Bob Carver 180 Mono-blocks perform superbly

If anyone hasn't noticed, the Carver Black Beauty Amp won Editors Choice and Product of the Year awards by The Absolute Sound for 2012. And for some of you trying to figure out what boutique capacitor the amp uses (it doesn't), I would pay more attention to the sound of the amp than name brand parts. I put Vcaps for output coupling and am not sure they made a significant difference. It is the best amp I've ever used. If you really want to hear a significant upgrade in sound, get a pair of Psvane 12AX7 and 12AT7s, which are magical in this amp. Sound better than NOS Telefunken smooth plate 12AX7 and RCA 12AT7s.

The Absolute Sound Editors Choice and Product of the Year was also given to the NuForce Reference 9 switching amplifiers reviewed by TAS Senior Writer Chris Martens in 2009. Within a few months a small group of that periodicals writers, with the exception of Martens, panned the product in an unbelievably half assed "class D shootout."

On the other hand I've owned both the NuForce and now the Carver VTA 180's which are very similar to the more powerful Black Beauty's which were reviewed by Executive Editor Jonathan Valin in the December 2012 issue. My experience with both sets of mono blocks was and is very similar to the descriptions by both Martens and Valin.

I have a pair of Voskhod 12AX7 that I have yet to try.

Voskhod 12AX7 for only $1.70! Let us know how it sounds. However, it looks like you have to rewire the filament connection because it only accepts 6.3 V, not 12.6 V. Not sure how the 12AX7s in the Carvers are connected.

Vicdamone, how does the NuForce Ref 9 sound compared to the Cherry 180? I have not had Class D amps in my system. I've heard them in other systems and at shows, but the sound never won me over.

So why are "vintage transformers" better than the ones wound now, specifically for these amps? Old is good?