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Carvin BX500: Pt. 3

#601
Wow the worst just happen. Was playing a church gig yesterday my usual set up is an avatar 4x10 stacked with 2x10 on 2oms witch i been using for awhile now. after the first set of songs i shut the amp off. Were about to play our second set when the next thing you know i see kinda like a spark and i cen smell like burning plastic coming off the amp i was omg no!!! I quickly shut the unit off for a few mins. The smell was horrible pretty much it won't turn on period. I bought the unit on ebay in 2010 but i'm afraid since i'm not the original owner carvin might not service the unit for me. Has anyone ever had a problem with returning a used unit even though ur not the original owner? I don't know if this was discussed before on TB. Please anyone any input would be appreciated.
 
#602
Yep, well-known problem, been discussed before here. Also on the Carvin boards. One reliable source has told us it's a $250 flat fee to repair this amp. Call Carvin and see what they say. Maybe they'll show mercy. If the estimate is more than you want to pay, offer it to them as a parts unit for, say, $75.
 
#608
Chef said:
That's a power limiting/heat limiting circuit, right?

So, 2 ohm meltdowns are most typically user error?
Click to expand...

The amp should shut down before it burns, but the price point is remarkable so it may be a trade-off. Not a good trade-off and I’m a Carvin fan (own a BX1200 + MB10). I’m also weary of running any amp at 2 ohms when there’s rarely a need for it, IMO.
 
#609
Chef said:
That's a power limiting/heat limiting circuit, right?

So, 2 ohm meltdowns are most typically user error?
Click to expand...

Not sure exactly what their switch does (on Mesa/Boogie heads, it selects a different coil tap on the power transformer), and I'm not sure about what is causing most of the 2-ohm meltdowns, but if you didn't hit the switch, and drove a 2-ohm load with the head set to 4/8 ohms, then yeah, I'd call that user error.
 
#610
Just want to thank everyone for the quick replies you guys are awesome.
@fenderhutz how do you check the revision? @chef the past 2 weeks the little fan on the back of the amp was not spinning i had to use like a screw driver to make the fan spin. But i read on this club some TBers use a similar set up and they reported great results?? i just don't get it why that amp did that i been playing with that set up for awhile. as far as the amp goes the amp is 2010 model. Both cabs are 4oms i hope i did not make a rookie mistake but i will call carvin today.
 
#611
Biga173rd said:
Just want to thank everyone for the quick replies you guys are awesome.
@fenderhutz how do you check the revision? @chef the past 2 weeks the little fan on the back of the amp was not spinning i had to use like a screw driver to make the fan spin. But i read on this club some TBers use a similar set up and they reported great results?? i just don't get it why that amp did that i been playing with that set up for awhile. as far as the amp goes the amp is 2010 model. Both cabs are 4oms i hope i did not make a rookie mistake but i will call carvin today.
Click to expand...

Did you have the amp set for 2 ohms, or 4/8 ohms?
 
#614
Chef said:
So...the fan may not have been working?
Click to expand...
yea chef you turn the unit on and the fan won't spin unless you move it with a thin card or a screw driver or something. And i just call carvin they told me if it's out of warrenty that i have to fork up $225 plus shipping!!! And i always set my amp at 2ohm i my cabs i run are avatar B410 and 210 models.
 
#616
Problem with:
Design of the amp - it's probably fixed by Carvin now. Call them and mention that you've read on forums the originals had a design flaw and they have an update for it.

Carvin is usually good about absorbing the costs when they know it's a design flaw.

Modern Amps don't blow up unless it's a design flaw.
Just turning it on, even if the output was shorted then short circuit protection should kick in. The 2 ohm switch just lowers the rail voltage, limits the current, so the protection circuits don't kick in so soon.
 
#618
* bumping this up.

I'm in the market for a micro, this caught my eye.

2 days later I've read this whole thread.

How's everyone liking their unit?

I'm a lil hesitant because of faulty units, but the BX500 looks hella tasty.

thought?

I'm using an LS1503 cab with a pre/power setup, it's only getting 375@8ohms so I think the BX500 will be loud enough. I like that it's pretty flat with controls at noon. Just the reliablity thing has me worried I guess.
 
#619
Funny... I play mine through an LSx1503. Love it! Sounds great to my ears, and I have yet to want for volume. No issues with mine, other than a broken volume knob due to a photographer's misstep. I bought it second hand, and it was out of warranty... Carvin mailed me a replacement pot and knob for free anyways. I had a bad crossover on my old LS1503, and they sent me a replacement no questions asked. I have yet to have any performance or reliability issues in the time I've had mine. It gets equal play time to my Markbass F1, which I also love with this cab. I've been considering selling the F1 lately, only because my rig mostly sits now that we've gone all in-ear on stage. I'm hoping the BX500 holds up for me, as it would be my only amp should I need one... but I badly need new in-ears! :D Killer bang for the buck, in my opinion.
 
#620
Still loving mine!

mowburger said:
* bumping this up.

I'm in the market for a micro, this caught my eye.

2 days later I've read this whole thread.

How's everyone liking their unit?

I'm a lil hesitant because of faulty units, but the BX500 looks hella tasty.

thought?

I'm using an LS1503 cab with a pre/power setup, it's only getting 375@8ohms so I think the BX500 will be loud enough. I like that it's pretty flat with controls at noon. Just the reliablity thing has me worried I guess.
Click to expand...
 

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