This is my list of ‘Best of KLIAV 2024 Demo Systems’ in random order.
In HiFi Creations’ room, the Clarisys Minuet Plus ribbon speakers were driven by an Accuphase P 7500 power amp with the Playback Design MPD 8-AI DAC-preamp and the Pink Faun 2.16 ULTRA streamer as source. Handling the power were the FARAD Super6, a Frank Power Bank and an Accuphase PS-1230 Clean Power Supply.
The sound from this system could be a bit larger than life, but the music was pure, detailed and totally enjoyable. Surprisingly, the ribbon speakers could render rock songs quite well too with electric guitars and drums played at rocking speed. The sound somehow made it seem as if the listener was at the venue where the recording was made.
The active Focal Diva Utopia active are high-end wireless speakers and were placed at the entrance to CMY’s big room.
These speakers could play techno music so loud that it seemed as if the lobby was a dance club. Thanks to the Naim amplifiers — 250W to the woofers, 75W to the mid-driver and 75W to the tweeter, all in Class AB — the Focal Diva Utopia did not run out of steam even when pushed really hard. They created so much bass that the soft cushions of the sofa vibrated.
When playing slower-paced songs, the speakers could sound sweet too.
In AV Designs’ room the TAD Grand Evolution One speakers were driven by the TAD C700 preamp and TAD M700S power amp with Innuos ZEN Next-Gen streamer as source.
LS3/5a sifu Jo Ki handled the demo sessions in his usual eccentric style. In the TAD tradition, the sound quality was high with large soundstage, great details and lots of dynamics.
Inside CMY’s room there were several big systems, but the outstanding one was the Luxman driving Dynaudio system.
The Luxman C-10X preamp was connected to two M-10X stereo amps bridged to function as monoblocks. The Luxman D-10X CD player/DAC was also in the system. The speakers were Dynaudio Contour Legacy Limited Edition (only 1,000 pairs) and a pair of REL Classic 99 sub-woofers were used to augment the bass just a little.
Other components in the system were Auralic Aries G2.2 and Vega G2.2 streamers; Siltech Ruby Crown and Single Crown cables; Shunyata New Alpha X and Sigma X power cables; and Entreq Audio New Tungsten Series ground box.
The sound was quite dynamic, punchy, warmish with tight bass.
There were two demo systems in Audio Perfectionist’s room showcasing Audiovector speakers.
One featured a Soulution 525 preamp and Soulution 511 power amp driving Audiovector R8 Arrete speakers with Cary Audio DMS700 streamer as source.
The other had the Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined speakers driven by McIntosh MC1.25KW 75th Anniversary edition monoblocks and McIntosh C12000 75th Anniversary Hybrid preamp. Sources were the McIntosh MCD12000 75th Anniversary Hybrid CD player and J. Sikora Reference turntable with KV12 tonearm and MySonicLab cartridge. The McIntosh MP1100 phono preamp and the McIntosh MPC 1500 Power Controller were also in the system. Both demo systems used Ansuz cables and accessories and HRS audio racks.
Both systems sounded quite nice, but I preferred the Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined speakers with McIntosh components.
This smaller system sounded cosier and more intimate and would be ideal for a regular-sized Malaysian living room. Features like a grounding system and switches to change damping to suit solidstate or tube amps are plus points. To be expected of Audiovector speakers, the sound was very natural and smooth.
In Begins Acoustic room, the Gryphon 120 integrated amp was the star performer which managed to lift the LuKang Spoey 200 bookshelf speakers to new heights of performance.
The other components in the system were an Emerson Analogue streamer, and Tiglon cables and racks. Of course, Begins Acoustic’s sound treatment panels were used.
LuKang speakers had impressed me the first time I heard them at KLIAVS 2022. This time, the high-end Gryphon integrated amp exerted its vice-like grip on the sound and took it to another level. The system was surprisingly good.
AV DEMO
To be expected, the best was by Actsessory Shoppe (with some assistance from AV Designs). Enough said!
