It all started in 1980...

I always wanted a Dragon--but had to settle for for a used Sony K717ES. I managed to pick it up for $100 in a Seattle Audio store. I've been so pleased with the sound that I wonder if the Dragon is really that much superior. It probably is with that automatic azimuth adjustment you can't find anywhere else. But I can make cassette copies of SACDs and DVD-As that are every bit as good as the originals on the Sony machine which has Dolby S. This Sony machine really made my Revox B-77 15ips half track open reel obsolete.

I joined the USAF in 1980 as well, but I had a wife & small child within a couple of years & while I lusted after Carver gear, I was never in a position to afford it until the past couple of years (I've made up for lost time!)...thanks for the story!

Glad you're enjoying them now...definately worth the wait!

Great read, hope you get in a position to build your second system soon.

Thank you very much. If and when it happens, y'all will be the first to know!

Welcome aboard! I probably have the exact opposite to your trioded tube sound. I'm driving original Carver Amazings (2 ohms) with two Sunfire 300x2 amps in a vertical biamp which gives me 2400 watts per channel and I'm able to use the high current taps for the ribbons and high voltage taps for the woofers. I can't imagine anything sounding better...

But I have friend who has those real expensive German horn speakers which he drives with a 10 watt triode tube amp and when I heard his system play chamber music I was almost converted.

This is probably the best board on the web. I think you'll be happy here.

Yeah, flea-powered triodes, with the right kind of high-sensitivity loudspeakers (horns or cones) can be quite impressive and very revealing! But so, too was my TFM-35x at 350 watts max driving my Magnepans. I can only imagine what a magnificent sound your high-powered system must make...you must be proud!

Can't knock that Sony cassette deck...I've never heard one in person, but they've always had good reviews from what I remember. I'm sure it's very much an equal to the infamous DRAGON sonically, maybe even far better due to the Dolby S!

That was a very good read,,along with the pic's,, it brought back many memories,,thanks for sharing--really--thanks--george

Great story and pics. Really interesting especially reading about those double pairs of Khorns driven by Carver gear - wowow that must have been quite a room and quite an audio experience.

There was only one thing in Jim's story that confused me. I didn't think the M-500t was available in 1980. As I recall, the C-500 and C-4000 were introduced in late 1979 (I bought that pair January 13, 1980). The M-400 (cube) was introduced in 1980 and later that year the M-500 (sans t). I didn't think the "t" showed up until 1981.

There was only one thing in Jim's story that confused me. I didn't think the M-500t was available in 1980. As I recall, the C-500 and C-4000 were introduced in late 1979 (I bought that pair January 13, 1980). The M-400 (cube) was introduced in 1980 and later that year the M-500 (sans t). I didn't think the "t" showed up until 1981.

According to my records the M-500t appeard in 85 and was produced till 89, the M-500 was produced from 81 to 85. A lot of the date stuff in the Database may be wrong however, so it is good to get these things straight while we still remember.