Bob Carver, of Phase Linear, Carver Corporation & Sunfire fame, attended our second annual CarverFest in the Smoky Mountains this month (10-15 Sep 08). Some pics from the event (see details at http://www.carveraudio.com - you'll need to sign up for access to some items):

That's Bob in the hat, top center.

Here's Bob talking with CarverAudio.com webmeister, James Sauter, and another forum member about James' prototype AL-V loudspeakers.

Another photo of the group; several members were in and out over the 5-day event.

Bob with the plaque we all signed & presented to him.

 Some member's systems they hauled with them to the Fest. He signed a few items, as well...  

AL-V prototypes designed by James Sauter (one of two pair made)

Bob gave held a drawing to give away a pair of these tube monoblock amps he designed! Wow!  He also gave away a pair of his Sunfire Cinema Ribbon speakers (CRM-2).

The cabins were FANTASTIC!

I have to say, Bob is the most approachable multi-millionaire engineer I've every met.  He spent the entire 5 days at the event and was most approachable & it was quite clear he had an EXCELLENT time! I had an opportunity to steal about 30 minutes of his time. We talked about the history of how I got my system together (he said of my AL-IIIs "they're MINT!") and also about an easy physical mod to counter the 7-8k ribbon resonance WITHOUT a notch filter in the crossover/eq.  HINT: check out the front of the new Sunfire Cinema Ribbons. He came to me on three different occasions & asked to hook up his tube amps to my system~what an honor! (It sounded FANTASTIC, BTW)

Bob relentlessly signed everything we put in front of him; I'm certain he was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome by the end of the week! A HUGE thanks out to him for putting up with a bunch of drooling goobs falling over ourselves at sight of him....he is really just a great person & made everyone feel completely as ease. Once we were over the euphoria of meeting him, it was as easy to talk to him as anyone else at the Fest. He was interested in everyone's systems & eagerly swallowed up details of how we did what & what we thought about things. If you asked him a question about his thoughts on how something might sound, he'd say "I don't know, let's TRY it!" I only HOPE I have his energy level & spark of life when I'm his age. James Sauter made an EXQUISITE plaque for Bob (see above) that we all signed with gold & silver pens. Bob was close to tears when James presented it to him.

-The surroundings in the Great Smoky Mountains was fantabulous! Hot tubs on the deck, plenty of fresh air, things to do within a few miles, TONS to keep you busy in audio listening & discussion. Who could ask for more?!?

Wow........sounds like it was exciting. Thanks for sharing.

 You're welcome!  It was exciting; I learned a LOT.

Gary, this thread should be in 2-channel, where I think a lot more people will look at it.  At least a link and a copy of your multi-pic post.  It looks like a terrific event, and definitely the kind of mountain greenery setting I really like for meetings and conferences!  Did you take your Carver Amazing Loudspeakers there?

TNRabbit's system with the "Carver Amazing" loudspeakers really is amazing in how it fills his listening room with spacious music sound.  Gave me real pause.

You should think about coming up for the Strathmore Klipsch fest.  MD-VA-DC Strathmore Tchaikovsky 4th Klipschfest, Saturday, April 25...

Larry

Way cool event.  And what an awesome setting.  Bob has designed and manufactured some really cool stuff over the years.

Nice pictures... Thanks

How did the mon blocks sound ???

 TNR I would of loved this..

Did he mention anything about the new but delayed Sunfire 401 HT pre amp? 

Or home theater in general? 

I would of enjoyed this for sure! 

whatever55:

Nice pictures... Thanks

How did the mon blocks sound ???

INCREDIBLE~ puremagic!

IndyKlipschFan:

 TNR I would of loved this..

Did he mention anything about the new but delayed Sunfire 401 HT pre amp? 

Or home theater in general? 

I would of enjoyed this for sure! 

You know, we spent so much time on 2-channel stuff, I don't think anyone even asked about the new Sunfire stuff.  I got the impression Bob doesn't have much to do with Sunfire anymore.  There was talk of a new floor-to-ceiling line array ribbon.....very tasty sounding!  It's in the planning stages now, probably NOT with Sunfire....

Sounds like Bob is going in another direction, yet again?  Phase Linear, Carver,  Sunfire! Now what?

In My Opinion...what a shame! 

Yes, "purist" 2 channel people, usually never go to the dark side of Home Theater...LOL

I could just see myself up there in the woods in a log cabin sipping a big glass of wine in a private hot tub with a great view with my wife too!!!!   Oh, and listening to some great gear/ speakers too!  hehehehehehe

I would've really enjoyed attending the fest and to meet the legend himself! What an honor that must've been. 

From '83 to '01 I was a loyal Carver owner...my Magneplanars never sounded sweeter than with the clean, accurate power of my TFM-35x (the two M-400t cubes were each bridged to mono to drive my DIY subwoofer). There will always be a soft spot in my heart for Carver gear, and I sometimes wish I had never gone in a different direction audio-wise; too bad I couldn't afford two seperate systems or I would've never sold my classic Carver gear to help finance my love of tubes and horns!

I've been out of the loop since 2001...is Bob relinquishing Sunfire or resurrecting Carver Corp. or starting a whole different company?

 According to Bob, he's "just another employee" now.  I think he got frustrated with the way the company has decided to go.  When Carver Corporation first went public & he installed a board of directors, they eventually voted him out of power then proceded to run the company into the ground.  He came back a few years later to try to save the corporation, but it was too late.  I think he's about ready to retire, but he just loves to tinker too much!  He is starting a possible new speaker line with James Sauter, who runs the carveraudio.com website & has been doing ribbon repair with his father for years.  I get the impression Bob would be happy to design it and let James run with the ball, with Bob's name used in there somewhere. I think Elan bought Sunfire to pretty much dismantle the company,  because a once-vibrant 200+ employee company in Washington state has now been reduced to less than 10 employees & all manufacturing has been sent out of country, mostly to China. 

That looks like a very cool event. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Carver last year at a Sunfire promo event in Dallas.  Fortunately for me, it was not well attended by real audio fans, so I got to talk with Bob pretty much one-on-one all evening.  Super smart and super nice guy.