Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request From: abvax!iccgcc.DNET!parker@uunet.UU.NET Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end Subject: Re: Carver 'Amazing' Speakers Message-ID: <8970@uwm.edu> Date: 16 Jan 91 14:27:17 GMT Sender: news@uwm.edu Lines: 41 Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu In article <8731@uwm.edu> pclark@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Peter Clark) writes: >Does anyone have any experience with the 'Amazing' speakers from carver? > >Anyway, I'm interested in hearing opinions about them w.r.t. Magnepans in the >same price range (~2K) I listened to a number of speakers in the under-$2000 price range. The Carvers were underwhelming due to their tremendous inefficiency; driven by a 200 Watt per channel Carver amp at full output, they weren't even loud. The Magneplanar Magnepan MG-2.5/R (now replaced by the 2.6) were the most "Amazing", open sounding speakers I have ever heard WHEN THEY WERE DEMO'ED IN A PERFECT, LARGE, OPEN, NEARLY EMPTY LISTENING ROOM. Set off a good 6 to 8 feet away from the wall in a roughly 20 x 24 foot room, the speakers absolutely disappeared; the sound was just THERE. I was so overwhelmed by their transparency that I bought them. Confined to a "real" living room only 3-4 feet away from the wall, they don't sound as good. Also on the majority of source material they sound bass-shy although on some material they sound fine. Remember, being dipolar speakers they need to be a good distance away from the back and side walls. At the time, a knowledgable friend had convinced me that no matter what speakers I bought, I would always need a subwoofer. Unfortunately a quality powered subwoofer like a Velodyne costs as much as the Maggies, and I haven't bought one yet. I highly recommend listening to the Dahlquist DQ-20's. They don't have quite the open sound of the Magneplanars, but they are less room-sensitive and OH! the bass they make from their 8 inch woofers is also Amazing. Gary Parker -- +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ | Gary Parker | parker@ab.com | +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+