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Review 3 of 21
Price Paid:
$385.00
from eBbay Summary:
After hearing plenty of raves, I finally decided to pick up my own Carver M-500t and check it out firsthand. I'm well aware of Bob Carver's genious, and his abilities do come shining through on the M-500t. Tube-like indeed, and this is from a guy who has owned excellent (actual) tube amps for comparison. I'm currently using the Carver to power my ADS L2030 speakers, and the listening has been pure enjoyment! (Even through a mid-level pre). After the countless hours I've already put into "auditioning", I continue to hear delicate sounds that had previously gone un-noticed in my CD's. The cool-operating, cool-sounding M-550t has found a good home here, and has made me realize it's been engineered as a great bang-for the-buck amp. Anytime you're lucky enough to buy one under 500 bucks used, do it. You won't be disappointed. Especially if your tastes run close to "tube" sound. Strengths:
Though I was used to a pricey tube amp previously, the lower-priced Carver M-500t still has so many of the characteristics I was hoping to hear. It's got a great sound stage, warmth without being muddy, alive mids, accurate non-shrill highs, and power is not even an issue, with plenty to spare on the 2030's. I test newer component additions with favorite CD's: (very open recordings): Oystein Sevag, "Link", Loreena McKennitt, "Mask & The Mirror", Sarah Brightman, "Dive", and Delerium, "Semantic Spaces". Weaknesses:
very very slight glare on mids, although I expect to continue audtioning different pre's in the coming days, and I believe that's where this ever so slight enhancement is coming from. Similar Products Used:
'Familiar with AR's, Krell, and Atmo-sphere tube amps.
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