New-Used amp - how to bridge

[Cpus456]

Hey Folks,

Just picked up my 3rd Carver; a Carver AV 64 Cathedral amp

Im been searching for information for a while with this one and cant seem to find a manual anywhere.

I bought the unit as hit has the ability to bridge channels 1 and 2 to output 180watts to one speaker (center channel)

It has a Derived Center channel, that works when i have one rca in either channel 3 or 4. if i put and into both channels the sound coming from the channel gets muffled.

The details below say that channel 1/2 have to be bridge to get 180watts.

The issue is that unlike my other two (TFM 55x and TFM 15cb) this one doesnt have the "guide for bridging" printed on the back

Snapshot of Spec page:


Heres an image of the rear


Any help will be great

[Cpus456]

Well here are my findings - hang on
Below i have also added volt readings on my meter which was set to 200v (lowest i could go) acv
(mind you that this is the first time using a volt meter)

So heres whats on the back of this unit
total of 4 rcas in labeled 1-4 (there are also other outputs for biamping)
5 speaker terminals
1-4 channels and a derived center channel

tests:
With MONO pressed in
RCA IN Channel 1(then same series of tests with channel 2 rca input)
Speaker terminal combos
CH 1(red) + CH 2 (red) =very low vol/10 volt
CH 1 Red + Black = loud/10 volts
CH 2 Red and + Black = Loud/10 volts
CH 1 Red + CH 2 Black = Loud/10 (tried other way around as well)
Derived Center channel = nothing/0 volts

With MONO not Pressed
RCA IN Channel 1, then same series of tests with channel 2 rca input
Speaker terminal combos
CH 1(red) + CH 2 (red) = loud/14 volts
CH 1 Red + Black =loud/12 volts
CH 2 Red and + Black= nothing/0 volts
Derived Center channel = nothing/0 volts

So with mono selected - channel 1 and channel 2 terminals are outputing sound regardless of channel input
Red and Red with mono are very low

Heres the kicker
Channels 3 and 4 testing are as follows
no difference Mono pressed or depressed

When using rca 3, the derived center channel works and is louder/20 volts than any CH1 or CH 2 combo
the channel 3 out put is just as loud/20 volts as the Derived center
When using rca 4, the derived center channel works and is louder//20 volts than any CH1 or CH 2 combo
the channel 3 out put is just as loud//20 volts as the Derived center.

Channel 3 and 4 both have there own gain controls aswell
if i put rcas left and right from the dvd player into channel 3 and 4- the sound is all muffled from the derived center, but the channel 3 and 4 outputs are Crystal clear

Im am very confused, why or why bob did you close shop.
can i call sunfire??? is there anyone that i can call?

[Big Daddy]

Contact this guy. He may be able to help you. He used to work for Carver and currently does some modification work on some Carver amplifiers.

http://carvermk2.com/contact/contact.htm

[Cpus456]

thanks - just sent an email

[Cpus456]

The beautiful People at Ritas send me a page from the manual


http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...56/Carver1.jpg



So it looks like i have to put a jump between ch1 and ch2 and click Biamp

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Cpus456

The beautiful People at Ritas send me a page from the manual


http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...56/Carver1.jpg



So it looks like i have to put a jump between ch1 and ch2 and click Biamp

I am glad your problem is solved.

I don't believe Bob Carver intentionally got rid off the Carver company. To the best of my knowledge, there was a disagreement at the top between Bob and the board. Subsequently, Bob quit and started the Sunfire Corporation. Carver company operated for a while, but had lost its star. This has happened many times in the past. For example, Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple in the 1990's and the company was almost bankrupt before he returned.

[Cpus456]

Being that this diagram only uses one input(L+R) and i wanted to use the amp to power my center and two rear surround backs i tested the following

- CH 1 and CH2 jumped
- RCAs L+R going into channel 1 and 2
- Pressed the Biamp button (whicH activates the bridging)
- left the MONO DEselected (as it sets it to 75 hz 18 db octive, which im
- assuming is to allow only low end for the sub)

Hooked up the volt meter and got 23 volts, which is the highest thus far
unpluging on of the rcas drops the volts to 8 volts, so im gonna have to get an Y plug that takes my center rca and splits it to two.

with the rca connected to Channels 3 and 4 their respective outputs are putting out 12volts - so these can power my surrondbacks

Comment, concerns, suggestions