Carvins 16 lb monster power amps

Nice find!

I've been wanting a QSC PLX1804 for a lightweight, shallow rack pre/power setup that would be easy to move but pack a huge punch.

The Carvin can be bridged though. Interesting . . .

 

Yeah, I just spotted that in the new Carvin catalog. I'm anxiously awaiting some sound and performance comparisons to Carvin's regular DCM line, which is still in production. The "class A/B vs lead sled" debate continues...

 

Heh, actually most, if not all, lead sled amps ARE Class A/B -- it's the de facto standard for audio amplifiers. The Carvins are also Class A/B, but use a switching power supply to reduce weight.

Asad

 

asad137,

Thanks for the clarification. Switching is what I meant. I happily stand corrected.

 

I would like to see some serious durability testing becuase usually if it sounds to good to be true it is. I think the Switch Mode Power Supplies are getting a bad rap becuase they are under spec'd for many applications. At 17 lbs it sounds like alot of content and cooling so it may be a durable peice yet but the old school linear transformer supplies are very rugged proven technology. I would wait to buy one of these and see if any pro sound guys use them and rate them for durability.

The comment of interest in the PDF file you have listed is that the power supply is designed for serious bass. To me this mean adequate power supply design and good capcitance in the output stages for energy storage.

Could be a good piece.

 

I think durability is the last thing you'll have to worry about when it comes to carvin, they're known for beating the crap out of their amps to make sure they're complete bricks. there was a video floating around here a week or so ago of one of the builders throwing a b1500 around a parking lot (literally tossing it up in the air and down onto the pavement) and then brought it in and fired it right up.

that being said, it does depend on the quality of internals, especially when it comes to something that will probably be bought, screwed into a rack, and never moved. I trust carvin wont skimp on the insides.

 

Can't say as I have ever thought of carvin as skimmping. The specs seem tremendous and the weight is very low for those power outputs even using all the possiable methods of lightening. That is one of the great things about SMPS and surface mount components.

My issue comes that many of these high powered amps rarely eve bench test out here in userville as good as the claims and I also see lots of High powered SMPS amplifiers of all varietys in repairs shops with fialed power supplys. I would wait a few months and let the bugs come out and be fixed.

Carvin usually makes quality stuff.As with anything new though road abuse usaully trumps lab testing from what I have seen.

 

Check out this new lightweight head from Carvin, too. It looks promising.

BX500

 

Yeah, someone needs to start a thread on this thing. "Begin shipping the end of January".....does Carvin usually deliver on their projected ship dates?

 

Already did. Very recent too.

Usually. In a lot of cases its already in production before it's even announced, but in this case I think its a lead-in to NAMM.

 

Drool. A lightweight practice and backup version of my BX1200? Need to start saving for it now...

 

Sorry, didn't see it 'til now.

 

Where do you find a linear supply? Or a supply with no transformer?

 

Carvin has been using SMPS in their lightweight powered mixers for a couple of years.
They have experience on using this technology.
This is great news they've expanded to their other lines.
The class-d in the bass amp looks very interesting. Finally the lightweight tech is getting down to the mainstream!

 

BUT! How do you draw 3800W from a supply socket capable of only 1800W???

Paul

 

I don't see that specs yet on the website but Carvin has for their other high powered amps actually put two power connectors on the back.

Note also it's class-a/b - such amps are only going to get like 900w from a 15A circuit.

 

For a continuous power test on a test bench, you would need an outlet with a higher current capability.

 

This conundrum is not unique to Carvin's high powered amps - everybody faces it. Experienced users will be looking for dedicated high draw service in venues equipped to provide it to hook their own power distribution units up to (or one supplied or installed by venue), or will settle for being able to have close to full power available only during brief transient spurts.

 

Briefly.

You can get it until the circuit breaker heats up and trips. That gives you about 30 seconds if you for some reason ran a constant 60hz sine wave through the amp.

Given that music had so much transient content you could probably easily get 3.8kw transients without getting near a 1.8 constant.

Still, I'm not sure why you need an amp with enough power to heat your house or jumpstart your car unless it's feeding festival subs.

I love headroom but, geeze.