Carver ZR500 Power Amplifier with Tube Sound Like ZR1600
The new “energy efficient” Carver Professional ZR Amplifier Series! Powerful, Musical and Accurate!
Hosa adapter for home stereo RCA input for Carver ZR series is
http://store.aiconsol.com/gxm-133-hosa.html
You need one for left and one for right.
An excellent choice for almost any power amplifier application!
Carver Professional has impressed audiences and system integrators for years and has introduced state of the art technology in the new ZR Series amplifiers utilizing Tripath™ Digital Power Processing™. Ultimately, this provides a ZR user with an amplifier that is up to 81% efficient. How is this possible? Our engineers designed circuitry which allows the Tripath™ module to rapidly allocate a free flow of current and voltage as it continually monitors input to output and auto-adjusts it’s switching frequency based on the input signal.
Carver Professional has perfected the Spread Spectrum Switching (Class T) technology which was introduced only a few years ago, making the highly efficient ZR amplifier series truly exciting for a number of reasons. The units don’t get hot, can save money on energy bills and perform sonically like audiophile reference grade amplifiers that cost thousands of dollars. ZR users are raving about the value in this powerful series of amplifiers, that is why you will find the single rack-spaced ZR 500 or the dual rack-spaced ZR1000 and ZR1600 amplifiers used in such a wide assortment of applications such as installed sound (municipalities, clubs, theaters, churches), Musicians (bass, drums, electric, acoustic, vocal), Audiophiles (home cinema, golden ears), Touring (PA, rentals), and Mobile (broadcast, DJ).
Energy efficiency means you save money on energy bills by conserving energy!!
Efficiency means everything when it comes to power amplifiers. Do you realize that the best-selling class H switching power amplifier is less than 40% efficient at 1/3 power? That means your source power isn’t getting to your speakers efficiently. An amp’s inefficiencies are evident in the form of unwanted heat. Inefficient amps get hot, which will eventually take its toll on amplifier components and lessen the useful life of the amp. Perhaps you didn’t notice inherent amp deficiencies previous to ZR because up until now you’ve compared a 40% performer to another 40% performer. Now you can get much more amplifier then ever before. The ZR Series of amplifiers average 67% efficiency at 1/3 rated power (typical power setting). Amazingly, the ZR1600 is 81% efficient at full power!
Carver Professional challenges you to re-think your amplifier decisions, because now you have an option of making a conscious decision to conserve energy. The ZR Series draws far less current than most amps. You can save as much as 45% in electrical consumption and get 3 to 4 ZR amplifiers working from a single 20 amp circuit in most applications. We can actually show you how ZR Series amplifiers can pay for themselves based on electrical energy cost savings over time! It’s not magic; just another innovation by Carver Professional engineers who are known for pioneering advanced amplifier technology that works throughout the world.
Powerful, Musical and Accurate
Not only are ZR series amplifiers extremely energy efficient, they are Powerful, Musical and Accurate. Just listen! Experience the intricate detail of soft acoustic passages, explosive soul of gospel vocals, shimmering dynamics of a cymbal crash as it slowly decays and earth shaking clarity of the low B on a 5 string bass. You won’t believe what you’ve been missing! Imagine getting better performance out of your speakers, the ZR amplifier can make mediocre speakers sound expensive. With this kind of performance, it’s no wonder audiophiles, critics and reviewers around the world embrace this new technology and applaud the ZR series amplifiers.
The proof is in the listening, you be the judge! This American Made Carver Professional product is available throughout a network of US Manufacturer's Representatives and International Distributors working within prescribed territories and sold through an established group of select Retailers and Contractors that are capable of understanding the technology as well as servicing their customers.
ZR500 Power Rating
20Hz to 20kHz <0.5% THD+N
300 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
150 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
95 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
1kHz <1% THD+N
380 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
190 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
120 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
EFFECIENCY COMPARISON (at 1kHz sine wave 117VAC)
• 8 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (63.4 watts total) 60% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (100 watts total) 57% Efficient
• 8 ohm stereo, full power (190 watts total) 73% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, full power (300 watts total) 68% Efficient
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ZR1000 Power Rating
20Hz to 20kHz <0.5% THD+N
700 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
300 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
225 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
1kHz <1% THD+N
875 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
435 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
260 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
EFFECIENCY COMPARISON (at 1kHz sine wave 117VAC)
• 8 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (150 watts total) 70% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (234 watts total) 66% Efficient
• 8 ohm stereo, full power (450 watts total) 80% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, full power (700 watts total) 75% Efficient
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ZR1600 Power Rating
20Hz to 20kHz <0.5% THD+N
1200 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
600 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
350 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
1kHz <1% THD+N
1270 watts mono (8ohm)RMS
660 watts x 2 (4ohm)RMS
400 watts x 2 (8ohm)RMS
EFFECIENCY COMPARISON (at 1kHz sine wave 117VAC)
• 8 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (200 watts total) 71% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, 1/3 power (400 watts total) 70% Efficient
• 8 ohm stereo, full power (600 watts total) 81% Efficient
• 4 ohm stereo, full power (1200 watts total) 78% Efficient
PERFORMANCE
referenced to 4 ohm rated power (117 VAC line voltage)
THD + N: <0.06% at -10dB referenced to rated power (4 ohm), 1kHz
< 0.2% at 1/8 rated power (4 ohm), 20-20kHz, 20kHz BW
< 0.5% at rated power (4 ohm), 20-20kHz, 20kHz BW
<0.15% at rated power (4 ohm), 1kHz
IMD (DIM30 Method): <0.05% at rated power (4 ohm)
IMD (SMPTE/DIN Method): <0.2%, 60Hz/7kHz, 4:1, 35Vpeak at 4 ohm
Dynamic Headroom: 1.5dB above rated power
Power Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 4 ohm and 8 ohm loads
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0dB/ -1dB
Signal to Noise: 100dB A-Weighted referenced to rated power @ 4 ohm, (20kHz BW)
Crosstalk: -70dB, 1kHz referenced to rated power @ 4 ohm
CMRR: >75dB at 1kHz
Sensitivity for rated power:
(Variable settings via jumper) 0.316Vrms (-10dBV)
0.775Vrms; factory preset (0dBu)
1.23Vrms (+4dBu)
2.45Vrms (+10dBu)
Input Impedance: 50kWbalanced
Input Overload: 20dBu
Protection: Thermal, Short Circuit, Over-Current & Over-Voltage, Self Resetting
Stability: Unconditionally stable into reactive loads
Duty Cycle: Continuous operation at 1/3 rated power, 40ºC/104ºF
MTBF: 43,824 Hours
POWER REQUIREMENTS
Mains Voltage (output power rated at nominal voltage):
100vac, (50-60Hz) ±10%
117vac, 60Hz ±10%
234vac, 50Hz ±10%
Mains Power Consumption Ratings
Maximum Consumption@ rated power
1kHz sine wave, 4 ohm:
ZR500 ZR1000 ZR1600
117VAC (60Hz) 440W / 4.8A 950W / 10.6A 1.53kW / 17.8A
234VAC (50Hz) 442W / 2.4A 938W / 5.35A 1.48kW / 9.09a
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
ETL/US, ETC/C: UL6500 2nd Edition, CAN/CSA - E60065
FCC part 15, class B
CE Certification: EN55103-1, EN55103-2, IEC60065
PHYSICAL
Cooling Method: Variable speed ultra quiet fan cooling
Operating Environment: -10 degrees C to 40 degrees C, up to 85% RH
Storage Environment: -40 degrees C to 70 degrees C, up to 93% RH
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
ZR500 1.7" H (1U) x 19.0" W x 17.25 D
44mm x 483mm x 438mm
Net Weight: 19lbs / 8.16kg
Shipping Weight: 27lbs / 12.25kg
ZR1000 3.5" H (2U) x 19.0" W x 17.25 D
89mm x 483mm x 438mm
Net Weight: 24lbs / 10.88kg
Shipping Weight: 32lbs / 14.51kg
ZR1600 3.5" H (2U) x 19.0" W x 17.25 D
89mm x 483mm x 438mm
Net Weight: 29lbs / 13.15kg
Shipping Weight: 37lbs / 16.8kg
More info at http://www.carverpro.com/zramps.html
The Carver Professional ZR500
11/4/02
If you have been reading the Audiophile press recently, you have probably already heard about the revolution going on in amplifier technology. In the October 2002 Stereophile, Sam Tellig raved about the PS Audio HCA-2 amplifier and gave it a class A rating. As you might know the HCA-2 is a class D switching amplifier, which reportedly switches at 500 KHZ.
Similarly, the Carver Professional ZR500 is a spread spectrum switching amplifier that switches at 700 KHZ. The object of a switching amplifier is to switch so fast that the output sounds like a constant stream. We will get more into the sound later; however, this amplifier is detailed, dimensional, dynamic, coherent and sweet. There is no harshness, and the output quality is superior to any amplifier that I have used or experienced in the past.
Published Specification
The ZR500 published specifications are listed below:
· 95W per channel into 8 ohm loads, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5dB -3 dB with less than 0.5% THD at rated power
· 150W per channel into 4 ohm loads, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5dB -3 dB with less than 0.5% THD at rated power
· 250W per channel into 2 ohm loads, 1 kHz, +0.5dB -3 dB with less than 1% THD
· 300W bridged mono into 8 ohms, with less than 1% THD, 1 kHz
· 500W bridged mono into 4 ohms, with less than 1% THD, 1 kHz
· 2 Ohm stable operation
Professional Rack Mount Amps
As you probably know Carver Professional is a pro-audio company, and because of this the ZR500 is a rack mount system. The inputs are balanced XLR, and the outputs are Neutrik Speakon. The front panel has one level control per channel, which can be defeated as a switch option thereby allowing for standard pre-amp input.
My System
I have been an audiophile for years, and as such my system previously included the following:
1. Amplifier - Acurus DIA 100 - Modified by Stan Warren at Supermods to a Class A front end.
2. CD - Pioneer DV525 - Modified by Stan Warren - All capacitors replaced by Black Gate's.
3. Speakers - Custom Diaural speakers - Manufactured by Ray Kimber (Kimber Kable and Diaural).
4. Subwoofer - Monitor Audio ASW210
5. Speaker Cables - LAT International
When I received the ZR500 I modified my system as follows:
1. Pre-Amp - Channel Island Audio VPC-1 - This is an outstanding passive pre-amp.
2. Amplifier - Carver Professional ZR500
3. Speaker Cables - Alpha Core Goertz PYTHON MI2
The old system components with a spare set of speakers have gone upstairs.
Listening
After two weeks of break-in I started to do some serious listening.
I listened to “Tous les Matin du monde”, Valois V4640 which features Jordi Savall’s baroque and classic orchestra. In this recording the massed strings presented a detailed sound stage that delineated and real. The muddiness that commonly exists with stereo reproduction disappeared. The choral voices were layered and sounded as I had never heard them before. In previous playings of this CD, I was not impressed. My former system was not capable of reproducing the recorded information.
In playing Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington the complete sessions (Classic Records DAD 1031), the realism of Louis's voice accompanied by Duke's piano brought this 1961 recording to the present. The timbre of each piano note reverberated. When Louis played his trumpet, the timbre of the complex notes came through with unbelievable realism.
Playing Willie Nelson Stardust (Columbia Legacy CK65946 - remastered) the voice came through without any edge. Each guitar note showed all of the complexity of being there and nearby when it was played. Willie’s voice has a quality that can easily be destroyed by the edge commonly found in digital recordings. I remember that problem well from previous playing. The analogue and class A tube sound that audiophiles grew to love has returned with the ZR500. You would be amazed at how good some of our CD's can sound.
Sheets of sound rolled from John Coltrane / Setting The Pace (JVC XR-0202-2 XRCD). The tenor saxophone was in my living room. Red Garland's piano, Paul Chambers bass and Arthur Taylor’s drums came through with unbelievable clarity. Have you ever wished that you could produce the realistic sound of the bass cello that often appears muddy and recessed in most systems? I had that wish, until I installed the ZR500.
Some time ago, I bought a copy of Sheffield Labs “The Moscow Sessions” (CD-25). I played it and didn’t like it. Producing the grandiose sound of a full symphony orchestra has been near impossible for a recording. I thought that I would try it again when I got the ZR500. Wow, what a difference. The blend of sound that was once opaque has now separated into individual instruments. The sound stage was delineated, and I found that I could locate and identify individual instruments. This can be quite a feat with a symphony orchestra. The majesty of the concert hall with all of its dynamics came close to existence in my living room.
Steve Hoffmann from DCC is famous for his recordings, and Steve has been particularly proud of the album “Ray Charles and Betty Carter.” Listening to the cut “Every Time We Say Goodbye” the two voices were awe-inspiring, and the musical instruments came through with beguiling clarity. Similarly when I listened to the "Cowboy Junkies The Trinity Sessions" (BMG D 101043) the first cut Mining for Gold features the a cappella lyrics of Margo Timmins. Again, the clarity and naturalness of the voice was unbelievable.
In characterizing the sound of the ZR500, several thoughts come to mind, including tube magic, class A, warm, detailed, dimensional and sweet. This is the case across the entire sound and instrument spectrum. Voices are as realistic as if the performer was in my living room. The bass is tight with slam and dynamics. The mid-range and treble are crystal clear without any edge. The shimmering sound of symbols continues after the hit. The sound is holistic and seamless. Even at high levels I never heard a trace of stridency. Listener fatigue disappeared and I have found that I can listen for hours. The sound stage reached a state of realism that I thought was impossible to reproduce. Instrument placement often extends beyond the boundaries of my speakers and this shows up in the sound stage. Sure a lot of this comes from the outstanding speakers and other components, but I could not hear it with my old amplifier. Adding the ZR500 into my system has created the realism associated with a full range electrostatic with the dynamics of standard drivers. This is strange, because I do not have electrostatic speakers, but such is the transformation associated with the Carver ZR500.
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Product Weakness: Not a standard home audio configuration. This is easily fixed by purchasing:
Hosa adapter for home stereo RCA input for Carver ZR series is
http://store.aiconsol.com/gxm-133-hosa.html
You need one for left and one for right.
Product Strengths: The finest audio quality that I have heard
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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Carver Professional ZR500
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): CI Audio VPC-1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Pioneer DV525 - Modified by Stan Warren
Speakers: Custom Diaural from Kimber Kable
Cables/Interconnects: Alpha Core Goertz PYTHON MI2
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical & Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 25 x 20 x 8
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner |
