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is now a collectors' item. Only approximately 100 of the amplifiers were made. The original
Lightstar amplifier, called the Lightstar Reference, featured a dual-monoblock design, with separate power cords for each channel. A later version, called the Lightstar 2.0, featured one power cord & other cost-saving measures to shave approximately $ 1800 off the retail price. The two are reported to be sonically identical.
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356:, it is single-ended dynamic noise-reduction processing applied to the noisy left-minus-right component of a weak FM-stereo signal, along with artificial ambiance generation to compensate for loss of ambiance resulting from the noise reduction. This innovation was introduced in the Carver TX-1-11 component FM stereo tuner noise reduction unit and the Carver TX-11 AM/FM Stereo Tuner in 1982.
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to null-out any sound differences. His modified amplifier sound was so similar, Stereophile
Magazine editors could not tell the difference between his amplifier and one costing more than $ 6,000. This amplifier was marketed as the M1.0t for about $ 400.00. Carver successfully copied the sound of the target amplifier and won the challenge. The
337:, first applied in his model M400 power amplifier, describes a power supply whose input switches on and off at an ultrasonic rate to adapt to the varying power demand of the amplifier. The innovation is in the power supply, not the amplification circuitry, and in the use of switching, not in the use of a coil or coils.
320:, not from a correlation process. Correlation is the comparison of two or more signals, while auto-correlation is the comparison of a signal with delayed versions of itself to determine the degree of similarity at different delay times — useful, for example, to determine the amount of delay that produced an echo.
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with identical signal sources and exact levels, but out of phase by exactly 180 degrees. If the amplifiers were 100% identical, no sound would be heard. If sound was heard, the audio amps had different properties). Bob Carver used "distortion pots" to introduce amplifier characteristics, fine-tuned
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This also started Carver's departure from the M-series amplifier to the more robust and current-pushing TFM series amplifiers. The TFM amplifiers were designed specifically to drive the demanding load of the
Amazing ribbon loudspeakers. The apex of Carver's amplifier line was the Lightstar, which
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Carver caused a stir in the industry in the mid-1980s when he challenged two high-end audio magazines to give him any audio amplifier at any price, and he'd duplicate its sound in one of his lower cost (and usually much more powerful) designs. Two magazines accepted the challenge.
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was first incorporated in the Carver C4000 preamplifier. It enhances stereo imaging by introducing a delayed and equalized signal from the right channel at the left loudspeaker to cancel the signal from the right loudspeaker at the listener's left ear (and vice
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5) Most of the input power goes to the load, therefore, the power supply can weigh 30 pounds instead of 80 pounds. The amplifier can supply humongous current, massive output power, tremendous voltage, runs cool, and is efficient.
308:. The Phase Linear 1000 audio processor, and the Model 4000 preamplifier, which incorporate the same circuitry, have noise reduction in four frequency bands, one in the bass intended to suppress
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9) At high impedances, it delivers high voltage and high current. At low impedances or difficult impedances, it delivers even more current, delivering awesome and difficult to believe amounts.
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era used transformers, incorporating coils of wire, to convert the high-voltage, low-current output of the output tubes to a low-voltage, high-current output suitable for loudspeakers.
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10) When biwired, Sunfire delivers incredible bass whack and a huge three dimensional sound stage with detail retrieval so stunning that you will often hear musicians breathing.
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had first filed suit against Carver for reprinting the magazine's copyrighted material without authorization.) The case was arbitrated with neither side awarded damages.
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The information on Carver products comes from Carver product brochures and manuals. Carver's career has been extensively covered by audio industry magazines including
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8) The
Tracking Downconverter multiplies current in the same ratio that the output voltage is reduced and it does so automatically by its intrinsic nature.
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conventional amplifier up to that time and duplicated its sound in his M 4.0t and later models which sold for some 1/40th the price (around $ 600–$ 1500).
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ML-2 which Bob acoustically copied (transfer function duplication) and sold as his M1.5t amplifier (the “t” stood for transfer function modified).
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within 48 hours. The Conrad
Johnson amplifiers were one of the most highly regarded amplifiers of the day, costing in excess of $ 6,000 a pair.
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in 2011 which was sold to Jade Design in June, 2013. However, in
December 2013, Bob Carver and Jade Design parted ways.
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and Conrad
Johnson designs which caused him some criticism. In light of this criticism, Carver went on to design the
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The "asymmetrical charge-coupled detector" is not the FM detector circuit of tuners, but rather, as described in
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1) Full output current from each transistor is always available up to 20 amperes per transistor.
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6) Only 12 output transistors are needed per channel for a peak-to-peak current of 240 amps.
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are no longer necessary with amplifiers, including Carver's, that use transistors. Carver's
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Apparatus and
Methods for Removing Unwanted Components from a Communications Signal
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7) Bias current and idling current issues become irrelevant and nonproblematic.
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Carver has used some names in marketing which have other technical definitions:
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Dimensional Sound
Recording and Apparatus and Method for Producing the Same
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234:” and could not even have its lid removed. Nevertheless, Carver, used
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available in 1972. He went on to found the Carver
Corporation in 1979,
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2) Massive output current is available even at low output impedances.
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In both cases, the challenging amplifier could only be treated as a “
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and such. The noise filters are controlled by signals derived from
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Method and Apparatus for Reducing Noise Content in Audio Signals
323:"Magnetic field coil power amplifier" — audio amplifiers of the
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High Efficiency, Light Weight Audio Amplifier and Power Supply
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
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The "auto-correlator" is a multi-band, single-ended dynamic
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Amplifier with Protective Energy Limiter Circuit Components
621:, filed April 1979, issued August 1980 (sonic holography)
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Lightweight, High Power Audio Amplifier and Power Supply
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magazine, Posted: Jun 19, 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
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magazine for its alleged bias against Carver products. (
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is an American designer of audio equipment based in the
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designs since the 1970s. He is known for designing the
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employees failed to tell the difference in their own
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rumble and three in the treble intended to suppress
375:4) Power continuously doubles down to below 1 ohm.
363:The creation of the perfect solid-state amplifier:
496:magazine, 7 February 1990. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
274:Rare Carver Research Lightstar 2.0 (100 produced)
619:Dimensional Sound Producing Apparatus and Method
8:
753:, filed September 1998, issued December 2000
687:, filed September 1982, issued November 1984
630:Audio Amplifier and Method of Operating Same
467:International competitiveness in electronics
709:, filed December 1986, issued February 1989
63:about living persons that is unsourced or
470:. DIANE Publishing. 1983. pp. 520–.
411:Carver TFM-6cb, TFM-15CB, TFM-55x, CT-27v
134:Learn how and when to remove this message
19:For other people with similar names, see
720:, filed December 1986, issued March 1989
665:, filed February 1982, issued April 1984
742:, filed August 1997, issued August 1999
643:, filed April 1979, issued January 1982
599:, filed January 1972, issued April 1973
491:Bob Carver: Carving a Name For Himself.
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423:Carver M-500t and M-1.0t mk II modified
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176:per channel the most powerful consumer
740:High Back EMF, High Pressure Subwoofer
654:, filed May 1981, issued November 1983
731:, filed January 1996, issued May 1998
696:Audio Amplifying Apparatus and Method
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698:, filed June 1984, issued April 1986
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506:Jade Design Acquires Bob Carver, LLC
340:"Sonic holography", as described in
16:American designer of audio equipment
219:magazine challenged Bob to copy a
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521:Emotiva and Bob Carver Part Ways
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372:3) Heat sinks are not required.
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552:from the original on 2010-11-30
674:FM Stereo Apparatus and Method
540:Holt, J. Gordon (2009-05-11).
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41:biography of a living person
652:Tuning Apparatus and Method
527:. Posted: December 14, 2013
221:Conrad-Johnson Premier Four
68:must be removed immediately
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751:Integrated Audio Amplifier
729:High Power Audio Subwoofer
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259:, the most expensive and
768:American audio engineers
278:Carver also later sued
236:null difference testing
542:"The Carver Challenge"
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147:Robert W. (Bob) Carver
55:Please help by adding
747:U.S. patent 6,166,605
736:U.S. patent 5,937,074
725:U.S. patent 5,748,753
714:U.S. patent 4,815,141
703:U.S. patent 4,808,946
692:U.S. patent 4,586,002
681:U.S. patent 4,484,150
670:U.S. patent 4,457,012
659:U.S. patent 4,445,095
648:U.S. patent 4,415,768
637:U.S. patent 4,309,570
626:U.S. patent 4,218,660
615:U.S. patent 4,218,585
604:U.S. patent 3,989,897
593:U.S. patent 3,727,148
353:U.S. patent 4,457,012
343:U.S. patent 4,218,585
334:U.S. patent 4,218,660
305:U.S. patent 3,989,897
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359:Sunfire Corporation:
61:Contentious material
329:Output transformers
302:, as described in
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192:Amplifier modeling
525:ThePoorAudiophile
477:978-1-4289-2396-6
184:in 1994, and the
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50:verification
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509:Stereophile
494:Stereophile
435:Stereophile
325:vacuum-tube
284:Stereophile
280:Stereophile
245:Stereophile
216:Stereophile
762:Categories
556:2020-08-07
429:References
240:amplifiers
225:New Mexico
94:newspapers
314:tape hiss
310:turntable
232:black box
213:In 1985,
158:physicist
46:citations
550:Archived
398:Pictures
261:esoteric
206:chose a
162:engineer
72:libelous
585:Patents
574:Sunfire
347:versa).
200:First,
182:Sunfire
108:scholar
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447:, and
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439:Audio
115:JSTOR
101:books
39:This
472:ISBN
160:and
87:news
48:for
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