Il Carver M-1.5 is a stereo power amplifier designed by Bob Carver in the early 1980s. It is one of the models that made the technology famous Magnetic Field AmplifierIt delivers 350 W per channel into 8 ohms between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. It does so in a 19-inch rack-mount chassis that is less than 9 cm tall and weighs approximately 7,3 kg, a fraction of the footprint of similarly powered amplifiers of the time.
The strong point is themagnetic field power supplyA traditional power amp uses a large transformer sized for maximum peak power. Carver Instead, it uses a triac circuit to regulate the power drawn from the mains based on the instantaneous signal demand. At normal volume, it operates coolly and efficiently. For transients, such as a bass drum strike or an orchestral crescendo, it provides ample current reserve.
In listening, this translates into well-controlled bass and ample dynamics. It accepts rated loads from 2 to 32 ohms, so it can easily handle even low-efficiency or irregularly impedance floorstanding hi-fi speakers . If you're wondering which power amplifier to choose to drive difficult speakers without taking up half a rack, the M-1.5 remains a solid answer.
Connection is simple: simply connect the preamp's pre-out to the power amp's line inputs, which have a 100 kΩ impedance and are therefore compatible with solid-state and tube preamps. The LED power meters show the output level in real time. The protection system intervenes in the event of short circuit, overheating, clipping, and DC offset.
It is a vintage power amplifier suitable for those who want to complete a system Carver vintage by pairing it with preamplifiers from the same series. It's also suitable for those looking for plenty of clean power at a lower cost than contemporary high-end amplifiers.
