Carver Audio CT-24 Preamplifiers
Carver Audio CT-24 Preamplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[May 29, 2017]
Rob Czar
Audio Enthusiast
Tuner-preamps make a lot of sense. All the electronics in one box except the heavy lifting (power amp). WAF is high because of one box, and the power amp can be tucked out of the way or away from other components where it can get good air circulation. Is this one cheap junk from China? Well, it is mass market design and construction (making it inexpensive) and it is not up to Carver standards. But, if you don't get a lemon, it does the job just fine. Some people say then can hear differences in preamps, but nobody can demonstrate that when tested, no matter how well made the pre-amp is. The specs on this model are good and if it works as it should, there are no sonic penalties (but it may go bad over time). Keep the tone controls out of the signal path (i.e., don't use them, just like with the expensive preamps). If you listen to a local FM station, the tuner is fine, but it will set no records. If you listen to LPs a lot, move into the 21st century and ignore the additional phono amp stage. It will work find for occasional LP listening. The plus of this unit are lots of inputs and maybe sonic holography, if your speakers need it. A remote is also a plus for its day. |
[Feb 23, 2005]
jfrancisd
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
durability
Weakness:
none I have owned this product for 7 or 8 years. It is always left on, running 24 hours a day. I have experienced none of the problems stated in the other reviews. It is attached to a NAD 214 amp. I run a cd player, a sacd player and turntable through it. I also listen to the tuner. It is quiet, efficient with no problems or concerns. It does everything asked of it. It allows the recordings to show their own character (good or bad) without adding anything to them, the goal of any component. Similar Products Used: preamp section of a NAD 314 |
[Sep 28, 2000]
Matthew
Casual Listener
Strength:
Sounds Ok, but needs a big power amp to get any bass at all
Weakness:
Reliability is absolutely terrible Arrived broken but was too lazy to take it back to Fry's problems atthe time were intermitent. 3 yrs later and it has gotten much worse. Audio will cut out and change volume levels for no discernible reason. It's a goo dthing Carver is out of business. |
[Aug 13, 2000]
tom
Audiophile
Strength:
fine unit, remote works from 20+ ft, fast station change, no cross talk, background noise = 0 - silent as a tomb, volume adjust w/remote is precise
Weakness:
remote does not turn sonic holography on or off a really fine unit - in the 2+ years I've had it I've got about 1000 hours on it - not a single problem, tuner is highly sensitive, tonal qualities are plain neutral, the unit is completly transparent, I'm using it to simultaneously drive two carver A760x's bridged to mono and a McIntosh MC300 - piece of cake -sounds wonderful! Similar Products Used: kenwood, dynaco, mcintosh |
[Oct 13, 2001]
dan
Strength:
Nice warm sound, FM had good signal rejection
Weakness:
Any price a retailer charges for this unit is too much!. Considering breakdown is imminent While this unit is aesthetically pleasing further review show significant weaknesses. The RCA gold plated jack covers fall off. Removong the wiring shows sloppy soldering |
[Apr 04, 2001]
Brian
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Sonic performance, Quality, and Aesthetics
Weakness:
None I have been completely sattisfied with the CT-24. The construction is excellent quality. I like the grey rubber controls. They add a nice feel as well as a contrast to the faceplate. The faceplate is of aluminum and the case is made of a heavy gage steel. A very stout unit indeed! Similar Products Used: Adcom GTP-450 |
[Jul 16, 2001]
Stephen
Audiophile
Strength:
Affordability
Weakness:
Background noise, no control for sonic holography on the romote, buzzes when changing the volume with the remote, there exists leakage between inputs, there is still signal output through to the power amp when using the headphone jack, generally unattractive and overall not very exciting. It seems as thought my particular unit is not a lemon. I have had no problems with it at all, I would go so far as to say that this particular unit is quite consistant and reliable. Similar Products Used: Nothing that would be considered similar. |
[Jan 17, 2002]
Bart Sterman
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Smooth sound, nice controls, good value.
Weakness:
FM tuner is slow when changing stations. Contrary to others experience, I have not had any problems with this unit. I bought it used on e-bay, and for the price, it would be hard to beat. |
[Oct 27, 2001]
Greg Kidd
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
price
Weakness:
horrible tuner, crap buttons/controls Cheap junk final gasp output from gutted Carver Corp. Output cuts out randomly. As some of the previous reviewers mentioned, the tuner is close to useless. When you try to change stations, it takes so long you think it is broken. Unfortunately, it was/is all I could afford at the time and now. Similar Products Used: none |
[Dec 18, 1998]
Jason Fink
an Audio Enthusiast
I bought this Pre-Amp via the web for $259 + Shipping. It replaced |