 |
To start this review, I am not some sort of Techno-Geek Audiophile that spouts technical jargon when it comes to discussing stereo equipment. I am just a guy that enjoys listening to music and the experience is so much better heard through some fine equipment. Over the years I've assembled a quality stereo system that will rock most anyone's world so I feel I have some room to talk. With that, I perceived that a preamp I had was giving me some trouble and it needed to be replaced. To that end, I set my sights on and finally managed to purchase a Carver C-1 preamp and its never given me a reason to look back. The Carver brand name in stereo equipment is one that is synonymous with quality when it comes to upper end audio gear. The C-1 is sort of a "little brother" to the C-4000 and C-4000T but in basic functionally I will never know because I will never use all the "bells, buzzers & whistles" contained on the C-1. I acquired a free downloadable owner's manual though an internet search and found a site dealing with Bob Craver the man behind Phase Linear, Carver and Sunfire audio equipment. I read the manual to reserch what the Sonic Holography feature is really all about. I discovered that this is the stuff of a certified Audio Engineer and I would guess that if one took a count of the percentage of the people that would actually go though all the trouble of designing a designated listening room to take full advantage of the Sonic Holography feature, it could be totaled up on one hand with fingers left over. As a basic preamp the C-1 has multitude of functionally and control but one does have to remember this is a so called "vintage" piece of sound equipment that has certain things many current day audio components might be missing because their usefulness has expired over time. An example is the two tape inputs and outputs. Back in the day, many people had multiple tape decks so they could produce their own party mixes and dub from tape to tape. There are two phono inputs, one for a moving coil cartridge and one for a magnetic cartridge so a person better confirm what they play their vinyl with before connecting their turntable. There are also two auxiliary inputs where a person can plug in a CD player or other components. To go along with the afore mentioned inputs there is pair of of inputs and outputs for an external processor such as an equalizer that a person can loop through the system using those input/output jacks. To complete the input section there is set of RCA jacks for a tuner. For "outputs" there are two Line Outs and either one can feed a separate power amplifier so "biamping" is no problem. On the front face there is separate bass and treble controls for both the right and left channels so there is a lot of flexibility to fine tune the sound. To go along with those tone controls there is all the other necessary buttons and switches to move from component to component. An interesting thing is that the manual states that the preamp really doesn't come into its own until the volume knob is positioned at 50% of maximum output. If those listening levels are too high, it might be wise to have a power amplifier with adjustable gain controls. Another thing about this preamp is that one should mount it as close to eye level as possible and maybe get a small articulated reading lamp positioned to provide some needed light because of the low contrasting colors of the face plate and control labels.Read full review
In 2014 I decided I wanted a separate component system to play in pure analog with both a tube modified Cd player and to get back into vinyl again. The Carver C-1 preamp has every feature you can ask for in a preamp and it's built so well that it's still running perfectly clean after 30+ years of partial use and storage. If you want a really clean analog preamp that can be completely up-graded with new resisters, caps, and Op-Amps then spending about $300 to pick up a mint C-1 is well worth the investment. For $500 you can get the preamp completely up-graded for a total cost of $800 for a remote volume controlled high end preamp that has two fantastic phono stages both MC and MM, two AUX ports for CD players, two Tape Loops for whatever you chose as they are rated the same as the AUX ports, and a External processer Loop for EQ, DAC, or Tube Buffers. Includes 2 preouts for mutable amps and bi-amping. It's a loaded preamp that sold new for $550 back in 1981 and can be had for about $300 for a mint unit. You just can't beat the build quality and the specs are great before the up-grade and out of this world after the up-grade. S.T.N.R. is 96 DB as is, after upgrade it's 114 DB WOW! THD is .04% as is, after upgrade it's .002% which is CD player low THD and is inaudible. Go to thecarversite and you can find someone to do the BillD up-grade for you at about $500 to give you a preamp that can hold it's own with the new $5,000 preamps being sold today. If you want all the features a analog preamp can offer you this is your preamp and while you look into the BillD mod/up-grade you can still enjoy your CD music and vinyl playback that's out of this world and what this preamp was designed mainly for . You just can't buy a better preamp at the price point these sell at that can also be up-graded in the near future to get you into the high fidelity realm that I only dreamed of before I began running this C-1 with a halfler DH-500 amp that my father gave me. Now I get audiophile quality sound at a price point that is not possible with any other preamp including the Adcom preamps I looked into buying before I went with the C-1. Adcom is not bad but they look cheap and thus can't come close to the high end look and sound of the Carver C-1 preamp from 1980 to 1985 or so.Read full review
35 yr old pre-amp like new, excellent seller. There's better pre-amps than the C-1, yeah yeah yeah, see how much they cost. BIG BANG for the buck.. Seller informative, packs like a pro. Gorilla Xpress proof. Thanks again
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Sonic Hologram says it all. This machine is awesome sauce. The one I bought was in very good condition, but needed some spritz in the volume knobs, especially the balance one. I have mine connected to an M1.5t and an M1.0t using an active electronic crossover. The sound and volumes are incredible. I find now that I really can't appreciate music unless it is being played at realistic volumes, meaning that normal conversation is pretty much out of the question. Imagine trying to hold a chat while at an AC/DC concert, hmm? I've always been a big fan of Carver equipment. With the sonic hologram built in, it negates having to get an external processor. The sound stage is incredible. Instruments become palpable in the mix, like you could reach out and touch it. I swear, sometimes I can hear the drummer breathing or the bass player leave a fart. Hahaha... No... but really. Carver makes some awesome sauce and you should try it on your steak speakers. Enjoy. I smoked too much.Read full review
I won this action with the intent of setting up a new system with some components that I passed over years ago; and I'm not disappointed - all controls function (except for the subsonic filter mentioned in the listing) and it's dead-quiet. Very Happy!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Amplifiers & Preamps
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Amplifiers & Preamps
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
