KL International AV Show 2016, Part 4

Article by WL Low

Let us continue with the final part which concludes my KLIAVS 2016 reporting.

 

 

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Digital Audio Studio presents Audioengine active desk top speakers that are sounding like real HiFi standards. Featured are the real wood veneered HD6 model, in contrast to the gloss finish Aktimate Blue on the outer left

 

 

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A closer look at the Audioengine HD6 & Aktimate Blue speakers. Digital Audio Studio also sold STS Digital audiophile pressing CDs at discounted prices during the KLIAVS 2016

 

 

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Audioengine active speaker with matching red Lenco L-85 turn table at discounted prices!

 

 

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This CMY Audio & Visual set up with Franck Tchang supervision impressed me with it’s all rounder ability to play all kinds of music genre with relative ease, with a sound character that is lively, engaging and most importantly that classic Class A amp mid range warmth. This system consist of a Metronome 2 piece CD source, Karan Acoustics pre/power(operating in Class A bias) combo powering a pair of Franck Tchang designed ASI speakers. All ASI cables by Franck Tchang and power line conditioning is Shunyata. Got my vote for Best Sound of Show!

 

 

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ASI cables in a row

 

 

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Many commented this all Naim and ProAC speakers set up by CMY Audio & Visual to sound very musical with extremely good PRAT factor. I couldn’t agree more. All cables and accessories by Entreq, including those little mouse bags on the tops of the speakers.

 

 

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A simple system by CMY Audio & Visual. Metronome CD player, with Prima Luna tube amp and ProAc Tablette 50 Signature bookshelf speakers. Cables by Siltech

 

 

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Another CMY Audio & Visual room. This system is analog sourced by Clearaudio Innovation turn table, Karan Acoustics phono stage, and full suite of JRDG pre/power(mono block) powering a pair of Dynaudio Confidence Platinum speakers

 

 

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I’ve always liked this Clearaudio Innovation turn table, but it still serves as aspirational HiFi

 

 

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Audio purity by Clarity MP. A simple system with Playback Design MPS-3 CD player partnered with ML No.585 integrated and Revel speakers. A concept that work so well last year for Best Sound, but with so many improved sounding systems on demo this year, the goal post have since moved on.

 

 

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Despite that, my knees go all weak each time I come across a piece of Mark Levinson 5 series component

 

 

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AVP Sound Craft was putting up special offers for this Acoustic Solid turn table

 

 

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However, the Simaudio CD payer, Nagra tube pre/power amps & Verity speakers demo system just didn’t sound right to me at all. If there’s a word to describe the sound, it’s “too rich” or “over ripe!”

 

 

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WharfAudio & Visual is the new distributor for Wharfedale speakers & Cayin Spark tube amps. I must check em’ out

 

 

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Choy Audio Visual demos an unlikely mix of Onkyo hifi components, which I wished for………………

 

 

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I just can’t resist the nice looking blue analog meters on the power amp. The classic amp design theme still works for me!

 

 

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Like I said, an unlikely combo of Onkyo HiFi boxes, partnered with Paradigm speakers, which are still Canadian made by the way

 

 

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Creative AV featured a system consisting of, a top range Yamaha S-3000 CD player, Spec integrated amp, rated at 60W/chanel powering a pair of Graham LS5/9 speakers to near perfection! All the BBC inspired qualities of the speaker design, like a bigger bolder sound and deeper bass reproduction, yet with the mid range just as sweet as the smaller LS3/5 series speakers. It’s worthy of a special mention!

 

 

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That lovely vintage Yamaha look(with wooden side cheeks) really turns me on!

 

 

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Here is a system presenting Clones Audio DIY like electronic boxes and Spatial speakers of open baffle design, which Lam SF liked so much last year. This system was demo-ed with full Acustik-Labour tweak from Taiwan, which is basically a diversification of Franck Tchang’s ASI tuning products

 

 

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The Clones Audio amplifier, Media server & DAC

 

 

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Myhifishop demo-ed this system to full rooms every day of KLIAVS 2016. This TW Acosutic turn table fronted system, followed by Audio Note phono stage & pre amp & AN Jinro power amp to Avantgarde Mezzo Duo horn speakers. There’s good PRAT quality to the system at the same time, dynamics and transients were this system particular strength, with excellent tonal quality to boot. This system is so near yet so far from Best Sound of Show!

 

 

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The copper tone on the TW Acoustic turn table is supremely sexy!

 

 

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A closer look at the Audio Note Jinro tube power amp

 

 

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Power Line Conditioner & cables for this system by Audience

 

 

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HiFi creations made a splash this year not only on the babes front, but also Kronos turn tables &……………..

 

 

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Skorgrand cables & Frank Power Bank with ………………………

 

 

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The towering 4 piece Ocean Five speakers designed by James Chin, our resident Golden Ear! This is an un-fortunate system where Murphy’s Law took over, making sure what could go wrong, did go wrong! this made it extremely hard to judge the sound quality of the system, because the Absolare 845 amps were some times ON, and other times OFF. The sound was succulently warm, with life sized staging & imaging qualities that transport one back to the recording venue, a time machine so to speak. Thislevel of sonic illusion is seldom achieved at home, let a lone the magical triumph in show demo conditions. The times when Absolare mono amps were OFF, and replaced by the Magnet amps which I know and love very well, the “you are there” factor drops just a few notches. While still bringing commendable audio performance, the last bit of magical qualities that only the 845 tubes can give, were clearly missing. Such is the fine line between achieving sonic nirvana & just another excellent hifi performance! Most unanimously voted by all judges and most readers for Best Sound of Show, no matter what!

 

 

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The star of the demo was ultimately the Kronos Pro Ltd turn table powered by the latest optional DC power supply, which was shown fresh hot in Munich High End Show just months ago.

 

 

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HiFi Creations guys went beserk with 10 Frank Power Banks! As good as $$$ in the bank? hell yeah!

 

 

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The power supply unit for the Absolare phono stage

 

 

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Hmm……. may be this tweak does work after all?

 

 

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The Absolutely stunning Absolare 845 tube mono block. This is that one time or two occasions I wished for fame & fortune!

 

 

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Lovely pairing! Absolare tube amps and Ocean Five speakers!

 

 

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This baby Epson TW-5350 projector is the latest in the best performance picture quality for budget priced AV systems. Got my un-reserved vote for Best Picture Quality!

 

 

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At this large screen quality seen here, an uncle could barely believe it when told that the little Epson cost less than RM$4,000/unit!

 

 

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This higher end unit of Epson projector also impressed. Best of all FREE POP CORN!

Now, that all for KLIAVS 2016 Folks!

Next, we announce the results of the judges and readers votes for Best Of KLIAVS 2016!

Article by WL Low

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5 COMMENTS

  1. Please accept my most sincere apology should you find the word “strange” offensive too.
    For reading pleasure, I’ve amended the “strange” word to unlikely.
    BTW, have you heard the Onkyo + Paradigm hifi combo before?
    Because I surely have not, and could never imagine how the said combo would sound?

  2. Bro Big Rhino! Wonder who is the bigger fella here? Ha! Ha!
    Thank you for pointing out my ways in error.
    For your info, all the errors in the said article has been corrected for accuracy.

  3. And to what we learnt, the Clarity MP room was demoed Play Back Design MPS-3 CD player instead of MPS-5 SACD player!

  4. Brother , it is a real strange that you mentioned the Choy Audio demoed a strange of Onkyo hifi component partnered with PSB speakers instead of Canada made Paradigm speakers!

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