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Carver MXR-130Stereo Receiver (1983)SpecificationsTuning range: FM, MWPower output: 130 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.05%Signal to noise ratio: 82dB (MM), 90dB (line)Local pick up / inspection / purchase available at Archer High Fidelity in Falls Church, VA. We are a vintage sales and service specialist covering the Washington DC metro area.All major credit cards accepted, as well as PayPal, check on clearing, and Venmo.Any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Is this one priced like a real buy, or just a tempting entry point? At US$350, it lands well below the US$519 25th percentile and far under the US$588 median for recent comps, so this looks like a strong bargain rather than merely fair.
That makes it worth serious attention if you want a classic late-era multichannel piece with the usual Carver appeal: solid build, a distinctive enthusiast following, and enough cachet to justify keeping one around when it’s clean and complete. For a unit at this price, the main things to confirm are basic functionality, a remote if it originally used one, and that all inputs and outputs behave properly; if those check out, this is the kind of listing that rewards a quick decision.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Founded in 1979 in the United States by audio innovator Bob Carver, a physicist and engineer from the Pacific Northwest, the Carver brand emerged from his earlier work at Phase Linear, where he designed groundbreaking amplifiers like the 1972 Phase Linear 700—the most powerful consumer amp of its era. Carver Corporation quickly built on this foundation, delivering hand-crafted amplifiers that combined cutting-edge technology with immense power at accessible prices, revolutionizing high-fidelity sound for everyday enthusiasts.
Carver specialized in power amplifiers, preamplifiers, and integrated systems, earning acclaim for magnetic field amplification and other proprietary designs that prioritized performance over luxury pricing. The brand expanded into professional audio with Carver Professional in 1984 and home cinema via Sunfire in 1994, while maintaining a core focus on robust, high-output electronics rather than speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Positioned as a populist force in the hi-fi market, Carver brought audiophile-grade power to the middle class, rivaling elite brands at a fraction of the cost and fostering a loyal following among vintage collectors today. Though corporate shifts and the 2024 closure of Bob Carver Corp marked challenges, its legacy endures as mid-tier innovation that democratized excellence, now overseen by Carver Holdings Group.
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