T+A M40 HV mono review.
T+A M40-HV Mono Amplifiers
T+A is probably not well known in the USA, yet, but with products like the M40-HV amplifiers they sure will be. I am so glad I found the company, and it’s products. It was not done on purpose at all. Let me explain that.
Like many of you in this hobby, you save and save for things that MIGHT be. I always wanted a truly good set of speakers that do it all everywhere. I initially could not afford that, so I sued a set of Martin Logan CLX with stereo Balanced Force 212 subwoofers. For what you pay, this is a killer set-up for those that cherish midrange purity above all else. I’m middle “out” listener not a top down or bottom up. And no, this is NOT a cheap set-up, either. It is for as good as the midrange is, though. But, all panel speakers are not as good as you drop infrequency and lower midrange voices can be softer in DRIVE or propulsion that dynamic drivers can do. It’s simply the amount of air you move. The subs help, but only where they are good, best let the lower mids remain as is. Still, the pristine nature of a proper set of CLX is fantastic.
OK, where is this going? Be patient as this is not an easy jump straight to the amplifiers, but necessary. I have had the CLX many years and NEVER felt what I heard got anywhere near the merit to replace them, they are that good set-up well. At AXPONA 2019, not even looking for speakers, I heard WAY DOWN a hall way an incredible sound. Why can we hear timber and naturalness with 100% reflected sounds so well? My friend and I moved up the hallway until we found the T+A room with a pair of Solitaire CWT 1000-40 carbon speakers and these big M40-HV mono amplifiers. It was simply amazingly good.
The speakers are an electrostatic panel (wink, wink) and eight line source mid / bass couplers with four eight’ish bass drivers in a two opposed to one another in the speakers sides. I was not looking at amplifiers! I asked about the big amps and thought, hell, amps is the LAST place I’d ever consider making much of a difference except how LOUD you could play. I bought the CWT 1000-40 speakers, yes I did. They are exceptional but…that “magic” wasn’t the same as in the T+A room. What’s going on, really? Using the same equipment as I did with the CLX, and they indeed better the CLX, they still didn’t have that sense of easy I heard at the show. The CWT 1000-40 are fast, pure and neutral all the way up and down and yes, they have tremendous lower bass propulsion and drive panel speakers’ lack…well, unless you get BIG ones. I can’t do that big.
I have a Sim Audio MOON W-8 amplifier that is a well-regarded, stable, and exceptionally well tested amplifier for the money. Few would say it is “inadequate” verses simply a patina that is “different” than other nice amplifiers. Are those expensive BIG amplifier worth it? I’m here to tell you I can’t answer that. What I can say, is that the ONE big amplifier I bought is. Enter the T+A M40-HV mono amplifiers. The American T+A representative said that the M40’s would be an awakening on the sound. I was VERY suspect an amplifier is ever an awakening other than how LOUD, can you hear me now! Level that they can attain. That isn’t a musical awakening, however, it is just being jarred awake. I didn’t need to be heard at all, I was plenty good there. But David Schultz allowed the opportunity to try them so I did. Was the AXPONA show sound a lot the amps, too?
I won’t drag you down with the specifics on these huge things. What I do want to talk about, is their Class A or AB operation that is counter to what you are told to like. Go here;
https://www.hifinews.com/content/ta-m-40-hv-power-amplifierOK, now you know the specifics on this amplifier. That’s done. What isn’t done is the conclusion the reviewer makes. And I say this as a GOOD thing, too. We have two amplifiers in one so one or the other you will your favor. The reviewer, with his equipment, favors the class A mode. With mine I do not. I like the class AB mode. When I first got them, I used AB but since I didn’t read the manual though I was in class A mode. The sound I was getting was hands flapping as fast as they can while jumping up and down like a five-year-old good. I was AWAKENED!
The sound was so pure, immediate and dynamic it was just stupid good. Bass sustain is powerful and tonally accurate. An amplifier can’t do this I kept thinking. A BIG amp is supposed to be AWKWARD and thunderous but musical and delicate? My power use is 100 watts peak, maybe a tad over. I have 450 watts left over so using their THUNDER I was not. What I did use, are their fabulous detail, dynamics and finesse. The amplifiers just don’t seem to slow down the music at all. It is as though all my sources went high-definition. The MOON amplifier, as a reference, is warmer and can’t get out of the way of the music’s transients like the M40’s. Not only that, but the sense of “nothing” from the amplifiers is amazing. There is nothing in the specs that can’t be, “you can’t hear that” levels of difference between the M40 and the MOON W-8. Don’t be fooled to thing that. So this is what class A amplification is all about? Umm, No.
When I realized I was really in class AB mode I was stunned that the “worst” mode was so darn good! OK, let’s get better and go to class A. But, my ear likes the faster, more dynamic, more open AB mode. Don’t get me wrong, but class A eclipses the MOON in every respect, but between A and AB on THESE amps I like the AB mode best. Class A is indeed warmer, and moves the images forward a little and this does move in the stage width some. The warmth rolls of the edge detail between musical events some and yes it does seem to “attach” the sound stage into a whole. It is a “what you like” kind of thing. There is just added lower range energy in the sound. I’ve heard Pass Labs and Plinius Class A amplifiers and the general sound seems to follow the class A format. AB seems faster and more dynamic and to my ear “better” so there you have it. The manual says to use Class A for all but the THUNDER sessions. I say not to be so quick to judge that. The CWT 1000-40 does mid range DRIVE really well so the added energy is, to my ear, more than I need.
With the CWT Solitaire 1000-40 speakers, I just LOVE the AB mode sound. It is so pure, dynamic, open in all directions and lightening quick to be intoxicatingly REAL sounding. I can’t stress how good these amplifiers are. Are they WORTH it? Let me say this, David took my money and I’m GLAD he did! Few components work like these two do together and we all know about synergy. I instantly forgot what they cost and moved on the listening. So if that means they are worth it, that’s my argument.
I use them Bi-amp class A or Bi-wire class AB with dual speaker cables. I use the balanced XLR inputs. Two flips of a couple switches are all it takes to change modes. The amps are easy to live with in “auto” mode and come on with a signal detected. They don’t take forever to warm-up and the timber is excellent even COLD so that running away for an hour for them to warm isn’t necessary. They never get “hot” anywhere. In auto mode they sip 0.5 watts so you pay for electricity ONLY when the music is playing. This seems stupid but hey, I don’t mind paying for what I use WHEN I use it. Leaving stuff on using 50 watts of power in standby seems counter to logical. You can leave them on, sure, but they don’t penalize you badly if you don’t.
I guess you can say I am a BIG amp convert with the T+A M40 HV mono amplifiers. And yes, if amps sound THIS GOOD they are worth it to drive a cheap car. If you want to look at $$$ amplifiers that SOUND GOOD and are not just BIG, check these out.
