Price Paid:  $175.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I have found the Carver HR-895 to be a great sounding Amp. It reproduces music and Movie soundtracks very nicly. I have found it to get very HOT and thus needs to be placed outside of the rack in order to keep it cool. I find that the buttons as many others have stated on here to be placed in a strange order but once you are used to it I don't mind. I also like the channel seperation on this amp it is very sharp and crisp. I run Mission 765 fronts, Mission 762 rears, yamaha centre, and ADS sub. I will be intrested in selling this amp as I am looking at upgrading to 5.1 you can contact me at tony_c_vdb@hotmail.com for more info.

Strengths:
Loads of power 110x2, 75 and 35x2 plus a great aray of inputs Video and Audio, and a great remote control

Weaknesses:
gets Hot, Tape monitor turns off every time you select another input (I use it for my EQ) and the layout of buttons are poor.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha DSPE-300, Carver 6250

Price Paid:  $100.00 from privately

Summary:
I find the front panel to be confusing for the most part.It does however,produce quite a bit of clarity to my Boston's(rears) and mtx(15"-3 ways).I recently put into use a pair of braun 3 ways as backups.The unit has no trouble handling these babies

Strengths:
It has plenty of inputs for the most discerning audiophile.Plenty of power to handle just about anything you can hook up to it

Weaknesses:
It needs alot of air space to keep it cooling,i will eventyally have to add a separate exhaust fan to keep it from burning up

Similar Products Used:
I used to have a Denon avr1100 receiver,which this replaced.

Price Paid:  $100.00 from privately

Summary:
I find the front panel to be confusing for the most part.It does however,produce quite a bit of clarity to my Boston's(rears) and mtx(15"-3 ways).I recently put into use a pair of braun 3 ways as backups.The unit has no trouble handling these babies

Strengths:
It has plenty of inputs for the most discerning audiophile.Plenty of power to handle just about anything you can hook up to it

Weaknesses:
It needs alot of air space to keep it cooling,i will eventyally have to add a separate exhaust fan to keep it from burning up

Similar Products Used:
I used to have a Denon avr1100 receiver,which this replaced.

Price Paid:  $250.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I got one of these for $250 at Circuit City when they were closing out their stock after Carver went out of business.

What I must mention is that Carver didn't make the sound processing input-specific. For instance, if I'm watching a film on the LD in Dolby Pro-Logic, then switch to the CD input, I have to change the processing to stereo, then back when I want to watch a movie again. My Sony, which was 5 years older, and my new Marantz, both have individual settings for each input, so the DVD input stays in Dolby, and CD is always straight stereo, and changing one doesn't effect the other.

On the front panel, the buttons you use the most, like the Surround mode button, (for the reasons mentioned above) are the smallest, and in odd places. For instance, the test tone button is large and centered, while the surround is identical to, and right next to, the multi room button? How often do you use those buttons? If you're lucky you only use the test tones once, and I never needed the multi room feature. Other buttons are similarly mis-arranged.

However, the amp sounds great. My Sony kicked out static from the surround speakers while using Pro-Logic, and music was always flat and lifeless. Not so with the Carver. There was plenty of headroom, no distortion, and the separation was fantastic, even without the Sonic Holography turned on. I got near-Dolby Digital quality out of the Pro-Logic decoder. I convinced a number of friends to upgrade to Dolby and DVD's with a showing at my place. Other great features include 3 S-Video inputs & 2 outputs, subwoofer out, 5 channel pre-outs and input level control.

Bottom line: If you can get a deal on this used, and you don't need Dolby Digital, you won't be disappointed by the sound this thing puts out. It may not be that user friendly, but let's face it, there's always something you're not going to like about any given product. 4 stars.

Strengths:
Great sounding amp, especially for music. Pro Logic processing top notch, sonic holography.

Weaknesses:
DSP doesn't switch with input, confusing remote, user-hostile front panel layout.

Similar Products Used:
Ultrx & Sony receivers before, upgraded to Marantz SR-8000 recently. Used Pioneer, Harman Kardon, and NAD in shared apartments.

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
I'M NOT A BIG HOME THEATER FAN , I'LL STICK WITH 2CH . BUT AS FAR AS HT GOES I'VE HEARD ALMOST EVERYTHING OUT THERE AND MINE SOUNDS MOST LIFELIKE . I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE THIS PRODUCT ARE EITHER HALF DEAF OR AT THE VERY LEAST NEED SOME REAL SPEAKERS . I HAVE VANDERSTEEN 2CE FRONT , B&W 602 REAR , POLK CS-250S CENTER AND NHT SUBTWO . THIS THING HAS THE BEST SEPARATION OF ANYTHING I HAVE HEARD . YOU CAN HEAR A CAR IN THE BACKGROUND DRIVE DOWN THE SIDE OF YOUR ROOM . GREAT PRODUCT !!!!!!!

Strengths:
ARRAY OF FEATURES & FLEXABILITY OF SETUP

Weaknesses:
BIG , HARD TO PROGRAM , SPEAKER CONNECTIONS

Similar Products Used:
PIONEER , DENON