Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Tom's Gift to Creation
#192630 01/17/08 03:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9

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
--------------
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
----------------------
There is no real order in my comments. So bear with me.

Instruments in general
----------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------
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:
----------------------
"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
----------------
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
----------------
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
-----------------
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:
-------------
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:
-----------
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:
--------------------
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!!


See Mojo's signature
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
EFalardeau #192633 01/17/08 03:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463
Likes: 1
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463
Likes: 1
So, you like it, right?



(hard to tell) ;\)


***********
"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
St_PatGuy #192634 01/17/08 03:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,840
Likes: 13
And some people think all amps are the same. ;\)


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
St_PatGuy #192635 01/17/08 03:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
Yeah...
Actually, I forgot to add the following "final words":
1) If you can afford it, this is the most no-brainer you can get.
2) If you can't afford, take comfort in the fact that it does not make something bad good, but just something really good better. So, you can be very happy with what you have and don't be frustrated. But it WILL be worth when you can afford it.

So, I know many of you will want to be sarcastic, but don't be until you return a unit for not having meet your requirements... This is not like tryinbg to find a difference betwen M60 and M80. This is like finding the difference between some unknown spearkers to Axiom speakers. It's THAT different.


See Mojo's signature
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
SirQuack #192636 01/17/08 03:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
I used to be ALMOST one of them.


See Mojo's signature
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
SirQuack #192637 01/17/08 04:01 AM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
I
local
Offline
local
I
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 280
Eric,

Sounds like you know a few \:\) musical instruments

What did you mean by --> "sub-woofer (ep500) is now connected using high-powered i/f"

Keep the impressions coming !

John


John
Our HT

Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
SirQuack #192638 01/17/08 04:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 7
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,379
Likes: 7
I have been trying for years (and failing) to explain how the sound from a high quality big-ass amplifier sounds better.

I think you nailed it.

Enjoy !!


M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
bridgman #192641 01/17/08 04:09 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
I am, I am enojoy it! \:\)

One thing I forgot to mention is that this is all based on -8db listening for 4hours (used ot be -6db) and -19db for 2 hours (used to be -17db). I am not even CLOSE to put it high volume.


See Mojo's signature
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
ihifi #192642 01/17/08 04:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 9
Oh! You missed a few previous posts then! The pre-out sub out of my receiver does not work anymore. So the EP500 is parallel connected with my M80s. The xover I choose on the sub is 60hz.


See Mojo's signature
Re: Tom's Gift to Creation
EFalardeau #192643 01/17/08 04:14 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833
W
Wid Offline
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
W
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833
I have always said buy the most power you can afford. It's nice to see this is finally being recognized.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,939
Posts442,452
Members15,615
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 221 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4