A500 Diagnoses ?

It's odd the A500 is clipping

Why? One can drive just about any amp into clipping and that one isn't one of the few that you really can't.

I use to run a A500x, my brother currently has it now. I could turn the volume all the way up on my Klipsch speakers with that amp and would run it for hours some times at 3/4 volume, it would barely get warm.

Welcome to the forum
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE ADVICE YOU SEE HERE!!
These guys have lots of experience, and will help you set this up properly. I hope you have not done some serious damage to your 500.

HOLY CRAP. I'm curious exactly how you were able to connect from the output of the TFM-15 to the input if the 500. Output is speaker cable binding posts, & the input of the 500show is RCA fittings.....???

Otherwise, hope you haven't injured anything doing so.

How is it you're able to turn one amp down??? I need to see a pic of your connections to understand what kind of FrankenCarver setup you've got going~

As stated, I would advise against running the system AT ALL until we are able to understand what you're doing.....

The TFM-15 has a specific RCA pass through designed for daisy-chaining amplifiers for multiple speaker/ amp configurations, if everything is working properly it should be just fine, optimal? maybe no but the amp was designed with that use in mind. If it were me, I'd switch speakers around or run one amp at a time with different speakers etc to try and isolate the problem.

http://www.carversound.com/carver-amplifiers/tfm-15cb/

High Headroom/Low Feedback Stereo Power Amplifier. High power and compact size, at a very affordable price. The TFM-15cb will provide the warm, natural sound that is the hallmark of Carver in an attractive no-nonsense design. It will drive most loudspeakers to room-filling volume levels. 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms. 140 watts per channel into 4 ohms. 200 watts per channel into 2 ohms. 300 watts bridged mono. Dual analog meters with range selection. A/B speaker switching. Individual left/right level controls. Special circuitry to protect both the amplifier and loudspeakers from overload. Additional line level output for "daisy-chaining" in multi-amp or room-to-room applications.

I thought that was just the TFM15-CB that did that. Am I incorrect?

He has to be talking about the CB, he mentions a "bridging" switch, the original 15 was not bridgeable...

Additional line level output for "daisy-chaining" in multi-amp or room-to-room applications.

well no shit....
I would not have thought this amp (base model) would even have any thing like this.
my 15 does not have this, so I would not have even thought any different.
ya learn something new every day...

so is it hooked up wrong ? once again pre amp output to TFM 15 input, TFM 15 output to 500 input ? Tomorrow I will be unhooking everything and operating individually to see what results are noted. Hopefully I didnt bake them...

Thanks
D.

no it looks as if I miss spoke,
does your amp have a 2nd set of pass thru rca outputs on the tfm15 amp? most amps dont have this.
is this the cb model?
got a pic of the back of it.

I walked into a friends garage about a 18 months ago and the neighborhood was shaking, thats when it all happened, I was hooked. I was impressed with his system, an (A500 and Ct 27 ? ) I believe and some ugly CV speakers. I hit eBay and now you know the rest of the story. Being away from stereo's for some time I followed him. I lost out on several 500's and ended up getting all three components from the same individual. I have been building a house now for about 4 yrs and could not wait to set the jive up and jam on. I was near the point of killing myself listening to syndicated k rock crap. I set the stuff up, had carver buddy over and we hooked er up. It does appear to run hot to me but not sure however the speakers are 4 ohm which I understand will cause the amp to work harder? I was also told I could run the TDL's 8 ohm because they were running off the 15. So,... I have come clean, confessed my carver sins, the Frankencarver hook up. Thank you all for your help, one thing I have not received is a recommendation as to who to send the baked stuff to for repair ?

oops wrong picture, trying to upload a picture of the back of the 15, I will try again.

oooo, man cave.....gggooooddd....

I just noted on the front, it is indeed a 15 CB. Would you still like a picture of the back ?

Bob Carver's Audio Service is a great repair shop, you can even request his signature be placed on the face, top or both.

http://carverservice.com/carver_002.htm