News from the Bob Carver Company
- Thread starter mhardy6647
- Start date
I don’t think that Bob survived the hit to his reputation from the whole small transformer debacle. Just my opinion though. But yeah, I can not say I am at all surprised.
It might also be that Bob's reached the point (physically or mentally) that he's not able to contribute enough any more (by his own or by others' reckoning).
What was the “small transformer” debacle?
A couple of models were found to have large transformer covers hiding tiny output transformers. Upon closer examination, the power output ratings specified were found to be wildly enthusiastic, which made sense given the size of the output transformers. The laws of physics would need to be revised for those power specs to be accurate, which they were found not to be.
Thank you for the explination. That's very sad to hear, I always liked Bob and his additions to the hobby.
Most folks thought Bob had little or nothing to do with it, he was likely just doing design work and nearing retirement at that point, but others running the company that bears his name were likely to blame for the ridiculous power specs.
Nah, I doubt that had much to do with it. The years have just caught up with Bob.
Can you elaborate on that?
gortnipper
Site Supporter
I was never a fan of Carver's products. I knew a coulpe guys growing up in Seattle who had and liked their Phase Linear gear, and I dont remember much about them (loud, high, drunk, etc).
But I did have a best mate who had a Sonic Holography pre, and a Carver Cube amp. He built some Speakerlab 7s in the same wood shop in HS as me when I built my 6s. I really thought his rig sounded worse than mine with a HK 670. Even when we swapped the speakers around. His amp clipped and shut off ALL THE TIME. Mine kept going and simply sounded better.
After that, I never looked at Carver gear again.
But I did have a best mate who had a Sonic Holography pre, and a Carver Cube amp. He built some Speakerlab 7s in the same wood shop in HS as me when I built my 6s. I really thought his rig sounded worse than mine with a HK 670. Even when we swapped the speakers around. His amp clipped and shut off ALL THE TIME. Mine kept going and simply sounded better.
After that, I never looked at Carver gear again.
I suspect that's true, sadly.
Snade
Site Supporter
Those Phase Linear amps in the late 70's were VERY influential and legendary. The power rating for the money - that was a huge advance. I know they had reliability issues, but that happens when you go aggressive in your design.
I remember Carver mostly for that.
I had a Carver amp and preamp from the 90's and it was kind of cool, worked fine.
I wish him well.
Cheers,
Snade
I remember Carver mostly for that.
I had a Carver amp and preamp from the 90's and it was kind of cool, worked fine.
I wish him well.
Cheers,
Snade
Actually, unfortunately I can’t. Stuff learned in confidence.
Indeed. He's been in this for decades, and I'm surprised he stayed in it this long, vs. retiring a decade or two ago.
I truly hope that Bob returns to his passion of making one-off amps using unexpected tubes and selling them on e-bay. He genuinely loves doing that. He was doing that before Bob Carver Corp, and was quite happy in that life. We all slow down as we age, and can't keep doing what we once did. If Bob can't return to making unique amps just for grins, I hope he at least has an audience for him to tell his stories to.
Worked on lots of Carver and Phase gear over the years, They were OK.
Dumb to over spec something that could be so easily tested like a tube amp.
Sounds like he trusted the wrong people.
The problem with being in business is some times you end up working with people you should NOT do business with...
Dumb to over spec something that could be so easily tested like a tube amp.
Sounds like he trusted the wrong people.
The problem with being in business is some times you end up working with people you should NOT do business with...
