Following feedback from Millennials and Gen Zers that they are put off by the price tags of sound systems that cost hundreds of thousands of ringgit and even more than RM1 million, I have decided to embark on a series of posts on TAS (not The Absolute Sound, but The Affordable System).
Most people in the hi-fi industry would agree that if the Millennials and Gen Zers do not ‘graduate’ to home stereo systems from their smartphones, DAPs, headphones, IEMs and Spotify, then the sun will slowly set on the hi-fi industry.
I have also realised that normal audiophiles and head-fi enthusiasts live in different universes. While most oldish Malaysian audiophiles are familiar with — and started with — components from affordable brands like NAD, Marantz, Rotel, Arcam, Musical Fidelity, Cambridge, Rega and Naim, the majority of them would not have heard of brands like Fosi, SMSL, Topping, Aiyima, WiiM and Xduoo, which are brands that head-fi enthusiasts, who are mostly Millennials and Gen Zers, are excited about.
After reading numerous posts in head-fi groups, I have noted that many are moving from IEMs and DAPs to desktop systems and thence to home systems. A popular system purchased by head-fi enthusiasts comprises a WiiM streamer/DAC, a Fosi stereo amp and a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 bookshelf speakers.
I bumped into Thiban of TechX Home Audio & Hi-Fi last week and told him that I wanted to review a system costing less than RM5,000, which should be affordable for the Millennials and Gen Zers, whose purchasing power has been affected by rising costs of living.
So with the help of TechX, I have set up a system comprising a WiiM Pro Plus (retail price: RM1,199), a Fosi Audio V3 Integrated Amplifier (RM569), a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 (White Oak) speakers (RM1,999), a pair of Kanto ST28 28″ Speaker Stands (RM513), 3-metre Dali 16 AWG Speaker Cables with Copper Colour Rhodium Banana Plugs (RM214) and a 1-metre pair of WireWorld Stream RCA interconnects (RM240).
The total cost of the system: RM4,734.
Watch this space for the review.
