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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Decware and the Carver C-9
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Message started by mrchipster on 10/09/25 at 18:39:51

Title: Decware and the Carver C-9
Post by mrchipster on 10/09/25 at 18:39:51

I’ve had the pleasure of owning Decware equipment for almost two years now. The previous few years were spent reading and researching what it was I thought I wanted as I transitioned from my solid-state system. I had decided that I wanted to finally explore tube amps and go the way of low power and high speaker efficiency. As you can imagine, there were quite a few options but none as compelling as Decware for me. Being a small family business, made in the USA, reasonably priced, and lifetime warranty/support were among the things that really appealed to me. I knew the wait would be long, but in late 2021 I got on the waiting list and watched my name rise to the top as I know many before me have done. I was able to bide my time by reading the forum, design logs, product manuals, and comments. It was quite a revelation when in late 2023 I finally heard what many had described throughout this forum. The rich tube goodness, great soundstage, neutrality, and transparency with absolutely no feedback. I very much enjoyed what I heard when I first turned my system on and continue to absolutely love it now that it has been seasoning for some time.

The purpose of this thread is not to go on about the Decware gear since everyone who owns some knows exactly what I’m talking about and how great it is, but it’s to discuss a little bit about how the Carver C-9 sonic hologram generator seems to enhance and complete an already fantastic Decware system(or any relatively high end system for that matter). I was a little apprehensive to add yet another component to the mix as I already had a Zbit, Zrock2, and CSP3 to complement my source(streamer/DAC) and the SE84UFO25. I like to keep things simple but when the right piece is added for the right reasons, it enhances the system as a whole with no loss of transparency or added coloration and so it is with the Carver C-9.

I must give credit to ‘red pill sanctuary’ (aka Paul) for bringing this component to our attention quite a while ago in one of his threads. His very positive and enthusiastic comments about the device really piqued my interest and I wondered if my setup could benefit from the C-9. I figured what the heck, if it made things worse, I could remove it and be back to where I was before. The potential gain seemed truly worth the small risk. RPS (Paul) alerted me to an older model for sale online and I ended up buying it. When it arrived, I immediately unboxed it and the C-9 looked great in appearance. It wasn’t until I removed the cover to take a look that I was shocked. Someone had completely eliminated/bypassed the fuse protection and the soldering job as a result was shabby/inferior to say the least. However, everything else was intact, and all the other parts seemed to be original. I had done some research previously and knew I could get the unit updated/refreshed if need be and I figured I’d go that route eventually, so I wasn’t all that concerned. I wanted to know if the unit actually worked but not before putting it through some tests before hooking it up. With the cover off I plugged it in to see what would happen. The red power light came on, and a good sign was that there was no smoke, no buzz, no weird happenings. I left it like that for quite a while and eventually unplugged it for the night. I did the same thing the following day, just plugged it in while I worked and kept an eye on it. I finally got the confidence to insert the C-9 into an older backup stereo system and there was no issue. The time came to insert it into the Decware setup between the CSP3 and the UFO25. I slowly powered things up all the while keeping a close eye on everything. There were no issues, so I just let the equipment sit powered on for a while. The C-9 was cool to the touch (which I would expect) and all other components were doing just fine. Now came the moment of truth, would it sound good? (I mean how could it, the way the soldering and wires looked, not to mention how old the rest of it was) but I wasn’t prepared for the new sound coming out of my speakers. I was speechless for a minute and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The C-9 was enhancing an already great Decware sound and definitely bringing something more to the table.

I’d like to continue in the near future by showing some pics of my setup/room and describe in more detail how the C-9 is being used in my situation, how the sound was enhanced and what I’ve had done to it.

Title: Re: Decware and the Carver C-9
Post by CAJames on 10/09/25 at 20:19:29

That's very interesting. Back in the 80s, when I was first getting into "high end" audio, the C-9 was new and Bob Carver was doing everything he could to piss off Stereophile, my audio buddy had a C-9. My recollection is that on 3 records it was amazing. On everything else it (at best) made recordings sound different, but mostly just made stuff sound funny. And for those 3 records you had to have your ears within a millimeter of the exact sweet spot or the magic disappeared.

Of course back then our systems were pretty pedestrian compared to my/our current Decware rigs, and what passed for stereo imaging was not much more than being able to hear the different between the left and right channel. The idea of a detailed, layered and transparent sound stage would have been crazy talk. I wonder if the Sonic Hologram was just way ahead of its time, or actually needed something like a low(er) power Decware system rather than the mega-amps with huge speakers Carver sold?

Looking forward to future installments.

Title: Re: Decware and the Carver C-9
Post by Tony on 10/09/25 at 22:19:09

I got a C-9 unit about 6 months ago. Rebuilt by 4krow, who often contributes to the Forum, I took a risk and put it in my system. As it has worked out, it is one of the best audio investments I have made in the past 5 years. Some tracks with the C-9, like those featuring a female vocalist, don't sound as good as without it. I simply turn it off when that's the issue with a push of a button.

I'm glad to hear that someone else likes their C-9 as much as I do.