every knowledgeable person I have talked to says that the capacitors should be replaced. I don’t mind the inconvenience or the expense. I would like to feel that the unit is reliably functioning and running at 100% capacity.
Audio Classics looks like a really cool, friendly shop and could be a nice day trip for me....hmmmmm.....😎
Do they do their repairs on-site?

Edit: I did a little research- Audio Classics seems to be a McIntosh specialty house, right?
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Audio Classics has been in business since at least 1990. Around that time I bought a nice PS Audio PS IV preamp from them. I bought the restored SAE Mark XXX several years ago - including the nice wood case! They do good work!
More to discover