Hi all,
I wanted to get a discussion regarding Carvin's power amps and mostly because there is so little out there on what I consider an under discussed company that makes pretty fantastic power amps, all things considered. I'm also hoping to absorb some wisdom along the way 😉.
I've been using Carvin for the past 5+ years and I've haven't found a better amp considering: price, RMS output, THD, SNR, slew rate, dampening factor and weight. This turns on the "too good to be true" part of my brain and I wonder where the magic is happening at such a low price point.
For instance:
DCM3800L
DCM3800L Ultra Light Linear 3800W Power Amp ? Carvin Audio
SPECIFICATIONS
OUTPUT POWER
1 CHANNEL RMS continuous
- 8 ohms: 750 watts
- 4 ohms: 1225 watts
- 2 ohms: 1950 watts
BOTH CH RMS continuous
- 8 ohms: 700/700 watts
- 4 ohms: 1150/1150 watts
- 2 ohms: 1800/1800 watts
BRIDGED RMS continuous
- 8 ohms bridged: 2300 watts
- 4 ohms bridged: 3800 watts
Peak Power: 5000w (2 cycle pulse power)
- Frequency Response: +-.5 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- THD< 0.03% @ 50% output, <.1% 20-20 kHz @ 90% output
- Output Topology: CLASS A/B
- Power Supply: Switchmode - 60% reserve - see kick drum test
- Damping Factor: >500
- Slew Rate: bridged mode >50v/µs
- Sensitivity (@ 8Ω): 1.4 Vrms
- Signal to Noise Ratio: Greater than 106 dB
- Input Impedance: >20K ohm balanced
- Speaker Guard™ DC production for drivers
- Soft-start power-ups: prevents AC breakers from tripping
- Over-Current: protected
- Under-Voltage: protected
- Thermal: protected
- Fan: variable speed
- Shock-proof SMT construction
- FR4 fire retardant circuit boards
- Aluminum chassis
- Air Flow - "rear to front" for cooler rack
- AC generator friendly
- AC Input: 120VAC 60HZ
- Fuse: 25 amps
- 2RU rackmount
- Dim: 19" (48cm) wide x 10.5" (26.6cm) deep x 3.5" (9cm) high
- Weight: 14 lbs (6.4kg)
- Made in the USA
- 3 year warranty
And the price tag...$669.00 (which is about $100 more than they cost 3 years ago) If this data is true then that means these amps spec better than other power amps easily 2x in price. They are rugged too. I used DCM3800L and PLX3602 side by side, same subwoofers and the PLX got almost alarmingly hot. The DCM3800L didn't break a sweat - slightly warm air venting from it after 10 hours of EDM music at program. I should also say that the majority of their use is outdoors in loose dirt (very dusty when people dance) powered by a portable generator.
Can anyone shed some light on the mystery that is Carvin? Does anyone else have experience with their amps? Is this just perceived quality or this this a diamond in the ruff?
Cheers.
I wanted to get a discussion regarding Carvin's power amps and mostly because there is so little out there on what I consider an under discussed company that makes pretty fantastic power amps, all things considered. I'm also hoping to absorb some wisdom along the way 😉.
I've been using Carvin for the past 5+ years and I've haven't found a better amp considering: price, RMS output, THD, SNR, slew rate, dampening factor and weight. This turns on the "too good to be true" part of my brain and I wonder where the magic is happening at such a low price point.
For instance:
DCM3800L
DCM3800L Ultra Light Linear 3800W Power Amp ? Carvin Audio
SPECIFICATIONS
OUTPUT POWER
1 CHANNEL RMS continuous
- 8 ohms: 750 watts
- 4 ohms: 1225 watts
- 2 ohms: 1950 watts
BOTH CH RMS continuous
- 8 ohms: 700/700 watts
- 4 ohms: 1150/1150 watts
- 2 ohms: 1800/1800 watts
BRIDGED RMS continuous
- 8 ohms bridged: 2300 watts
- 4 ohms bridged: 3800 watts
Peak Power: 5000w (2 cycle pulse power)
- Frequency Response: +-.5 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- THD< 0.03% @ 50% output, <.1% 20-20 kHz @ 90% output
- Output Topology: CLASS A/B
- Power Supply: Switchmode - 60% reserve - see kick drum test
- Damping Factor: >500
- Slew Rate: bridged mode >50v/µs
- Sensitivity (@ 8Ω): 1.4 Vrms
- Signal to Noise Ratio: Greater than 106 dB
- Input Impedance: >20K ohm balanced
- Speaker Guard™ DC production for drivers
- Soft-start power-ups: prevents AC breakers from tripping
- Over-Current: protected
- Under-Voltage: protected
- Thermal: protected
- Fan: variable speed
- Shock-proof SMT construction
- FR4 fire retardant circuit boards
- Aluminum chassis
- Air Flow - "rear to front" for cooler rack
- AC generator friendly
- AC Input: 120VAC 60HZ
- Fuse: 25 amps
- 2RU rackmount
- Dim: 19" (48cm) wide x 10.5" (26.6cm) deep x 3.5" (9cm) high
- Weight: 14 lbs (6.4kg)
- Made in the USA
- 3 year warranty
And the price tag...$669.00 (which is about $100 more than they cost 3 years ago) If this data is true then that means these amps spec better than other power amps easily 2x in price. They are rugged too. I used DCM3800L and PLX3602 side by side, same subwoofers and the PLX got almost alarmingly hot. The DCM3800L didn't break a sweat - slightly warm air venting from it after 10 hours of EDM music at program. I should also say that the majority of their use is outdoors in loose dirt (very dusty when people dance) powered by a portable generator.
Can anyone shed some light on the mystery that is Carvin? Does anyone else have experience with their amps? Is this just perceived quality or this this a diamond in the ruff?
Cheers.
DUG, can you elaborate on that statement? I understand the math but where did you get those figures?
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