Bob Carver Model 350 Monoblock Tube Amplifiers (Pair, KT120)
Bob Carver 350 Tube Monoblock Amplifiers Drive Any Speaker Load at Any Impedance, Deliver Breathtaking Slam and Microdetail, Sound Majestic: High-Powered Performance, No-Hassle Operation
350 watts of all-tube realism, incredible frequency extension at both extremes, even-order harmonics (the magic only tubes can provide), jaw-dropping slam, and delicate microdetail – all exploding from a super-low noise floor. That's the handcrafted Bob Carver 350 monoblock amplifiers in a nutshell.
The high-end industry has long known that Bob Carver is an audio genius. Yet once you hear these amplifiers, the realities of the experience become hard to grasp. You can read all about the exciting specifics below, but for now, consider: No more need for matched tubes? Tubes driving any speaker load at any impedance?
A ten-year manufacturer's warranty? The point-to-point-wired and American-made Bob Carver 350 monoblocks are the answer to your tube dreams. The only tough decision involved is whether you get black or cherry red.
Equipped with six Tung-Sol KT120 output tubes, each rated for 60 watts of output (one and a half times as powerful as 6550 and KT88 types), 350 delivers extended dynamic range and abundant immediacy to any musical presentation. You'll get 350 watts (into 8 ohms) regardless of your loudspeaker's impedance. A heavy output transformer provides massive power through an increased turns ratio, with two extra interleaved windings, each bifilar wound on a core of adamantine steel with a pure nickel center section.
Secondaries are wound with oxygen-free copper wire and 98% pure silver wire for the critical internal interconnections. Total bandwidth is 250kHz – or one quartet of a megahertz – ensuring absolute stability into 1-ohm speakers, including those with impossible-to-drive impedance characteristics. With 350, screen voltage is regulated on speech and music to an extraordinary one percent and the bias regulator redesigned to nearly flawlessly restore the DC component of the incoming audio signal. Nothing else comes close.
350 also knocks bias adjustments out of the park with an easy single control, that makes it unnecessary to tweak bias individually for each output tube set. A DC restorer circuit, exclusive to Bob Carver designs, keeps the output tubes running cool and prolongs their life to a near-unbelievable 50 years. It also means you will never need to purchase expensive matched tubes for 350. Prior to the advent of this circuitry, other amplifiers operated their vacuum tubes at a very high idle power to keep the distortion low and frequency response extended – among other reasons. They still do.
The practice dramatically shortens life tube life to between three and six years. Worse yet, tube performance begins to deteriorate as soon as you turn on the amp, gradually robbing you of optimal performance.
Another significant benefit of the 350 relates to its ability to listen to the room, often referred to as the "speaker-microphone effect." Facilitated by a special current feedback loop, these amplifiers can hear the room's reverb and unique sonic signature.
By design, 350 uses the speaker as a microphone by using the speaker in reverse (the theorem of reciprocity) to listen to the room, thereby allowing a portion of the room acoustic to be expressed through the main speakers. As such, the room becomes an integral part of the music in a way solid-state amps do not permit. The resulting sound feels more majestic and realistic, and the soundstage larger and more compelling. It's a sensation you seriously need to hear for yourself.
Specifications:
Rated Power:
350 watts/8 ohms
400 watts/4 ohms
400 watts/2 ohms
Frequency Response: 2 Hz to 85 kHz (-3 dB)
Distortion: Less than 0.5%
Power Bandwidth: 24 Hz to 28 kHz without filters
Line Inputs: 2; XLR (not fully balanced) and RCA
Input Impedance: 100 kohms (RCA)
Gain: 30 dB (8 ohms)
Tube Complement: One 12AX7, one 12AT7, one 6AL5, six KT120
Hum and Noise: Better than 120 dB, referred to 350 watts, A-weighted
Bias: Rear panel potentiometer adjust, front panel meter
Feedback Control: 20 dB, Classic; 11 dB, Contemporary
Source Impedance: 1.7 ohms
Speaker Outputs: 2, 4, and 8 ohms
Dimensions (HWD): 7.2" x 12" x 14"
Weight: 44 lbs.
Country of Origin: USA
Warranty: 10 years
