I started my coverage at around 1pm, the crowd hadn't flock in due to muslim Friday's prayer and fasting month. The situation made thing easy for me to move around and chat with people in the industry. Ticket price had hike up 10% to reflect the impact of GST but that shouldn't be considered a deal breaker. BHP was again generous to sponsor the event and offered RM5 petrol voucher for each ticket purchased. Each ticket allowed a shot for the lucky draw, who knows luck knocks. My goal this year is to concentrate on mid to high priced hi fi products and it wasn't easy. I stressed that I spent at least two or three songs in a room to give a more accurate impression. As I didn't take note, I rely on memory power. Apologies if there is any errors that could mislead.
This is the entrance. It was a working day, that explained less crowd.
Desa Home Theatre was the first room on the right, they are regarded the local industry leader in home theatre entertainment. As usual, they threw in a lot of goodies for the show goers.
A steal for they are asking Mission 796se (RM2,999 per pair) and 794se (RM1,999 per pair). Offer only valid for three days.
I spotted Micromega IA60, a brand which has been absence from the local scene. What's a pleasant surprise.
The diminutive retro look Wharfedale Dentons were making good music. Warm and full sound. They can be had for slightly less than RM4,500.
Asia Sound Equipment was next to Desa Home Theatre. Gentleman standing on the right is Mr Kim, Rega Director of Sales and Marketing Asia Pacific was making sure everything is in order.
ASE distributes of the recent resurrected Acoustics Research. Made in China, top of the line is model 80-TG with a friendly price tag RM11,350. 80-TGs were driven by Rogue electronics. Plenty of bass, lively and energetic.
The cool looking Rega RP8 turntable took the center stage in ASE room.
The well reviewed Rega Saturn R CD player, sporting a hand lift top loading in favor of drawer mechanism mechanical noises. It could be yours for RM7,300, a handsome discount from the usual MSRP RM8,200. Rega honcho hinted that Saturn R could their last CD player due to declining market. You just never know. Fans know Rega too well, Rega has a distinctive Rega's house sound and big on PRaT. They are known to be the last company to jump into new water in technology.
A change from the usual, Woo Kee Hong dumped Marantz this year for Klipsch.
Horn based Klipsch RF280s were going for RM6,960, a great price for home theatre buds.
Optoma was exhibiting Q Acoustics Concept 20 (RM3,300), stands are not included and the floorstanding speaker, Concept 40. Q Acoustics Concept 20 and 40 took rotated playing time, powered by the Norwegian Hegel H160. Sounded pretty decent.
Hegel H160, sports 1 coaxial, 3 optical, 1 USB and 1 ethernet inputs. This bland looking amp is pumping out 150W into 8 ohms, 250W into 4 ohms, should be suffice to driven most of the speakers.
Out of curiosity, I tried out Oppo headset and Oppo head phone amp to really have an idea how a RM10k + headset system fare.
QED cable from UK was demoing its patented Airloc cold weld termination. Very patriotic jacket, indeed. He further revealed that QED uses 5N copper conductor. A short chat with him on conductor and cable geometry, QED favours multistrand geometry over solid core to preserve signal integrity.
AutoCraft is a new exhibitor in this year show. They are Monster Cable and Morel distributor. Nice to see Morel Signature series speaker. The source was NAD CD player, Bryston pre and Harmon Kardon amp. The Octave Signature bookshelf was priced sub RM15k and the floorstanding exceeded RM30k. They certainly warrant a listen in a properly set up room. Their flagship, Flat Lady which has received rare reviews arouse my curiosity. Anyway, the Morel set up a the show deserves better matching components.
Straight up to Level 8, Swedish Statement showcased the luscious solid walnut Chario Academy Serendipity, a flagship model from Chario. They just made it in time for the show. In side the enclosure, housed two 320mm bass in Isobaric configurations for bass augmentation. As what you would expect from speakers from Italian companies, exquisite woodworking. Powered by Vitus amp, they sounded warm, composed and sure footed, the best was yet to come. They should sound better given time.
Audio Art were taking up two rooms, one for hi fi and the other for home theatre. It is a true German assault, they paired BMC electronics with Heco Acoustics. The elegant looking model was Celan CT602 priced at RM16,475 per pair. The combo produced a lot of energies, shimmering highs and room filling big sound that could make you believe listening to a bigger system.
A full 50W push pull integrated amp at a friendly price tag, sub RM5k from Secret Audio.
Secret Audio, a Chinese speaker entry. The designer, Mr Mak was premiering LC-One bookshelf speaker for KLIAVS. It is a two way speaker, incorporating Seas 1 inch tweeter and 8 inch midrange driver. Speaker impedance is rated at 8 ohms, sensitivity at 91dB/W/m and frequency ranges from 55Hz to 20kHz.
On first look, they do have a strong resemblance of ATC speakers. The price for a pair is RM7,300, ribbon super tweeter is optional for RM2,300 per pair. The total package is RM9,600. The price was pretty hefty for speakers made from China, the sound wasn't. I spent most of my time in this room checking these LC-Ones, they were emitting studio monitoring sound quality, no nonsense kind of sound minus the harshness and coarseness. The driver integration was cleverly done via careful executed crossover, the cohesiveness of sound was impressive. LC-Ones throw a wide soundstage, beyond the plane of speakers in an unfamiliar room which itself is an over achievement. LC-Ones also do not skimp on separation. You got to listen to these.
Toku & Gawa was the only single driver speaker in the show. Handmade in Taiwan, both exhibits employ Taiwan made Tangband drivers, known for their linear frequency response. The 3 inch single driver speaker sounded natural but ran out of steam on more demanding materials. In near-field listening, these speakers could be your ticket to sonic marvel. Just don't expect a lot of bass from the 3 incher.
On 8 inch single driver speaker, T&G manages a considerably more energies. They made beautiful music, the sound was natural and warm. Going louder with grace and without the common nasality or shouty-ness associated with most single drivers. Cohesiveness is their sonic forte, the speakers behave like point source. Images projected was healthy. T&G uses wood to voice the sound. Standard is Betula enclosure, premium is Acacia enclosure.
Harbeth Super HL5 plus took centre stage in Tropical Audio. The added super tweeters gave the venerable Super HL5 a new leash of highs. As usual, Super HL5 plus were driven with Quad electronics. Still made in UK, Super HL5 plus is sold at RM13,560 per pair. The price reflects the weak Ringgit, tell me about it!
Hmmm..., what can I say about Super HL5 plus? With the aid of super tweeter, Super HL5 Pluses were given a leash of top end energies, ambiance and hence a more lively presentation. A new update, nevertheless.
Now, Living Vinyl Venture was a new audio distributor from Penang making its first appearance in this year show. They were demoing the new Consonance M15-20 horn and Horning Eufrodite speakers. Rated at 98dB/W/m, they were driven by Audio Music 833S single ended monoblock tube amp, pumping out pure class A 120 watt. Man! This is serious power in single ended mode, drop dead gorgeous amp from China.
Horning, Denamrk have created quite a buzz in Hong Kong and I wasn't leaving until I listen to them. Beautiful voices but the units weren't broken in and the bass was rather muddy. Given due time, they will improve. They were going for RM95K whilst Consonance M15-20 for RM45k.
A peek from the window from level 8 Hotel JW Marriot, rain shower in KL. The recent weeks have seen the unbearable El Nino heat. Temperature average 31 degree Celcius, dry and stuffy.
Vienna Acoustics, Krell electronics double teamed, was a rare combo but the sound was remarkable. Vienna Acoustics top of the line, The Music was priced at RM160k, a direct competitor of highly regarded Wilson Alexia. Both of them sounded vastly different.
First rate fit and finishing, The Music employs all drivers from Eton, offering a whopping 22Hz to 100kHz! Even though the guys were careful with music selections, I could sensed the occasional intrusion of standing waves. I'd be very worry if it wasn't. My sonic memory still vivid, with extended highs, clean sound and refined.
Krell is now bought over by an American business man from venture capitalist. The new Krell with black and silver fascia employs Class A topologies with iBias technology. It is said that the latest carnations are more reliable. Temperature is stable at 50 celcius at full power.
AV Intelligence was displaying Penaudio Cenya and Devialet electronics. D200 rated at 200W was priced at RM40,755, incorporating a built in DAC, phono stage and amplification is a single one box form factor.
Norma Audio is an Italian company. Revo CDP-1BR is a multi-bit CD player, with 3V ouput, priced at RM20K.
This combo has a nice tonal balance, natural and sweet.
The late Franco Serblin's Accordo was priced at RM40+k. The cabinetry is of fine furniture grade, gorgeous look. A reflection of taste, small footprint, they are easily blend in to a living hall. High wife acceptance, hands down.
Audio Note returned with similar set up last year. This time they positioned it differently, the speakers facing inward. I felt that the sound had lost some vibrancy and energies.
Music by Design was showing Vienna Acoustics Imperial series, Liszt is a step down from the flagship Klimt series. Sharing the similar house sound, which of course is a good thing, you get a lot of money from Liszt for technologies tricked down. They costs RM66k. The highs and mids are housed in a separate enclosure, the users can align the angle of the enclosure to achieve optimal imaging and placement. Liszt sports a coaxial driver powered by powerful neodym magnet, and three 7 inch bass driver in bass reflex configuration. The highs was sweet and extended, the mids were fairly uncolored. The room didn't give too much problem.
Powered by all Cary electronics, Cary Audio solid state SA-200.2, 200 watt. What? Cary has got into solid state. Go check it out.
Perfect Hifi featured Linn electronics and KEF LS50, a room filling sound.
NAD teamed up with PSB Imagine T series speakers.
Acoustics Art teamed Creek and Epos combo.
Another Acoustics Art room, all Danish Gato gears.
