Sunfire Theater Grand V vs my old Carver C1

I bought the TGP-5 to finish my sound system and replace my old 2 channel C1. The TGP-5 is a great processor and is a great addition to my surround but in the 2 channel mode it's not really better soundwise than my old C1. I've done a lot of back and forth and figured the $3500 dollar Sunfire(original retail) would allow me to sell my old C1. I don't think I'll do it. I might even give the C1 the edge. I never thought I'd say that but my ears never lie. I've always maintained that little inexpensive preamp was a great unit. Now I'm even more certain Art

Must be one helluva quiet C1...

Are you sure you're making a fair comparison. To do so, you need to set your mains to large and your subwoofer to normal (not enhanced bass). This bypasses all the digital frequency processing and bass management, and is only available to analog sources. This makes it just like a C-1. Otherwise, you are putting the TGP at a disadvantage right off the bat, because it converts all incoming signals to digital.

My mains are set to large. I'm not using a subwoofer.The Carvers should provide all the bass I need . I wouldn't use a subwoofer in 2 channnel anyway. I set my TGP-5 to direct source which should send the signal direct to the amps without any processing.

My mains are set to large. I'm not using a subwoofer.The Carvers should provide all the bass I need . I wouldn't use a subwoofer in 2 channnel anyway. I set my TGP-5 to direct source which should send the signal direct to the amps without any processing.

VEEEEEEERY INTERESTING.

Well, if that's how you tested, there you go. Did you test phono?

I know the purists will hate me for this but getting rid of my records and having Cd's was one of the best things that ever happened to me.The ony memory of my records was Snap , Crackle and Pop.

Well, your preamp is only as good as the source, and to do a true test, you need to run analog to both the C-1 and the Sunfire, so you're testing the CD player, not the preamps, IMHO. No wonder they sound the same.

There is an article out in the AARP January/February 2010 Albums are back! Vinyl is making a comeback with record sales! Stores are considering/starting to stock small sections of vinyl now. I enjoyed reading the article and made me happy I still have my some 100 + vinyl albums from my younger days in the 70's, Yeah! Did I say AARP? Dam, giving away my age, haha.

I know the purists will hate me for this but getting rid of my records and having Cd's was one of the best things that ever happened to me.The ony memory of my records was Snap , Crackle and Pop.

I have to agree with ONE caveat; SACDs have been the best thing that happened to me (next to Sunfire & AL-IIIs).

I'm still waiting for them to bring back 78s! (drum roll, please)

I'm still waiting for them to bring back 78s! (drum roll, please)

And do we hear > The round RCA cylinders playing on the Horn speaker??? Do we Do we!! (more drum roll, please)