I already sent messages to Axiom about this bit of "good fortune". Here's the gist of it.

This morning, in order to allow me to track down a hum on the surround channels, I moved my enternainment unit to reach the master power switch of the A1400. The front switch was also on. I think a connector that I had prepared in advance for dual center (and which was loose at the back) caused a short between a line input and a speaker post. Firework ensued (and even quick flames) for a few seconds before I could reach the power switch and turning the unit off.

As of now, no sound is coming out (not even the hum!). So, I think I literally blew it.

Grrr... I just managed to spend 40 minutes with it and it was beyond my expectations. This HAD to happen at 4h30 in the morning!

Hopefully this will get resolved within a reasonable amount of time.

Not a happy man right now.

Good luck in resolving your problem. I'm looking forward to reading about your impressions of the A1400.

I wanted to wait before giving my first impressions, but with the amp out of commission, I might as well talk about my "40 minutes".

Background: I started as a sceptic, then, because I like Ian and company, I continued as an interested listener to their AMP speech. Thanks to jakeman's posts, I went from "candidate to buy" to "very likely to buy". I also went from "hoping to hear some difference" to "being pretty certain I will hear some difference".

Well... There is a difference. I listened to things I played a few times very recently 1) First movement of Bach's second partita for solo violon (SACD) 2) Percussion work by Xenakis (CD) and 3) Harpsichord concerto by Manual de Falla (CD) and 4) 10 minutes of DVD "Curb your enthousiasm".

Everything is so much more real. I feared I would have to force myself to hear a difference to justify the 4K$, but no, not even close! I just listened to these things at -17db on the receiver. Even at low volume, the instruments sound like real life. At University, I had a violonist rootmate and it was that sound I heard back last night! I also ealier set the volume to +10db and no distortion whatsoever...

Violin legato sounds like velvet, attacks are perfect, zforsando are very impactful.

So far, I have not felt the need to A/B with the 805 as I can hear the difference as is. More impressions will follow eventually once I have a working system again.

Nice. But have you double-blind tested the jacket yet?

I want one of those amps. I also want a Porsche. It's unlikely either will happen....

I used a mirror, but there is an error in logo: it spells moixA. Poor quality control, I guess!

Sorry to hear that, good luck.

Eric,

You just couldn't resist testing the protection features of the amplifier, could you ? I hope Tom doesn't add fuses on each output module and wreck the high frequency response.

Instead of fuses, maybe just some sort of casing to protect the posts might be nice. This may have been a one-in-a-million thing or something to pay attention because of the very, very long 1/4 inch connectors (it is one of those that fell through all these plugs).

There is a high probability that I will receive a new motherboard tomorrow hoping that that what was fried. I'll let you know.

As usual, outstanding service!

I believe in Murphy's law. Especially when it comes to user interfaces.

Got the e-mail! New motherboard should be here tomorrow. Hoepfully, it will restore my 1400 to its great capabilities! These people sure know how to treat customers. I have many friends interested in Axiom and everytime they hear about their service, they get closer to commit to a new system! This example will sure add to their growing reputation in my circle.

Alas! Not working...

It never rains, but it pours. EP500 is mute. After lunch I have to check if device is problem, cable or Onkyo....

so you have a busted ep500 and a1400? that stinks!

That's strange. I thought you shorted the amp. Must be something else unrelated to the shorting mishap.

Tried the Audiobytes amd and my old Yahama. They both yield a horrible hum... Tried my old very bad sub and it does the same thing with receiver. Sounds like the pre-out sub is blown. Yesterday I had tried two channels and they were fine. I guess I better check them all again!

Is it okay to use the pre-outs and feed them to the audiobytes? Because of size, it is a lot more mobile!

Wow. Looks like its Integra 9.8 time. Sounds like you fried your receiver as well. Sorry to read about it. On a happier note your subs should be fine.

Need help here.

Pre-out channels are fine. Now I guess the next test will be using speaker cables for the sub. I have never done that with a receiver that does not have A/B. How do I set it up? Parallel with the main speakers? Daisy chained through sub?

Thanks in advance.

Just hook up the subs as if you were connecting main speakers and play a tune. Disconnect the main speakers and test the sub alone.

You're right! At least for a quick test. If it works and I need to make this more permanent, what will it be?

A disadvantage of the EP subs is that they don't have high level outputs so you can't connect the speakers to them. As a temporary workaround set your speakers to large and connect the speaker wire to the sub low level inputs then cross the sub at the speaker -3db extension point. Your going to have adjust the sub volume to get it right. Permanent workaround is a new processor. A mid-term workaround is to use a sub with high level outputs so you can set the crossover where you want it.

Direct wire works. I guess this is done as parallel connections? I have the nice Axiom banana plug so it is easy to cross-connect.

yes.

What fun! What fun! Thanks.
I'll finish calibrating later...
I had all the appartment clean! Now it's a mess...

Me again!

When I get a functional A1400 back, would I be able to use the front's from the receiver for the sub or would it be best to use the A1400? Until I get an Integra, of course! Or that I figure out what's wrong with the sub pre-out.

Sure just connect the receiver preouts to the A-1400-A. Then run from the amp to the sub as you now have it temporarily set up. I would watch the volume for now with that hook up because you are presenting a much bigger load to that smaller receiver/amp and you never know what else may have been damaged in the receiver. I've been there in a similar mishap with my Sansui so I feel the pain.

I'm watching the volume also because of my 2 VP150 are in parallel. BTW, dual centre (above and under) sound really good. It took at least two minutes moving them back and forth until they sort of became "in sync" (they sounded a bit "weird" at first). Now it's perfect. Musicians are now in the same "axis" as me and it feels a bit more "natural".

Yet another corroboration of dual centres. The list is getting long. I'm going to have to get over my hangup with lobing as per the acoustical theory and just go for it.

If I could have one VP150 placed right in the middle, I'd prefer one myself. I would love having those projector screen that let sound passthough and have an M80 behind it!

Yes that is the way to go for audio presentation but those perforated screens give up too much image quality. I'm currently using a Vutec Silverstar screen with a JVC RS1 projector and a ND2 filter over the lense, HDMI inputs are through a Toshiba HDDVD XA2. No way I'm using a perforated screen. My centre is below the screen firing up to the seats and sounds great on and just off axis. However, I occasionally notice the dialogue not anchored in the middle of the screen.

For those of you who would like an update. The baby has just left with Purolator to go back to Ontario for repairs. Hopefully, it won't be long and I'll be able to re-enjoy it soon!

Wow! Got a complete surprise. Got back from work early because I did not feel all that well... ten minutes later doorbell rings... a A1400!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel much better now!

BTW, this thing sounds incredible (altough I have to admit to some shaking of the hands that it would blow-up when I powered it up)!

Plus it gives you a heck of a workout moving it around. Hope you feel better....

Congrats Eric, let he games begin.

Even with all the good reviews and comments on the Axiom service, things like this really stand out and make you appreciate Axiom even more.

I could have swore I put in a change of address for that shipment, once again Puorlator messed up.

Good to hear you got your A 1400 back, I'm looking forward to reading your comments on it.

Congratulations! I know your initial impressions were positive, but may I request that at some point you do a direct comparison to your previous amp/receiver (preferably blind ) at low to moderate volume levels? I'm sure more than a few of us would be interested....

Enjoy your new toy!

A/Being... Isn't that the kind of tests that means touching wires? After what happened with my first A1400... I wouldn't count on it if I were you, especially blindly!

I think Amie would stop liking me if I blow up a second one.

That's understandable... was worth asking tho!

Thanks anyway...have fun!

Your request was understandable too. Once you read my other post, you will understand that the A/B wasn't reallty necessary.

I understand how people can do A/B of speakers with a selector switch, but how do you quickly switch between amplifiers? There has to be a way, but I guess I haven't read enough about it.

Hi CV,

It's easier to do such a comparison in stereo, and it's possible with a Radio Shack line-level switcher. I don't know the model. If you really want to do it right, you should have a switcher with relay switching but that gets expensive. And you also want to have some means to adjust the gain of each amp so they are identical. Otherwise, you'll pick the louder of the two sources as "better" because it sounds louder.

Be careful because with the Radio Shack el-cheapo switcher, you might get switching "thumps" (transients) when you go from A to B.

Using stereo is far better to do any amplifier or speaker comparisons because it's much easier to detect subtle tonal differences and other nuances. There's less going on in the room in terms of room effects, reverberation and so on.

The more channels and speakers that are running, the harder it is to detect meaningful audible differences between speakers and components.

Regards,

Hey, Alan, thanks for the info. I guess I personally won't be in any rush to try comparing amplifiers, but I was curious as to how it's done.

But you'd still have to have 2 sets of the same speakers with a line level switcher, no?

What da ya know? The sub out of my 805 is working again! Just tried it for fun... works! The only thing I can imagine is that, at some point, I had to unplug the receiver and plug it back again (to change some plugs around). Probably just some breaker that had tripped and got reset.

That meant I had to re-calibrate everything! At least I removed the slight boomy problem because the bass out of my right M80 was a tad too close to the corner of the room. And no hum from the back speakers either. I think I live in a haunted house. Woooo...

So it's a good as I have also received the "shipped" e-mail for the EP0 (unless they're sending me another amp! ).