Radio Road: REVIEW: Carver TX-11 Tuner by FRG7SWL

Model:	TX-11
Category:	Tuner
Suggested Retail Price:	$150 used
Description:	Vintage Broadcast Monitor-Quality Digital DX Tuner
Manufacturer URL:	Carver

Review by FRG7SWL on January 05, 2009 at 09:47:51
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for the TX-11

"What distinguishes the TX-11 is its ability to pull clean, noise-free sound out of weak or multi-path ridden signals that would send you lunging for the mono switch on any other tuner we know of", High Fidelity noted in their January 1983 review. That Asymmetrical Charge Coupled FM Stereo Decoder was a god-send for dxers plagued by noisy reception. Its' near $500 price tag was a deterrent, however. If you had a decent FM receiver or tuner, though, Carver had a less expensive TX1-11 outboard processor, which could render similar results. As time marched on, TX-11s lost favour with audiophile listeners, who preferred the later TX-11a & TX-11b models for their combination of aural quality & dx-ability. Nowadays, especially with HD proliferation, aulder analog receivers & tuners in crowded signal locations are under sonic seige. Formerly clear reception is now buried under harmonic hash. Which is why, with intermediate frequency filter modding, TX-11s are enjoying a renaissance. Especially for their ability to switch from wide to narrow bandwidth modes. Experimenters have noticed replacing stock 250 khz wide i.f. filters F-104 & F-105 with either 150 khz, 110 khz, or combination thereof, will improve selectivity. From a suggestion by Greg Gortman, a MuRata 150 khz filter in slot F-104, & 110 khz filter in slot F-105 increased selectivity, with only minimal fidelity loss when in narrow mode. Further improvement can be obtained by replacing stock 180 khz i.f. filters in slots F-101, F-102, & F-103 with MuRata Flat Group Delay 180 khz filters. Stations which were only receivable in narrow mode with stock filters, under crowded conditions, are nearly 10 over 9 in wide mode. Replacing the tuner board's stock RCA cables, for antenna input & i.f. & audio outputs, with interconnects of choice, will also help transform a TX-11 into a near broadcast-monitor quality tuner. Although disparaged by audiophiles, TX-11s command a respectable resale price for their dx-ability, along with its' historic value as Carver's first F.M. tuner. With a bit of elbow grease, modded TX-11s are able to combat today's crowded, & r.f.i. plagued, F.M. bands. No warm sound, akin vintage Marantz, Pioneer. Sansui, or Sony units; just a fair representation of the broadcast signal's tonal quality!!!

Product Weakness:	Stock I.F. Filters Need To Be Replaced With MuRata I.F. Filters; Tuner Board RCA Interconnects Need Upgrading!!!
Product Strengths:	Broadcast-Monitor Quality With Superb DX-Ability!!!

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Marantz MR-235
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Mitsubishi DA-C20
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Denon DCM-450/Yamaha D-07
Speakers: Hemp-reconed Mesa/Boogie MC-90 Black Shadows, with Dynaudio D28-AF tweets; Utah Cadence monitors; Utility Advents; ESS Model 10s with R.I. Jensen P10Rs
Cables/Interconnects: Ratio Shaq Monster Cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Stations Up-n-Down Bay Area/NorCali F.M. Spectrum
Room Size (LxWxH): 10 x 10 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Belden; Ratio Shaq
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Marantz MR-235
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Mitsubishi DA-C20
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Denon DCM-450/Yamaha D-07
Speakers:	Hemp-reconed Mesa/Boogie MC-90 Black Shadows, with Dynaudio D28-AF tweets; Utah Cadence monitors; Utility Advents; ESS Model 10s with R.I. Jensen P10Rs
Cables/Interconnects:	Ratio Shaq Monster Cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Stations Up-n-Down Bay Area/NorCali F.M. Spectrum
Room Size (LxWxH):	10 x 10 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Belden; Ratio Shaq
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner