Finally, the chance for another listening session comparison of the AVA Insight Double 440H (Double) and the VA Model Two (Two) amplifiers.
I listened to selected CD tracks on "Jim Brickman: Ultimate Love Songs" (This CD was purchased at his concert, just prior to Valentine's Day). Jim Brickman plays piano and is accompanied by various vocalists. Listening to the CD engages me as a listener, remembering the sweet sounds of the concert:
Track 6: Love of My Life, with Michael W. Smith singing at 0:02 minutes at the start of the track there is a piano chord struck a little too hard. Both the Two and the Double present the same transient type distortion, I'm guessing that the piano mic was turned up a little too much. I note that Michael's voice sounds fuller, with a more rounded tone on the Double. At 1:09 minutes there are sibilants in his voice. The “s” sounds sound like a slight hiss on the Two, but on the Double I can hear a distinctly clear “s” sound. As the song continues, the lower bass notes on the piano are more clear on the Double, and the viola stands out with rich tones when mid-low notes are played.
Track 8: Beautiful, sung by Wayne Brody. At 0:15 minutes, a hammered cymbal has a muted shimmer decay with the Two, and I can clearly hear the rise and decay with the Double. At 1:27 minutes, a tambourine hit sounds slightly muted with the Two, but with the Double the sound hangs in the air. Wayne has some sibilant “s” sounds sounding like a hiss at 1:57 minutes through the Two, but the sound is clear and doesn't break up with the Double.
Track 12: Hear Me (Tears into Wine), sung by Michael Bolton. Near the middle of the song, at 2:29 minutes, Michael has a hard “T” sound and I hear the overtones break up. When listening with the Double, I can hear the same tones resonating. I note on this cut that Michael's voice sounds fuller and smoother on the Double.
Track 13: Peace (Where the Heart is), sung by Mark Masri. At the start of the song, 0:05 minutes the fifth chord is struck harder, accentuated, and the piano string vibrations sound like they are breaking up on the Two. Switching to the Double, I am able to hear string overtones instead of break up distortion. Mark's voice has a fuller tone on the Double. I also notice that the harder struck chords and notes begin to sound slightly like tubular bells on the Two, but keep sounding like a piano on the Double.
I switch to "Dana Cunningham: Dancing at the Gate" for my second CD today. This CD is also notable for me, as we were treated to her playing a concert at our summer place, on a Steinway grand piano over 100 years old - sweet! This style is categorized as contemplative piano, much more free-form than the smooth Mr. Brickman's style:
Track 1: Light on Water. At 1:32 minutes, I'm slightly startled, thinking I'm hearing whistling accompanying the piano, played through the Two. On the Double, I can hear a higher piano note being played, Dana's hand moving quickly to the right to hit the high note, and then back to the melody. At 3:12 minutes, I hear another high piano note, but this one sounds like it is breaking up with the Two. Switching to the Double, the note sounds like a high note on a piano.
Track 2: Above the Canopy. Just after the start, at 0:31 minutes, she accentuates a high note a little too forcefully and I hear hard overtones on the Two. Back on the Double, the overtones are clear and float on the air.
Track 5: Unfolding Journey. Another hard hit high note at 0:12 minutes sounds hard (no surprise) on the Two, but full on the Double. A little later, at 1:20 minutes there are some left hand mid-low notes which sound like they are distorting on the Two, whereas the Double reproduces an even sound.
Track 7: Breath of the Holy One. Sometimes, when a piano is played softly, you can hear the instrument's action "clunking" as notes are played. I hear clunking at 0:30 minutes on the Two, but actually hear the action clearly on the Double. Talk about revealing.
Track 8: Wild Geese. In the middle of the song, at 2:49 minutes, there are harmonic overtones from a mid-scale note through the Two. Listening through the Double, I realize that the actual note can be heard, and not overpowered by the overtones. A few seconds later, at 2:58 minutes, I hear the same effects but with another note: overtones overpowering the note through the Two, but the note floating with the Double.
Today listening session will conclude the A-B type testing of these two amplifiers. Some may assert that comparing a 30 year old amplifier with a brand new amplifier is meaningless. To me, however, the test is completely valid as it highlights the improvements I am experiencing with this change in my stereo system. The improvements are both subtle and stunning; the Double 440H is one fine amplifier! The Two is no slouch, and soon, someone will have a chance to purchase it and make a step up in their system.
Upcoming: a comparison between the Insight Double 440H and an Insight 440, in another higher performing stereo system.
