Frist things first:
I did not blow up anything! I put a sticker on the side of the
entertainment unit to prevent any move forward if power-off has not been
double-checked.
Also, there are no hum anymore (probably linked to the fact that the
sub-woofer (ep500) is now connected using high-powered i/f. So perfection has been achieved.
Not A/B is necessary. All differences below are so obvious and crystal clear that my mother and/or my cat would have had a 20/20 result in a "blind" test. No kidding. And no kidding about the "No Kidding".
I am not using technical terms. Johns (jakeman and ihifi) were eloquent enough using audio terms that I don't feel there is any need to repeat (maybe just re-add to the fact that they were pretty accurate, thank you!), but only care about musical differences and charateristics.
Bottom line
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Almost all that follows can be summarized by the layman experience below:
If you imagine an outstanding recording of a solo flute.
The A1400 will make it sound like a flute.
The 805 makes it sound like an outstanding recording of a solo flute.
The 805 sounds really good. The 1400 sounds like reality.
How is this post built
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There is no real order in my comments. So bear with me.
Instruments in general
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Anything that has big attack and short release sounds much, much better.
Amongst the most impressive onces are: harpsichord, timpani, pipe organ and percussions in general.
Anything with important bass
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In general, bass is very different. It is "louder" while yet quiteing down so fast that it does not interfere between notes. The end result is punchy, accurate and all of the following "chest bass, stomach bass and guts bass"!
Harpischold is a good example. Fanstastic rise and "shutting up" makes
the recordings now sound like the real instrument. Usually, harpsichord sounds way more "bassy" that the real instrument. Tonight, for the first time, my home sounded like the harpsichord was in it.
Strings in particular
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One intriguing thing is "period instruments". Those are pre-XIXth
century strings. Violins in that era had very loud attacks, but short
sustain. And some vibrato. Below are the conditions measure how
noticeable is the diffenrence between the old (baroque+classical eras) and new instruments (romantic+modern eras).
CD + non-1400: Sort of guess there is difference
SACD + non-1400: somehow hear the difference
CD + 1400: somehow hear the difference
SACD + 1400: Definitive difference.
Also, glissendi (mostly used in contemporary music) are amazingly accurarate. sForsandi (crescendo of 1 note) are SO impactful. Pizzicati are almost scary of depth....
Some particular works:
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"Jonchaies" from Xenakis. That is a 64 musician work where every instrument is playing something different. I heard that work a good 30 times. Tonight, I heard 6 new instruments. That is QUITE big.
Beethoven's "Grosse Fugue" for string quartet (played by Quartetto Italiano on CD) is quite simply a magical experience now.
TACET Recordings
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I have about 10 recordings from TACET. Those are recordings that are placing instruments all around, including in the back. With the 805, it was a stretch of the imaginationt that something was in the back. Now, it is obvious. I have to admit that this one is UNEXPECTED. I really new thought this would be different. But it makes sense as those multi-channels are all based on stereo phases. So, if the amp is fast, the phases are going to be more accurate and our ears better fooled.
Surround Effects
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SACDs and DVD-a are now having a proper "hall echo" effect. When it is loud up front, it is WAY louder in the back. That is 100% natural. For once, no SACD has ever sounded "fake" in my ears. Lack of proper amplifier has always been the problem.
Speaker auditions
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I am no longer in any position to do auditions. It would be completely unfair to advise that what people hear out of the M80 would be what they hear at home. Not even close.
Speculations:
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The followings are open items on which I have no opinions, but are valid things to consider.
1) In the A1400 improving more than speakers?
2) If you have M3s, is the difference M3+1400 bigger than first upgrading to M80 (BIG change)
3) All other questions...
CONCLUSION:
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I you can afford it, this is a HUGE improvement. If you cannot afford it right now, please be happy with what you have and just keep in mind that you might be eventually able to improve things so that you can just re-listen to everything instead of buying new stuff.
CDs sound a bit more like SACD. SACDs/DVD-Audios are now beyond my hearing capabilies.
MY PERSONAL MESSAGE:
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I do not have personal access to Tom. Anyone who has it, or if Tom reads these posts, I have only the following to say: "Tom, I could write pages about the A1400, but you know all of them from your own listening. So, the only thing I want to tell you is: THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREASE IN MY QUALITY OF LIFE! Thank you!!
