Thanks to the efforts of David at Audio Video Experience in Hampton Falls, NH, I was finally able to hear a pair of new JBLs without hitching a plane ride to the West Coast. The conversation started this summer when I learned that they were the only JBL dealer anywhere near me, and over the course of the last few months, he was able to track down the "demo pair" from Harman and get them setup for me to hear. My hat is off to him for making this happen !
The equipment was as follows:
McIntosh MCD301 SACD/CD player, C50 preamp, 275 tube amp
Project 5.1 TT with Goldring MM cart
The room was a very nicely finished HT demo space about 14x18. It had accoustically treated walls and ceiling and two rows of "stadium" seats. It made for a very comfortable place to spend a few hours with the 1400's.
I listened primarily to digital because the TT setup frankly didn't sound all that great and was not really up to the level of what I'm used to. It was too bright with too little bass and didn't really show the 1400's in the best light. Once the CD's got spinning though, it was pretty clear I was hearing something special.
Having spent the last 10 years with a pair of 250Ti's, I'm used to great bass - but these were clearly superior. I give quite a bit of that credit to the room, but it's clear the 1400 goes *way* down and does so with great control and poise. What it gives up (slightly) to the 250 though is "punch" in the upper regions of the bass where a lot of drum sound is. Was it the missing 108h I wasn't hearing ? Was it the tube MC275 not getting enough control on the Le14H-3 ? Hard to say for sure here.
As I listened further I became really mesmerized by the great presentation of the mids - especially vocals. From Diana Krall to Bruce Cockburn, I was just amazed by the presentation and coherency of their voices. The imaging was really nice and gave a real sense of that "in the room" sound. i then moved onto some jazz as I wanted to hear how well they could reproduce the sax. I was not disappinted here as Michael Brecker's(RIP) tenor ripped into the room with all the energy and presence of a live show.
Moving onto blues, Clapton and Robben Ford took the stage and really showed off their guitars. Here again, I could close my eyes and picture myself in a small club with the bands right in front of me. I felt I was really getting into the comfort zone of the 1400 here.
Finally it was time for some rock, so out came some of my prized MFSL gold discs like Synchronicity, Moving pictures and Breakfast in America.
It was just stunning every time. "Tea in the Sahara" is a difficult track as Sting's vocals can fade too far into the background with many systems (250ti included), but he was not overshadowded here. All the density and complexity Supertramp's signature album was presented clearly and frankly was about the best I've ever heard it. And who can resist a good chance to play air drums along with Mr. Peart on "Tom Sawyer" - certainly not me :-).
I wrapped up with my new favorite "rock the house" track - Zeppelin's "No Quarter" covered by Maktub, It's a masterpiece and I just sat there slackjawed.
In conclusion and comparison to my 250's, these are clearly a new generation. All the things you'd expect of a horn-based design like dynamics are here in spades. And with the latest LE14 holding down the bass duties, the low end is a solid as ever. I was occasionally aware of some "horn sound", but it was no Klipsch in this regard. It was subtle and only got my attention a few times. I felt the tweeter didn't quite have as many paints in its sonic palette as the 044Ti, but that could be electronics and room (or both) playing into this too.
Overall it was a very enjoyable afternoon. I look forward to these coming onto the used market in the coming years.
jblnut
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Originally Posted by SEAWOLF97
