I just got my Carver gear and have a few questions...

I bought a C-1, TX-11, M500, and M500t. So, did I get some good gear? My main question is, what is the difference between the 500 and 500t? And, do I need BOTH of them in a 2 channel system?
My speakers are Cornwalls, AR-3a's and JBL 166's. So far, I have only listened to the 500t with my AR's, and I am very pleased.
Any info regarding this gear is appreciated.
Thanks.

Welcome
Yes, you got great gear, The M500t is considered one of the best sounding (by some) amps of the Carver line. If you have bi-amped speakers then use the M500 on the bass and the M500t on the other .

WELCOME!

I wouldn't recommend bi-amping with those amps as the input sensitivities are different, if I'm not mistaken. If you had a way to adjust, that would work....but it appears you don't. Those amps are WAY more powerful than those speakers require~

Nice gear and I love those speakers. The M500t with the "t" on the end is transfer function modified or some like to say the "t" stands for like "tube sound". This is a well regarded amp and is more that enough to run both of your speakers.

Nice gear and I love those speakers. The M500t with the "t" on the end is transfer function modified or some like to say the "t" stands for like "tube sound". This is a well regarded amp and is more that enough to run both of your speakers.

Yes, I am finding that out....so far I have only played the ARs, but they have never sounded so good.

One more question....is the 500t regarded more highlt than the 500?
Thanks.

Nice start on your OCCD. As for the 500 vs the 500t. That is a question only you can answer.

I also have both of them. The M-500 is undeniably a better built amp (output inductors, transformer (field coil) cover, etc.), but has a different transfer function than the M-500t, which was designed to sound more "tubey". I find tubes make the midrange sound much sweeter than solid state amps, and I think this is what most people like about the M-500t, also. If I were using them to drive a single pair of speakers, I would definitely bi-amp them, as TNRabbit recommends, putting the M-500 on the bass (where it will do a better job of controlling the woofer excursion due to its higher damping factor), and the M-500t on the highs where its "tubiness" will shine. On the low end, "tubiness" becomes "tubbyness".

BTW, the amps do indeed have different sensitivities. The M-500 only requires √2V (1.414V) input at 1000Hz to drive it to 250W output, whereas the M-500t requires a full 2V to do the same.

Welcome to the forum. Nice gear! Are you the one who got all that stuff for just $40?? If so, you got one hell of a deal!

That's me....

That's me....

WOW!!! SUPER SNAG!!!