Carver TFM-45 Repair

So, being the rebellious one that I am, I went against everybody's advice on sending my amp to get repaired by Rolland or Rita. I had a local shop with a stellar reputation called Classic Audio Repair fix my amp. Why? Price and turn-around.

Anyway, I spoke with the owner of the store and he said he's repaired several Carver TFM models. I have a few questions about the repair.

When I brought them amp in I wanted them to address the ridiculously loud noise floor ( I don't know if that's the correct term, but without any music playing the static is loud). They said this was normal of these amp and when you turn up the volume it won't matter anyway. Are they right or is their a fix for this?

I checked my amps serial number and it is a candidate for a service bulletin to correct "drift". Is their an official document that I could send the shop in the event that they don't know about this? (I know Rolland or Rita would have known about this, I'm doing the best I can with what I have)

You've got to be kidding. Send the damn thing to Rolland and be done with it. For the measly $300.00 he charges, he'll fix everything and then some, making it better than new.

Another thing, since I can say whatever the fuck I please over here. You should have used Sonicap's in the shunt circuit instead of using those cheap ass caps.

You've got to be kidding. Send the damn thing to Rolland and be done with it. For the measly $300.00 he charges, he'll fix everything and then some, making it better than new.

Another thing, since I can say whatever the fuck I please over here. You should have used Sonicap's in the shunt circuit instead of using those cheap ass caps.

I don't have the funds and the patience my man. They're gonna have my amp up and running in 2 weeks, which is awesome. I made sure to have a good conversation with the owner who has had very satisfied customers when they got their Carvers repaired/refreshed.

I did use Sonicaps in the shunt circuit (5.8uF and 12uF right?). I also used mills resistors. Axon True caps were used for the low-pass.

t
Anyway, I spoke with the owner of the store and he said he's repaired several Carver TFM models. I have a few questions about the repair.

Are they right or is their a fix for this?

I checked my amps serial number and it is a candidate for a service bulletin to correct "drift". Is their an official document that I could send the shop in the event that they don't know about this? (I know Rolland or Rita would have known about this, I'm doing the best I can with what I have)

1. There have been several around here who went local from someone who "knew how to repair Carver gear" & ended up paying $100 & MORE to get their amp back in WORSE condition....(you get what you pay for)

2. If You have a loud noise floor, THERE IS A PROBLEM.

3. Yes there is a fix for drift:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11490&hilit=drift+adjust
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5300&hilit=TFM

I don't have the funds and the patience my man.

...Good luck!!! I hope you end up with the amp fixed even though I agree with Jesse and Rabbit.

I don't have the funds and the patience my man. They're gonna have my amp up and running in 2 weeks, which is awesome. I made sure to have a good conversation with the owner who has had very satisfied customers when they got their Carvers repaired/refreshed.

You said you were going to pay $450.00, but got the guy down to $150.00 because it didn't work properly, so there's your $300.00.

I did use Sonicaps in the shunt circuit (5.8uF and 12uF right?). I also used mills resistors. Axon True caps were used for the low-pass.

The low pass is the shunt circuit.

You get what you pay for, audiocr381ve. Not being sure that your amp/system is giving you 100% of what it should personally drives me NUTS! Rita/Rolland are the only two I know of who can give this assurance (re Carver amps). Sending it to shop that is not versed in the idosyncrasies of Carver amps is a crap shoot. I have a TFM-45 that I did the PS re-cap on and the drift fix and the damping adjustments. I ALSO have a TFM-42 that was re-furbed by Rolland (42's and 45's are the same amp exactly except for the meters vs LED's). The Rolland refurbed 42 sounds better than the 45. The 45 is sitting on my shelf regulated to "back up amp" status. Mainly because I KNOW the 42 is 100% what these amps can be whereas I don't KNOW that about the 45! Hope it works out with the generic repair shop thing but how will you be sure??

And no, if you have residual noise (at low volumn), you have a problem. Both mine are dead quiet (except the 45 has a slight "transformer" hum that is audible if you get close enough; no such hum in the 42)....again, there's that "professional touch" difference! Good luck....but understand that we here have all "been there done that" and are trying to steer you down the right path. Forget the few extra dollars as being important....if you go the Rita/Rolland route you'll thank us for the great sound, which is really not a $ issue but a musical enjoyment issue! -Ed

The 45 is sitting on my shelf regulated to "back up amp" status. Mainly because I KNOW the 42 is 100% what these amps can be whereas I don't KNOW that about the 45! Hope it works out with the generic repair shop thing but how will you be sure??

You can do an easy test to see if the 45 is OK and which of the two might be better in the real world ->

(Let me look, I know I have it here somewhere)










Found it in my KingMan file -
In reality, it only matters what it sounds like to YOU!!!

Ok, no one has mentioned the great Tom at vintage Hifi. He is a carver head if I ever saw one and will work within the budget that Rolland and rita might not. Equal with the best of them. As a matter of fact, Rolland fixed and refurbed my 55 and also repainted the case as well. I spent a total of 390 with shipping and his work speaks for itself.

Now on another note, I have a 45 that I Did a recap that I somehow gave it a problem and now the amp is going to go to Tom because like some,(the owner) he does not want to spend the almost 400 that the others charge for a full refurb. Like I said,I did the recap but the amp will not play now. So Tom is going to repair whatever I did wrong and return the amp to the owner via fed ex.

Not a problem. I have been gathering parts for Carver gear for the last two years so I can fix them for the next 20. Finding the parts has been a real bitch. It is about time there is a person on the EAST COAST that will fix, and mod.

I went through Rita's for my TFM-45 refurb........Complete "go through", new caps, new cold solder joints, upgrade, bench tested AND signed by Rita herself....left her shop at factory specs....and my 45 is DEAD QUIET......all for $275...including return shipping.....TOTAL time invested....3 1/2 weeks.......listen to F1NUT .....You cannot go wrong with Rita or Rolland.......just my $.02....good luck!

P.S. If you do decide to go this route...PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! None of this email bullshit....everyone complains about not getting a "reply"...you can do much better by PERSONAL COMMUNICATION!

P.S. If you do decide to go this route...PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! None of this email bullshit....everyone complains about not getting a "reply"...you can do much better by PERSONAL COMMUNICATION!

Words of wisdom!

dyeraudio: "new cold solder joints..."

What, the OLD cold solder joints weren't bad enough??

dyeraudio: "new cold solder joints..."

What, the OLD cold solder joints weren't bad enough??

NOPE! I guess the nice loud "snap, crackle and pop" every so often got old.....