Product ReviewsCarver TFM-25 2 Channel Power Amplifier

A powerful, reliable, repairable amp

The Carver TFM-25 is a very nice piece of gear. It delivers loads of power yet operates at a low temperature. No need for outboard cooling. It can get very loud while still delivering crisp, distortion-free sound. It has a pleasing, warm sound that rivals much more expensive new and vintage amplifiers. The meters look cool, but the lamps are prone to burning out. Fortunately, replacement bulbs are easily available. Better yet, convert a pair of super bright 9V LEDs in your choice of colors. (Installation is pretty easy for anyone with modest soldering skills.) I wish that this amp had channel volume controls, this would facilitate using more than one of them for bi or tri-amping. However, this can usually be accomplished at the crossover, so it's not a deal breaker. The internal layout is well designed, replacing capacitors and thermal resistors is not overly difficult. Tech-minded audio enthusiasts should be able to keep the TMF-25 operating smoothly for years and years. These (and other) Carver amps can be had for a very reasonable price, and deliver excellent "bang-for-the-buck".Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: blant0n

Good Classic Carver Amplifier (with some reservations)

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
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The Good.
The TFM-25 looks very professional, has sleek black plated aluminum finish, and a set of analog meters on the front panel. There is no user audio power level adjustment. The TFM-25 seems to be a Class AB amplifier. It does have a multi-tapped AC transformer as the power source for the main linear power supplies (three voltages for power mains). This cleaver design does not generate as much heat at low output power as traditional designs do (running on a single high voltage supply). Using three power supply voltages make good sense for reducing the heat power dissipation. When high output power is needed, the higher voltage power supply is used. Otherwise the lower voltage supplies are used to allow the reduction of heat generation in the output drive transistors. The TFM-25 is a bipolar transistor design. Therefore this amplifier avoids some of the audio industries’ early power MOS FET issues that haunted the audio field just a few years after the TFM-25. This is one reason why I like the old Carver bipolar transistor designs. Besides you can still find most of these parts for repairs of the unit.

The TFM-25’s design goal of vacuum tube amplifier’s soft limiting seems likely in part to be addressed by the design having the three power voltages. But anyway, the TMF-25 claims to overcome many of the old arguments and controversies of vacuum tubes vs transistors. Still, I am not sure what a high power vacuum tube amplifier would sound like in my environment so I have to take Carver’s word on the issues.

I auditioned the TFM-25 using a good CD player, a Carver CT-28v preamp, and Infinity RS-3B speakers. The RS-3Bs do not require much power, so I couldn’t challenge the TFM-25. The sound was good or perhaps I should say at times slightly different as compared to my reference amplifier (A Denon amplifier of a slightly later era). My setup did not allow for a quick amplifier change, therefore an A-B test was difficult. My imagination said that the Carver was slightly better.
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The Bad.
The Carver “Magnetic Field Power Amplifier” moniker seems to have no technical meaning but is just a name of the product. In anyway case, the name/title looks cool.
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The Ugly.
I really don’t like to see the over use of fire resistant resistors. Carver should have used ½ or 1 watt resistors (fire resistant or not) for numerous ¼ watt fire resistors. The TMF-25 that I originally bought didn’t have “Carver Corporation Service Bulletin, Service Bulletin #TFM-25-2, 4/15/92” implemented. If your TFM-25 has not implemented this bulletin, then do it or have it done. Under high power output loads without these modifications, the PCB will cook and turn toasty brown around a number of components. As the PCB turns toasty, the copper traces will start lifting from the board and servicing is much more difficult. A further Carver issue is related to a cost reduction measure, Carver does/did not use plate thru holes which would have helped anchor the traces and components (also components solders in better with plate thru holes).
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Summary.
The TFM-25 is really a nice amplifier. It sounds good too. It has the cool Carver round analog meters that I like so much. It is worthy of your consideration, especially after the service issue is resolved (or you find a post service bulletin production unit). I would have given it a Five Star rating if it was not for the hot parts.Read full review...

In this age of multi-channel home theater, I'm happy with stereo

This amp gives me the sound of a live performance in my living room that just doesn't happen with even the best receivers.It's not just for music either, movies sound so good you forget about the sound and just watch the movie, you can hear dialogue and all the effects just fine. I don't think all those channels sound so good, 5.1 , 7.2 and now even more up to 11? I've got a Harmon Kardon receiver with pre-outs and the Carver TFM25 and a set of JBL LX55 Speakers and it sounds great.Read full review...

Wow! The power of this amp is incredible!

I use this amp to power a pair of kef 104/2's and the power and smoothness is incredible. I was using a behringer a500 before and thought that had power, until I hooked up the craver. It makes the a500 sound like it's a underpowered receiver. I have read were some people have felt that the craver had a very thin soundstage, I personally would disagree it all about the source music. If you put junk in this amp will punish you. It is very revealing. I have found myself listening to tracks that i have heard over a thousand times and hearing details that were undiscovered. The only time I have heard Distortion in this amp is when I was playing at at well beyond reasonable levels. This amp gets really loud on efficient speakers and it's the first I have ever worried about blowing out the kefs! You can get this and for a reasonable price it's well worth the moneyRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: bullgator9

CARVER TFM 22

Very nice amplifier clean and strong. Looks sooo good who needs needles and lights that need maintenance. You'll probably never have to replace the led's

225 wpc RMS into 8 Oms. Initially I tested with my Denon 3200 Receiver acting as a pre-amp. Just sold the Denon so I am looking forward to a C-17 preamp. Ran a brief test using the C17. Sounds very nice with the C-17 preamp and Polk RT 800 Towers running full range with no subwoofer. Update I just hooked the amp up to my C17 Preamp. Sounds great and I love the Sonic Holography on the pream. The TFM 22 really brings out the details and is a delight to listen too. My system is running 2 channel stereo. I opted for a higher quality two channel system over a midrange surround sound system. Perfect since this is installed in my office/listening roomRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: 4374brandon

Great sound and powerfull for the money

I have always liked the Carver TFM series amps. No they are not giant killers, but for the money they definitely slay other amps in the same price range. ESPECIALLY when it comes to power and sound quality! The TFM (Transfer Function Modification circuitry) which is what gives these amps their sublime-tubelike-sound. DEFINITELY gives these amps an advantage in my opinion over a LOT of the competition. Also the fact that this thing is a powerhouse for it's size and weight and we have a winner!
I have owned Carver amps since they discontinued the M-400t cube amps back in the late eighties and have enjoyed them all. The TFM series holds a special place for me because of the synergistic way they mate with my Polks. SOmthing about the way that they sound with the Polks from the early Nineties onward...........Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: garyfreud

Awesome.

Great amp, bought two of Tfm-25 and five of Tfm-15 carver amps.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: fenderbent

Carver amp

It's what I expected

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: midnite1080