Show Video Overview

The long weekend of sonic and visual excitement saw the crowds ebbing and flowing between rooms, eagerly assessing how what they saw and heard would work in their own homes. Whether that be a 50-inch home cinema subwoofer, ultra-expensive 2-channel ultra-tech hi-fi, or budget-modest but kick-ass sound, the attendees were most certainly spoilt for choice. And let's not forget the most extensive personal audio and headphones exhibition ever seen at an Australian show in the dedicated Headzones area.

While it's well known that hotel rooms present some of the harshest conditions and environments to show off quality 2-channel or multi-channel audio reproduction, we were continually amazed at how well the rooms come together. If you enjoyed the sound of a room at the show, it will likely only improve in a proper set-up listening environment.

Those who attended (or even live nearby!) can attest that this year's show was "all about that bass". Home Cinema continues to show strong growth in Australia, and the 2024 show included the largest showing of cinemas yet, with seven dedicated spaces in total. There certainly was plenty to keep home cinema lovers entertained.

A nice mix of local Australian and international manufacturers converged to form a hot-pot of audio bliss. Musically, there were some consistencies for the benefit of show-goers; firstly, most rooms had reliable and high-performing streaming solutions, and second, the range of music presented or requested was wide and varied. The latter point makes shows more enjoyable as you experience new music that others enjoy. And it has to be said, Niles, Diana, Knofler, and co. were conspicuously absent, much to the pleasure of forum commentators!

So, while attendance figures were visibly down on last year, likely reflecting the cost of living and officially marking the end of the pandemic-boosted hi-fi resurgence, all noted the quality and engagement of those in attendance. From an organiser's perspective, where some rooms could be challenging to get into in previous years due to crowding, this year was a perfect mix of new and energised music and film lovers, as well as seasoned enthusiasts.

The show's overall success this year certainly sets the scene for the next show. Rumour has it there are some big changes in the works already.

So, without further ado, let's cue up the show overview in alphabetical order.

Advance Audio

Johan Coorg, the travelling ambassador from Hegel Music Systems, was on hand to play music through the new Hegel H400 integrated amplifier, which made its Australian debut at the show. The source is a Hegel Viking CD Player, developed from the ground up for optimal performance on standard (Redbook) CDs, which is refreshing to see.

It was connected to the KEF R7 Meta loudspeakers using Audioquest cables. This combination's sound was exciting and dynamic and seemed to thrive at higher-volume settings. The bass was strong, yet there was a lovely sense of space and air from the recordings.

Also on hand were Adam Shaw-Cotterill and Robert Wong, representing Audioquest and offering presentations highlighting the influence of cables in a system.

Just out in the long hallway alcove was a display of smaller KEF speakers. This range, suitable for various room types and sizes, sounded great with KEF's 11th generation Uni-Q® driver arrangement. Many commented on the lovely choice of colours and unique ways to use them around the home or office.

Amber Technology

Amber Technology enjoyed two good-sized rooms on Level 2. To their credit, they kept it simple and resisted the urge to overcrowd the rooms. The first room featured PSB T65 (in both black and white finishes) and the larger PSB Synchrony T800 floor-standing loudspeakers. A NAD M66 BluOS Streaming DAC/Preamplifier was the source and fed a NAD C298 Power amplifier. The sound this combination produced was alive and certainly filled the room with a large soundstage. The vocals shined and highlighted a smooth midrange. There was no shortage of deep bass and thunderous dynamics. On rotation was the NAD Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier C399 playing tunes from Tidal.

Elsewhere in the room was a static display of Isoacoustics footers and isolation stands, as well as new streamers from Bluesound. The well-known Node now has the Node Nano and Node Icon (now with a front display) join the Bluesound lineup.

The second room was all about JBL. The room featured a number of Australian "show debut" items, including the JBL Stage 2 280F floor standers, the JBL Stage 2 245C centre speaker, the JBL Stage 2 220P 12" active subwoofer, the JBL Stage 2 240H height/surround speaker, the JBL MA9100HP 9.2 AV Receiver and JBL MA710 7.2 AV Receiver.

On the floor were JBL L82 Classic Mk2, JBL L100 Classic Mk2 and JBL Stage 2 280F speakers being fed streamed music from the new AV receivers being played in 2-channel mode. The sound was lively, captivating and enjoyable. As the three loudspeakers were changed over, you could hear the family resemblance of the JBLs that have made them so popular. The new Stage 2 line of speakers and the receivers have a modern look and feel to them, one that is sure to appeal to a younger audience as well as the die-hards. Conversely, the Classic line of electronics was on display, including the JBL TT-350 direct drive turntable, featuring retro styling.

Audacity

Playing at the Audacity room were a number of sources including a WiiM Ultra streamer, a Silcron MaxConnect CD player and a Lenco LBT-345 turntable. They fed into a TAGA Harmony hybrid valve and solid state amplifier, playing through the recently reviewed by StereoNET TAGA Harmony Nostalgic TH-12 loudspeakers. The sound was slightly warm and very easy to listen to, with a large airy soundstage that easily filled the room.

Elsewhere on display were products from TAGA Harmony, WiiM, REVO, Lenco, Airpulse and Silcron. Many of the items suit systems designed around smaller living spaces, lifestyle products and tighter budgets, yet feature great sound quality.

Audio Active

Rather than focusing on a dedicated cinema room, Melbourne-based distributor Audio Active demonstrated how to use a typical lounge room as a high-performance cinema without sacrificing aesthetics.

At the centre of their display was Sony's 75" Flagship Bravia 9 television, coupled with Theory Audio's B75 Soundbar (Theory Audio has Soundbars available to suit 65", 75", and 85" televisions) with B25 Surround speakers. Bass was handled via Theory Audio's Sub 12 and Sub 16. Theory Audio also has a range of in-wall and on-wall speakers and subwoofers.

Theory Audio's tiny ALC-180, with two channels bridged for the subs, provided amplification, while Storm Audio provided processing in the form of their ISP Core 16. Despite its small footprint, the system surprised attendees with engulfing and explosive sound, delivering on its promise of quality cinema in a small space.

Audio Magic

Audio Magic demonstrated several excellent brands, including Ayre Acoustics, Lumin, Copland, Kudos Speakers, Tellurium Q cables, Enleum, Finite Elemente racks, Bergmann Audio, Hana cartridges and Aqua Acoustics DACs.

Three key staff from Lumin Music attended the show from Hong Kong, including Nelson Choi, the MD; Angus Leung, the Global Sales and Marketing Manager; and Li On, the Product Development Manager. They carefully explained the Lumin product philosophy and highlighted its continued support via software upgradeability, even after a decade of use by the consumer.

The Lumin T3 Network Player and L2 Music Library fed an Aqua Formula xHD 2.0 DAC and was the basis of the digital front end. The analogue source consisted of a Bergmann MAGNE Anniversary turntable fitted with a Hana ML cartridge and an Ayre Acoustics P-5xe phono preamp. The amplification was Copland and Ayre integrateds, and there were two pairs of Kudos Audio loudspeakers, the Titan 505 and 606s. The sound, regardless of the source, was incredibly good and engaging, highly detailed, well-resolved and utterly musical.

Audiofix / Stereotech

Dellichord is an Australian brand that has made real inroads into the compact-sized loudspeaker market. At the show, there were two newer models, the FR2035 – a combo of a pseudo LS3/5A monitor mated to a 10" isobaric configured bass enclosure – an active bass unit with 250W/Ch into 4 ohms (the FR2035's listed nominal impedance). You can separate these units and buy the '35' monitor as a standalone if you want a compact speaker. The 2035 pairing had a big sound. The bottom end was there in extension and weight. The '35' portion, though, mimicked the typical charms of the original LS3/5A, with a very smooth and detailed sound; the mid-range was superb, and the matching between woofer and tweeter' stitch up' made female vocals shine through on many, many tracks.

Dellichord's second offering was the brand new 70S, a play on the speakers from the 1970s with a thin wall birch-ply cabinet, wider-than-usual front baffle and front ported. As an enticement into the HiFi market for consumers the 70S are offered with options, such as RTA – Ready To Assemble – or fully assembled but unpainted, or fully assembled and painted. The 70S also has a plywood stand to rest on that conveniently accommodates LPs. The 70S rocked along in the room with good bass extension, sweet mids and a smooth top end. Driven by a modestly powered but sweet-sounding Exposure integrated amp, the 70S's filled the room easily.

Looking for a project with your kid/s that is quality HiFi and that can then be enjoyed by the entire family? Then this could be your go-to option without breaking the bank.

Avation

Walking into the Avation room, visitors were greeted with a huge colourful and backlit poster of the Vivid Audio speaker range which looks futuristic and modern. Three speakers from the Vivid Kaya range were on show, the Kaya 25 was connected to a Devialet Expert 250 Pro amplifier, while the Kaya 90 was connected to a pre/power combination from UK's Ultrafide, which debuted at the show. A Lumin P1 was the source. Both systems sounded similar and shared a dynamic sound with a room-filling soundstage full of texture and detail. It was a clean and precise sound, but it also had a nice touch of warmth and was very listenable.

A pair of Devialet Phantom I wireless speakers flanked the Vivids and were heard playing Spotify playlists. A pair of green Kaya S12 speakers on stands were available for demonstration upon request.

BMC Audio Visual

An international mix of audio brands were apparent when walking into the BMC Audio Visual room. The room was tastefully set up, and the Brodmann VC7 (Vienna Classic line) loudspeakers really stood out, gloriously finished in timber with a narrow but deep profile. In a discussion with Bernd Gruhn, visiting from Austria for Brodmann Loudspeakers, he described the design concepts in simple terms, covering their unique bass-loading technique using multi-small drivers and bass-loading solutions.

Using a Melco N1Z/2 streamer as the source, Storm Audio processor as a preamp, Elektra Audio power amplification, and new (to Australia) Ricable cables throughout provided a highly capable system to drive the VC7s. First impressions were deceptive – how was there such low-frequency output as realistic bass from such small drivers and modest cabinet – and real usable bass exhibiting a tautness and highly tangible tonal texture?

The VC7 from Brodmann's Vienna Classic series may be mid-tier for them, but there was nothing mid-tier about the sound; this was top-shelf. From a broad soundstage including depth and breadth, familiar tracks had an amazing timing coherency and speed with snappy bottom end and silky high notes. The VC7 really shone through with an easy to listen to system.

It is also uniquely adaptable, using them paired with Brodmann satellite speakers and Anthem electronics for a Dolby Atmos system for the AV or spatial audio fans with the same admirable characteristics, as many attendees experienced.

Class A Audio

Class A Audio's room was popular as visitors got a lot of music and brand names for the time they spent. Accuphase was chosen as the source and amplification, paired with Audiovector loudspeakers. The electronics varied from integrated to pre-power Accuphase pairings. Being one of the few rooms to have SACD spin capability this was used to bring the highest level of source to the amplification. The Audiovector R3 Arreté loudspeakers feature in-house production of the cabinets and drivers, including the air motion transformer tweeter. For a relatively compact cabinet these speakers are promoted as almost full range in the bottom end.

After about 20 seconds of SACD music playing from an Accuphase E-280 integrated amplifier, a smile appeared; the sound was smooth, and vast levels of detail from the mid and top end were matched with a speed and cohesion of lower and mid-bass. With more time, it became clear that the tonal balance across the audible spectrum was very good; nothing had been removed, enhanced, or altered. Overall, it was a high-quality system that kept this listener's interest and levels of engagement whilst also proving to be relaxing.

Cogworks

Australian distributor Cogworks toned it down for the 2024 show, focusing this year on what's possible with smaller systems and rooms. The 5.2 system consisted of entry-level Elementi Audio Firebirds for LCR and surround duties, while dual Elementi Basalt subs were hidden behind an acoustically transparent screen.

Rather than more 'plug and play' solutions, Cogworks systems focus on room design and engineering. This philosophy extends to electronics as well, with matched amplifiers and DSPs ensuring not only a smooth sound but sufficient SPL to create a cinema-like performance, which is precisely what show-goers experienced.

Cogworks also had the Applause Award-winning BenQ W5800 projector in use, which StereoNET recently reviewed. Although uncalibrated, it created a thoroughly convincing colour palette, with accurate skin tones and colour. Additionally, as the distributor of Meridian products in Australia, they also had Meridian's recently released Elipse wireless speaker on demonstration.

Dacman Audio

The Dacman Audio room was a collaboration of Jon De Sensi of OAD Ultrafidelity, Nick Hulgich of Hulgich Audio, Chris Allman of Allclear Audio, and Stav from Dacman Audio. All were available to demonstrate their brand's strengths and designs. Sources were the Denafrips Arcas streamer with LHY ethernet switches and a Jays Audio CDT3Mk3 CD Transport using a Denafrips Terminator Plus 12th DAC. The amplification was an OAD Ultrafidelity Padma Preamplifier and Vajra Power amplifier.

They drove the Hulgich Audio Nina stand mount and Duke floor standing loudspeakers using Shi-Tone cables. With the Dukes connected the sound was ultra relaxed, it was totally unfazed at high volume levels. There was plenty of detail, but it was not in your face, aggressive or harsh, just smooth and musical, allowing vocals and instruments in the midrange to shine through. The system obviously had very good synergy and every component contributed.

Allclear Audio had a static display of a new preamplifier, the Symphony One, which is entirely passive and uses a battery to power the relays that adjust the volume levels and controls. Chris uses a special nano winding technique and a super Permalloy core on the transformers, as it's a transformer stepped volume control. OAD Ultrafidelity showed the UP1 and UP1 Reference Phono preamplifiers.

DEQX

DEQX had products in two rooms, each implemented with completely different solutions. The larger room had DEQX performing some room corrections on a standard configured Hi-Fi system, including passive speakers, amplification, and source. There was nothing standard about this room's sound, though.

The floor-standing Applause Award-wining VAF Signature i93 Mark IV were tall and mirrored silver beasts – twin 8" SEAS bass drivers, twin 4" SEAS mid-ranges and a single tweeter aligned in a D'Appolitto MTM layout. Nick Ataliotis, VAF's designer, was on hand to explain its design. The DEQX unit provided some basic room correction, streaming and DAC services, so the MacIntosh integrated amplifier could provide the required shaped grunt.

The i93's certainly drew in showgoers to listen, sit and enjoy. A big speaker in a small room can be a mismatch, but oh boy, did they sing sweetly here. There was no boom or sibilance, and the bottom end had superb dynamics, extension, and slam. Tick. The upper bass and mid-range had a snap and speed that made you want to listen to more. Tick.

The soundstage was wide, tall and deep, and certainly left you with the impression you were at a live performance. Track after track, your brain convinced you to stay for just one more! This room also had the VAF i91 SE stand-mount speakers on listening rotation, a unique creation with a coaxial driver with dual front ports (above and below the coaxial driver) that can also become a centre channel speaker – a very novel design.

Next door in the DEQX-centric room was the most basic system, the DEQX Pre-8 unit (all streaming, digital processing and DAC) that led to an active 3-way speaker – no analogue crossover. The Pre-8 rear panel is a marvel of space optimisation, and the modular design means you can have this as the passive Pre-8 with all digital smarts or have the digital processing built-in and 200W/Ch (into 4 Ohms) of amplification to drive passive speakers – same chassis, same front end, same App!

DEQX had put their engineering to work in the Pre-8 to measure the room and speakers and then perform their digital filtering and compensation – in a world-first linear phase filter with 70dB/dec filter slope. Sonically, the room was set up with a near-field listening position. Behind the speaker stand was a neat tall chassis containing Class D amplifiers to drive the speakers. The amplification chassis is designed to fit onto the rear panel of almost any 3-way speaker cabinet.

In the front row of seats, about 1.6m back from the speakers, it was a sonic revelation. The speakers disappeared, the soundstage was out past the box edge and the vocals floating between the boxes. All this is also at low to mid-volume levels - the imaging was very, very good. DEQX has been re-engineering their solution, and this new chassis, electronics, and software presented a superb sonic image for all listeners.

Fundamental Audio

The full Eversolo range was on show in the Fundamental Audio room, proving just how versatile the products are. Suitable for a small bedroom or home office system and equally comfortable as part of a competent audiophile's system, the Eversolo DMP-A8 was the source for a lovely high-end system. Connected to a significantly solid Tone Winner AD-1PA+ Stereo Class A power amplifier and feeding Scansonic HD Q8 floorstanding loudspeakers, the sound was impressive.

There was great speed, dynamics, and impact in a huge room, and the sound was highly detailed and resolved. Despite the distance between the two speakers, the soundstage was full and even right across. We could not detect any dead spots, especially in the centre. Also on rotation were the Scansonic HD Q3 floorstanders and Scansonic MB1 B Bookshelves. However, they weren't playing at the time we visited.

Credit must be given to Fundamental Audio for the extra effort made as one of the nicest visually presented rooms. It certainly was inviting.

Out in the hallway were a great number of Solid Steel equipment racks on display, with something to suit everyone with their enviable range of designs and sizes. Six different sizes of Tone Winner subwoofers were also on show.

Harman Luxury Audio

I was looking forward to hearing Arcam's new range, but as they are so new, stock of the full range is not yet available, yet they debuted and were on a static display at the show. The affable and enthusiastic David Tovissi from Harman International (USA) was on hand to explain the range to those interested. This new range from Arcam is called the Radia and all models look the business, in form and colour, with suave and sophisticated design queues. Arcam is one of the pioneers of Class G amplification and has many years of experience under its belt now.

The new streaming integrated amplifiers, the Arcam SA45 and SA35, bring modern needs to an integrated box. The SA45 features one of the largest screens on any hi-fi component under manufacture, measuring 8.8" in full colour. What about features? There are bucket loads, along with solid engineering. The Arcam SA45 streaming amplifier puts out 180w/Ch as Class G with the first 20W/Ch as Class A. Flexibility comes with built-in DIRAC, an App or remote control facilitation, home automation integration and the world's first inclusion of Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast. Plus, add it directly to your Wi-Fi network for internet connectivity to support the long list of supported incorporated music services. There's also an MC/MM phono input and eARC connectivity for your AV audio needs. Adding to the existing CD5 CD player digital source, the new ST60 streamer is also underway for release in the upcoming months if you want to separate amplification from a streamed source. Based on the response, many interested showgoers are looking forward to hearing about the Radia production units when they are available.

HeyNow Hi-Fi

Geoff Haynes from HeyNow Hi-Fi was at hand spinning vinyl and streaming music, and despite using a Meitner by EMM labs MA3 Music streamer/ DAC, the crowd clearly wanted to hear vinyl. Cue Mark Dohmann, who was also in attendance demonstrating the Dohmann Audio Helix 2 MK3 turntable, the most affordable turntable of the Helix range. It was fitted with the incredible Reed 5t Laser guided linear tracking tonearm and a Mutech Hayabusa moving coil phono cartridge feeding a Sutherland Big Loco trans-impedance phono preamplifier.

That front end was directly connected to an AirTight ATM1E 2024 power amplifier with only 28 watts/ch of pure valve goodness. There was no need for a line-level pre-amplifier in the system as the power amplifier has attenuator controls that control the volume levels, keeping losses down and retaining sonic purity. The efficient Fischer & Fischer SN470M Speakers with the cabinets made from natural slate and Audience front-row cables complete the system.

How did it sound? Firstly, there was virtually no surface noise from the LP; music simply erupted from a quiet background with finesse and balance. The music the system created was palpable and realistic with tonal colour and texture, detailed in a way that vinyl rarely does and with top-to-bottom smoothness and integrity. Many attendees commented on this room as they departed as one of the best in the show.

HIFI Collective

The team at HiFi Collective were busy showing off new products including the world premiere of the Melco S1 network switch from Japan to provide the cleanest digital interconnect for your system – at full width the Melco had real presence on the HiFi rack. There was a super-tweeter that had just arrived in Australia – albeit supported physically by the large Fyne Vintage Ten loudspeaker with their usual Isoflare (think concentric) driver. Lastly the super-sleek and very new Auralic Aries S1 streaming processor sat next to the (also sleek) recently released S1 Vega DAC.

The rack of equipment was busy but also necessary and logically laid out to provide exemplary sound. Top and tail rack levels supported the source and amplification, the Auralics and the AVM SA6.3 power amplifier. The Melco S1 sat mid-rack and strategically placed above and below the Melco were a number of Plixir power supplies to provide clean DC power to all the sensitive low-level signal components.

The listening room was buzzing and always busy. As people entered, they stopped mid-step to look at the large Vintage Tens and then continued to sit and listen to many, many songs with a grin. After over 30 minutes of listening, I had to pry myself away to hear more rooms for this coverage.

The Fyne's produced true room-filling effortless sound; the bottom end was well-tuned and taut, the mids wafted out, and the top end seamless – you could not pick the transition of the tweeter to super-tweeter. The high-quality front end promoted a signal of low noise and large dynamics that the AVM took a hold of, drive the Fyne's with great control.

Indi Imports

A newcomer but welcome addition to the StereoNET Show, as you walked in, you were greeted by a large wall of German-made Loewe TVs. Presented in various sizes and a range of models, they were in sync, highlighting the stunning natural (European tuned) colours of nature. The Loewe Iconic boasts the world's first phosphor OLED panels made in Germany and a claimed 3,000 nits. Not only does the new technology offer class-leading brightness, but it's also claimed to reduce burn-in issues. It's also easy on the eye, featuring an aluminium and concrete back with custom finishes. Loewe's new Stellar range was also on display for the first time, featuring the same OLED phosphor technology. Available in sizes from 42 to 97", the Stellar range of TVs will be available in Australia in the second quarter of 2025.

Gotham Audio products were a talking point at the show as the launch of this new brand includes a range of subwoofers with carbon fibre cones and multi-channel amplifiers. They were on static display and appeared to be competitively priced. Strangely, Batman and The Joker were seen lurking in the hallways and kindly stopping for photo opportunities. How far away is Gotham City?

The Victoria room featured M&K Sound home cinema speakers and subwoofers with the coveted THX certification. Respected and used by the likes of Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan, M&K Sound is one of these brands that needs little introduction to the home cinema world. Although it has a range of speakers at varying prices, this year, the show focused on what's possible at the more affordable price point, and they certainly did not disappoint! The hotel's general manager even commented on how good it sounded from her office, which was many rooms away!

The 5.2 system consisted of an M&K S150RC for LCR duties and two S150T tripole speakers for surrounds, while two M&K Volkswoofer subs handled the bass. IOATAVX was also present, their seven-channel VAXP1 Seven Channel Amplifier powering the package of M&K speakers, alongside the IOTAXV VX17 17 Channel Processor. Paul Riachi was on hand to demonstrate the gear and answer questions.

Also being used around the rooms were the Magnastar range of high-performance Blu-Ray players, considered by many as the best available. There was a clear acrylic cover on the UDP 900 4K flagship player, which allows a glimpse inside of the high-grade components used, the careful internal layout and the over-the-top build quality justify its place at the top of the tree.

The large Albert room was host to many brands also imported by the Indi Group. Cyrus showed for the first time their 40 Series range, coinciding with the company's 40th anniversary. The range consists of an integrated amplifier, a network streamer, a CD player and an auxiliary high-current power supply. I loved the small form factor and clean backlit glass front panels. Paired with Spendor D7 floor-standing speakers, there was a great synergy; the speakers just disappeared within the soundstage. It was effortless, natural and musical.

The larger Spendor D9.2 floor-standing speakers were used to showcase the differences in amplifiers. Using a Cyrus XR Stream and XR Power Supply as a front end and feeding the Cary Audio SLI-80HS integrated valve amplifier running in pure Class A Triode mode, the sound was big, expansive, effortless, relaxed, and with great tonal colour. Swapping to a Krell K300i solid-state integrated amplifier with the same front end and playing the same song, the music tightened up, became cleaner and more clinically detailed, with the vocal becoming more prominent and very good. Which is better? It depends on what you prefer. A highlight of visiting hi-fi shows is the opportunity to hear numerous systems in quick succession and to be able to define your personal preferences as well as honing your listening skills.

Integrate Unlimited

As good as the big rooms were, there were still plenty of surprises in the Pullman Hotel's corridors and the smaller hotel rooms, often best reflecting many attendees' living spaces. Integrate Unlimited pulled out one of the show's biggest surprises with their new 5.2.2 Mag Theatron Home Cinema System. A recent arrival in Australia, Ukrainian speaker manufacturer MAG Theatron has been producing commercial cinema speakers for 20 years. Like commercial cinema speakers, their home cinema range is designed to bring cinema-like volume levels to the home.

The system consisted of front LCR M8 speakers, M6 surrounds, and dual CS44 Atmos speakers. It was powered by MAG Theatron's amplifiers, and processing was performed via an Anthem AVM-70 processor.

With the Gran Turismo movie, the Mag Theatron system offered a very cinema-like experience with some serious SPL and impact courtesy of two Mag Theatron Hammer 15 subwoofers. It was a very capable performer and excellent value for money - this is a brand worth seeking out for a demonstration.

JayVee Technologies

In the Lake 1 room were the Revival Audio Atalante 5 loudspeakers playing from SPL electronics. Xavier Metzger from SPL was on hand to explain the German company's designs. I loved the refreshing red-coloured fronts and compact dimensions, which make them stand out. The sound was warm, detailed and unstressed and made music sound engaging. Speakers from Amphion and Ascendo were shown as static displays.

Geoffrey Heinzel from Ascendo Immersive Audio visited the show from Germany once again. Overseeing the larger Lake 2 room, people were queued up outside across all three days to watch the 18-minute video presentation with emanating bass notes that could be heard and felt on the 5th floor of the hotel!

Of course, when it comes to deep foundational bass, it's hard not to think of the Grandaddy of infrasonic bass, Ascendo. And in true Ascendo fashion, the German manufacturer didn't do things in half measure! Indeed, the 9.6.17 system featured Ascendo 15 ASC-15PPBE LCR speakers, combining Ascendo 10P and 6P speakers for wide, surround and overhead duties. The Ascendo team also squeezed in sixteen of their 16" pro shallow subwoofers and a 50" Infrasonic subwoofer! The system was powered by Ascendo amplification, and processing was performed by a Storm Audio ISP Elite Mark 3 with Dirac Live ART, which improves bass performance by actively cancelling room modes. With 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, the system created an assault on the senses, with bass that engages the viewer on a whole new level.

As good as the audio was, the visuals were not let down either. The new JVC NZ-900 demonstrated sufficient visual chops to light up a 140" screen. The resulting combination created bright images with superbly accurate colour reproduction and excellent HDR Tone Mapping.

Krix

It's hard to think of a StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show without Krix; this year was no different. The South Aussie manufacturer showcased one of their biggest and baddest (in a good way) rooms to date! Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, it was also a year of firsts for Krix, with their 13.10.8 featuring their new OWX-55 Home Cinema Speakers, prototypes of their K4 Home Cinema Speakers, and six UCX-218 Dual Opposing 18" Infrasonic subwoofers (also prototypes).

Driven by a Trinnov Altitude 32, the system leveraged Trinnov WaveForming technology, eliminating room modes and improving seat-to-seat consistency. And the combination was impressive, to say the least. The opening scenes of A Quiet Place Part 2 were delivered with a ferocity that was heard and felt in every part of the body.

While the sheer spectacle of WaveForming and infrasonic bass were on everyone's lips, the visuals were no less impressive. Combining the Barco Njord, madVR Envy Extreme, and a 180" Screen Innovations Screen created bright, colourful cinematic images. The Park Room's foyer also featured the new MadVR Core Processor.

The demonstration and presentation were of a typically high standard, as we've come to expect from Krix, but this year's execution was easily its best-yet demonstration of what this Aussie success story is truly capable of, and it's nothing short of world-class.

M&G Hoskins

Martin Harding from Acoustic Energy in Gloucestershire (UK) was at hand to show the company's loudspeakers, including the Applause Award-winning Corinium (finished in British Racing Green) which was playing, along with the AE500 stand-mounts. Teamed with the Leema Acoustics Tuscana II integrated amplifier and the Antila CD player, it was a great matching for a very fluid and dynamic sound. I loved that the room wasn't overly packed with gear, allowing the system to be more relevant to a home environment, complete with subtle lighting and pot plants - all of which add to the enjoyment and experience. The system certainly performed with a large soundstage and an even-handed tonal balance.

Magenta Audio

Strategically placed in the Record Fair area, Magenta Audio's expo stand was well-positioned for vinyl lovers. A demonstration and abundance of detail on the Kirmuss Audio vinyl restoration system by its visiting founder, Charles Kirmuss, had people engaged for long periods. Charles demonstrated first-hand how their new, or old, vinyl is potentially compromised from the pressing process, and a solution was on show to reduce or remove the constant 'crackles' and 'pops'.

At one side of the booth, a pair of active Dutch and Dutch speakers were on show, possibly the world's most progressive active speaker brand. With Roon built-in, all you need is AC power and ethernet to connect both speakers and you have total control from your smart device – no other streaming box required. The Dutch and Dutch App is smart, and with room and boundary correction, the limitation of placement is vastly reduced. We'd love to hear these in a normal room at future shows as the market really begins to now embrace active loudspeakers.

At the back of the booth sat a Canor tube phono amplifier on display along with the Swedish designed and built Moon River integrated amplifier. Both of these garnered much attention from visitors, with the wish to listen to both – maybe in 2025.

Masimo Consumer

Spread across two rooms at the show, listeners were spoilt for choice to sit down and load up on new products and great sound. In room one, Bowers & Wilkins fans were gifted a treat with the beautifully finished B&W 805 Signature - oozing class with both physical and sonic beauty, complimented by a pair of B&W DB3D subwoofers. Not to be left behind, the electronics were two brand new Marantz releases featuring the SACD10 Reference SA/CD player and the Model 10 Reference integrated amplifier. Whilst the Marantz units looked less showy than the Signature 805s finish, the mix of carbon fibre and milled metal front panels got people in and then the dual mono integrated amplifier design really started conversations on the electronics.

Talking stopped once the music started, either via silver disc or streaming from a PC. The wall of sound was large – far larger than a relatively small 2-way speaker should be capable of. Loud or soft, the Model 10 Reference integrated navigated the 805s very good dynamic range, a taut bottom end with great frequency extension for their size. The top end was clear and clean, and the integration with the mid-band was very good. Most impressive was the upper bass to lower mid with great tonal texture – instruments sounded articulate, natural and expressive.

Room two displayed the new Denon PMA-3000Ne integrated amplifier as a platform to show its wares, and in the premium silver finish it certainly made a statement. Supported in the digital realm by the Denon DNP-2000Ne network Player, and a Denon DP-3000 Direct Drive Turntable as the analogue source, and mated to a pair of floor-standing Polk R700 3-way loudspeakers.

This system was around $12,500 or $17,000 with the turntable, and the sound was remarkable, with great synergy and was almost impossible to fault. The system rocked and rolled, when required. The bottom end was tight and never overburdened, the mids were clear, and the top end was smooth and controlled across all musical genres. Those Polk speakers worked very well in the room. Overall a great sounding and good value system that was popular with show patrons.

Mcleans Smarter Home Entertainment

Familiar faces at the StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show, walking into the Mcleans' room, you start to relax as you listen to a variety of music genres roll by quickly. Always putting on an excellent example of what can be achieved in small to mid-sized rooms, Mcleans had the DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 loudspeakers angled into the room, and their design was unmistakable - broad-shouldered (wide front baffle), a glowing real-timber finish, a large 10" driver above centre line of the cabinet and a single 1" tweeter. Out of this timber concoction came a sweet, warm and seamless flow of music where the vocals were floating and stirring.

At 96dB efficiency and presenting a nominal 10 Ohm load, the DeVore's are amp-friendly, as experienced by the new First Watt SIT4 amplifier, which drove them with ease. In fact, the First Watt SIT4 stereo power amplifier is rated at 5W/channel and all Class A. If you think that was a mismatch, guess again: the orangutans were full of life and never compressed. A very clean streaming front end consisted of the Innuos Pulse network music player, the Fezz Equinox DAC by Lampizator feeding into the Rogue Audio RP-9 pre-amp.

No frills or tassels here, what appeared as a simple system provided listeners with a broad and deep soundstage - across every seating position - a seriously low noise floor that allowed great recordings to come to life, and punch – the system showed great speed – all whilst bringing a warmth that made you settle in for another couple of tracks.

Melbourne Audio Club

A regular show participant now, the Melbourne Audio Club was capably represented by several of its members. As the oldest continuous audio club in the world, and as a non-Melbournian, the hardcopy newsletter I flicked through was very impressive. Covering local audio club meetings, DIY projects, and a good smattering of music album reviews made it a fascinating read.

With about 130 members and always looking for more, the monthly get-together sees about 40-50 people gather to enjoy a wide array of presentations, from DIY projects to distributor presentations or a musical /genre journey. The Melbourne Audio Club also holds regular smaller musical genre-based meetings in members' houses. Gatherings for music are always a good thing. I was so impressed that I joined up the show. StereoNET supports both the Melbourne and Sydney Audio Clubs, and we strongly urge readers to do the same to ensure the longevity of these essential clubs.

Microphase Audio Design

Microphase Audio Design (MAD) is another long-established Australian manufacturer. With an aim to make the loudspeakers 'disappear', the common product line design theme includes slim cabinets on stand-mount or floor-stand models, with small dome tweeters and compact mid or mid-bass units on the narrow front baffle. New to the 2024 show was the Tower T4 model, using twin mid-bass and also side-firing bass-only drivers.

The Tower T4 has an active bass-only unit with a 150W amplifier (designed by Holton Audio from Tasmania), while the MTM (Mid-Tweeter-Mid) drivers in the upper cabinet are time-aligned and use a passive crossover. They were driven by a brand new Holton Audio One-Zero-One 2x200w Mosfet amp, providing a 1kW reserve of power. It certainly worked together nicely, as heard through a vintage Stellavox SP8 tape recorder - recorded live at the Seymour Centre of the Ephemera Ensemble using two NT55 Rode microphones on new RTM SM911 tapes. The reproduction of the double bass was palpable and sounded life-like.

The set-up was firing unconventionally across the room, whereby the speaker pairings were separated from 1.8 to 4m apart, providing an intimate feeling for listeners as they sat less than 2.5m from the speakers. The 'closer-field' listening position exemplified the Microphase Audio Design concept, where the speakers simply disappeared across much of the frequency band while reproducing great source music. Deceptively, the Tower T4 is not a small speaker. Still, with the narrow front baffle, and especially with grilles on, it would integrate well into a typical Australian listening room.

Minidisc.com.au

As a head-fi enthusiast, watching the Headzones space grow each year has been great to see, and it was bigger than ever this year. Headzones is a collaboration of Australian distributors representing headphone and personal audio brands, coordinated by Sydney's Minidisc.com.au in conjunction with show organisers, StereoNET.

This year, it featured brands such as 64 Audio, Abyss, Audioquest, Auricle Digital, Auris, Bellos Audio, Cayin, Chord Electronics, DCS, Dan Clark Audio, DITA, Earmen, Effect Audio, Elysian Acoustic Labs, Fir Audio, Focal, Hiby, iBasso, Meze, Naim, Sennheiser, Sony, STAX, Symphonium Audio, Ultimate Ears, Unique Melody, Vision Ears and ZMF. So, with my trusty camera in one hand and my Questyle M15 DAC in the other, I got stuck in for some chats and listening samples.

Making a b-Line for the IEM section, I eagerly pestered Lachlan Tseng from Minidisc about what they offered this year. Since last year, a range of new brands have come to the table, including Dita, Symphonium Audio, and Elysium, and all of the pre-existing brands were back to play, too. The IEM section had a neat extension this year, and an entire area was occupied by Effect Audio, who had travelled from Singapore to show off some of the brands they look after. It was one of the busiest sections all day, so it's safe to say it was likely a keen fan favourite of the area.

Lachlan was keen to tell me more about 64 Audio's new planar magnetic offering named "Solo". Solo is so new, in fact, that it didn't even have retail packaging yet. It has (not surprisingly) been a popular item at this year's show. Its semi-open nature is a nice, unique touch, and the distinctive outer shell artwork has a neat dynamic to it. When I gave them a quick burl with "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls, I was immediately reminded of my big, heavy planners back home; I was welcomed with a delightful warm bass without the weight and bulk of their over-ear counterparts. Of course, leaving a listening session without giving the UE18s a spin wouldn't be right. With six drivers and a four-way crossover, this sits near the top of the UE food chain and is a delight to listen to every time.

Moving over to the Radiance AV area, I was greeted with the bright and distinctive LED-lit balls of a new Chord Electronics product. Asking Chris Strom more about it, he was eager to show me that this new stack (the Suzi) is all about choice and modularity; you can swap in your own Chord equipment to enjoy a digital or analog input (even phono, if that's your speed) all the way up to convert it to be a full-blown network streaming stack. At its heart is a ULTIMA-level power amplifier that delivers 30w per channel, with a "choice is king" mentality about its I/O. The usual level of engineering tolerance and precision are here; each Chord unit compatible with Suzi fits snugly into place and looks like it was built all as one unit.

Having recently taken over the distribution of Abyss headphones, there was also a good selection of these amazingly distinct-looking headphones. The Diana DZ headphones made an appearance, as brand new as they come. It's a truly gorgeous headphone; its outer shell features lashings of Abalone. Perhaps surprisingly, it is the lightest headphone Abyss has ever made. Show attendees who were listening to demos made many impressed facial expressions while giving these a crack.

It's always a pleasure seeing the team from Advance Audio, and with a dizzying array of high-end toys to play with, today was no different. Sitting prominently and proudly was the DCS Lina, a high-end DAC, amp, and network streamer that StereoNET reviewed recently. It was one of my favourite products of the year, so I was happy to revisit it paired with the new Dan Clarke E3 closed-back headphones. The E3 signals an interesting departure of the norm from Dan Clarke but with the same tried-and-true favourite features making a comeback. This model offers a closed-back design with a sleek Gorilla Glass 3 cup and a bass port to help shift air in to help move the massive planar-magnetic drivers. Despite being large, bassy, comfortable as all get out, and made of wonderful materials, they are also bizarrely comfortable, and they even fold up tightly to avoid taking up bag space. The E3 is a true marvel of modern technology, and I was miserable to hand it back after my listening session.

I also chatted with Audioquest's Adam Shaw-Cotterill. Adam was excited to walk me through the "critter" line of Audioquest USB items: the Dragonfly Cobalt and the Jitterbug. The former was released in 2019 but is still a strong seller and is a sequel to the world-renowned Dragonfly Red and Black. The latter is an inline USB filter and voltage regulator. Quizzing Adam about the Jitterbug, he likened it to the western ring road around Melbourne; traffic usually flows seamlessly, but if there's a crash or a delay in any one section, it affects the entire traffic flow. This analogy is how he described the use of the Jitterbug; if the USB output on your computer is busy listening to all of the other components in your rig, it's sure to affect your audio traffic flow as well, which he claims the Jitterbug resolves by filtering the signal itself to ensure purity in the digital signal.

Moving to the Audio Marketing section, an array of familiar Stax ear-speakers awaited me. There was a nice selection out front, including the SRL-500MK2, paired with a neat little SRM-D10Mk2 - but it was out the back, in the exclusive new listening area, where the real magic sat. Walled away and available by request only, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the show and sit down with the almighty Stax SRM-T8000 flagship amplifier paired with the SR X9000 ear speakers. To accompany your private listening session was an array of beautifully produced marketing materials and a wonderful rustic Stax advertisement plate.

Heading over to the Sony section, it was wonderful to see three of the famous Signature Series pieces here: the legendary DMP Z1 Walkman, and both over-ear and in-ear versions of the Sony Z1R. The show featured brand new 'phones, the open-backed MDR MV1 and closed-back MDR M1. Squarely aimed at the pro market, these two are not quite a spiritual successor to the almighty Sony MDR 7506 workhorse from the 90s - which is still available for sale, mind you - more of an upgrade path, with features such as removable cables and an updated high-resolution driver. Still intended to be the tried-and-true workhouse like the 7506, these new models will surely be seen in every studio and every film set, just like the 7506 has been for so many decades. These ones are a little fancier and a little more modular, but still offer the tried-and-true robust reliability that the 7506 has been relied upon for decades.

Pitt & Giblin

After seeing Tasmania's Pitt and Giblin at a few StereoNET shows now, their speakers were on the larger side previously. For 2024, its new Falre stand-mounts may have shrunk in physical size, but not acoustic output. To shrink the speaker cabinets, the Flare enclosure houses only the drive units – large enough to get the desired bass response (8" drive unit and rear ported), and as small as possible to mount the high-frequency driver waveguide which provides constant directivity – in fact, the speaker can be flipped 180 degrees if needed with the mid-bass driver on top.

The Flare 'system' includes a small and glamorous chassis that houses the 250W/Ch Class D amplification and DACs, the chassis has digital and analogue inputs if required. A clever design trick is the Flare chassis can be integrated into several home automation control solutions and can be hidden away in a credenza or cupboard, if the bare essentials of the speakers is all that is required to be seen – and heard.

In the listening room, the usual rigid chairs were gone. Instead, there was a 3m long, low lounge you could sink into and feel immediately comfortable in. P&G had applied their usual 'flair' to their space, as they have become known for at each show. Listeners could request tracks and the Bluesound Nano streamed tunes from the Flare system with clarity and commitment. Lows were low, taut and defined. Both the mid-band and the top end were well integrated and presented a life like soundstage. The top end was well-balanced, not forward or bright; the rhythmic cohesion was on show across all genres and tracks. The Flare system includes the speaker cabinets (select from four timber finishes) and the Flare chassis (amplifier with DAC) and a length of speaker cable – just add a source!

Radiance Audio Visual

A single rack of equipment and three pairs of the recently relaunched ProAc speakers to Australia cast a spell on many listeners who entered the room and tried to leave - only to be drawn back to the sound. A Michell Gyro SE turntable sat on top of the equipment rack and fed the Chord Huei phono amplifier. The digital front end of Chord DAC and M Scaler fed the Chord Ultima integrated amplifier. The Chord electronics have a futuristic appearance with glowing-coloured buttons, knobs and chassis icons. The Ultima drove either the ProAc Response DB3 or D2R stand-mounters or D20R floor-stander. As expected, none of the speakers provided any concerns to the Chord integrated; the free-flowing open music radiated effortlessly.

It must be said the ProAc range offers the rare versatility in some models available with either a dome or ribbon tweeter – a nice offer for personal preference. With the D20R playing, the sound was clean, clear and detailed across the band. The bottom-end extension coaxed a few questions from listeners about where the additional bass drivers were housed – a good sign of speaker design and room positioning. The ribbon tweeter was airy and the mid-range always effortless on all music. This was another room you could sit in any listening position and really enjoy every track played with its inviting and open sound.

Richter

Richter is an Australian success story that has been around for almost 40 years. Walking into the room, you were transported back to the brand's hometown of Sydney, where the large graphic of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House served as a reminder of its origin. With Brian Rodgers, MD of Richter, on hand, I was taken through the line-up of 3 models – the stand-mount Merlin, floor-standing Wizard and newly created (re-surfaced) Richter Dragons. Brian discussed his new "6+" range, and the improvement – in technology and sound – over the existing 6 series. The real excitement was with the new Dragon, the first release of that name in 7 years, and it is a special edition to be released shortly.

Across the range, though, listeners were presented with room-filling sound regardless of which speaker was playing. The Wizard 2-way provided a wall of coherent music that teased the top end with detail and nuance and slammed when required the lower octaves. The 3-way Dragon were bigger in all meanings of the word – with a broader soundstage, delving lower in bass response whilst also lithe at the top end. Mid-band was quick and detailed. All up, every Richter speaker pair with a modest Bluesound Node front end sparkled through the Musical Fidelity DAC and amplifier options - the MF 6i or A25 integrated amplifiers. Great sound for a realistic cost. It has to be said that Richter flies a little under the radar but deserves to be celebrated for its value-for-money factor, which you'll find is very hard to beat.

Sound Gallery

Melbourne's Sound Gallery enjoyed two of the largest rooms at the show, which were packed with ultra-high-end equipment that got many visitors' heart rates up. At the ticket desk, many attendees asked how to go directly to the Sound Gallery rooms; they didn't even pass Go or want to collect their $200!

The State 1 room was dominated by Linn Electronics, Nordost auxiliaries and Wilson Audio's The WATT/Puppy loudspeakers. Micheal O'Rourke from Linn demonstrated the system and highlighted the brand-new Linn Klimax Solo 800 mono amplifiers. Listening to Johnny Cash sing "The Sound of Silence" was an incredible experience, with an abundance of texture, soundstage depth and realism. The deeper registers of his voice were reproduced effortlessly and easily the best that this reviewer has heard. Bjorn Bengtsson from Nordost was also at the show, discussing the unique properties of their cabling and the QRT QBASE Reference AC Distribution unit.

In the State 2 room, the industry's best-dressed man, Rune Skov, Sales Director at Gryphon Audio Designs, talked about the new Gryphon Diablo 333 integrated amplifier with trickled-down technology from the Apex. The dCS Lina Streaming DAC and Lina Master Clock was the source, Alister McDonald from dCS was handling a Ring DAC circuit board and explaining the technology inside the Lina DAC. The cabling was Gryphon feeding the amazing Estelon XB MK II floorstanding loudspeakers.

The sound this produced was glorious, full sounding with excellent bass weight and meat on the bones. Yet it was also light, airy, highly detailed and still natural, unfussed at any genre being played and with zero fatigue. The soundstage was massive, filling the large room with its overall size and depth. When the Lina Master Clock was disconnected, there was an audible downgrade of the sound, proving its worth.

The second system on show in the State 2 room was the Ideon Audio - Absolute Stream and Absolute DAC with a CH Precision - I1 integrated Amplifier feeding the Marten Mingus Septet loudspeakers connected with Zensati cabling and Gigawatt power conditioning. The network received special attention via a trio from Silent Angel, a switch, master clock and power supply units. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to hear it in action, but those who did reported the Marten speakers as some of the most resolving and detailed yet entirely transparent speakers at the show. I hope I get the opportunity to hear them next year.

Spectra Flora

Another debut for the show was the brand new Spectra Flora brand, a unique Australian-designed and manufactured loudspeaker. Steve Van Sluyter is the designer and has been working on the design of the Celata 88 for several years. Particular attention was paid to the crossover to blend the driver's frequency range in a tasteful way. It's a three-way with a compression driver within a Dynamic Waveguide for the treble, a single ported magnesium mid-bass driver and features two subwoofer drivers per speaker. They certainly have a unique style and just when you think that all speakers look the same along comes this design.

Using an Audio Research Vacuum Tube Reference 1 Preamp and a Parasound A21 power amplifier, the Spectra Flora Celata 88 loudspeakers showed that every genre and volume level was within its abilities. Steve likes rock music, and these speakers won't disappoint; they deliver more than an adequate level of drive, yet also finesse and composure to allow piano, voices and natural instruments to sound correct and true to life. In room they have an upper mid, lower treble emphasis that is very pleasant and makes the music sound forward and well defined. They convincingly conveyed emotion and feeling from the music which is often rare to find. Visitors to the room just sat and listened to track after track, enjoying what was heard. We look forward to hearing and seeing more from this new Australian brand.

Synergy Audio Visual

There was so much to see at the two Synergy Audio Visual rooms that they were often difficult to enter. First up, the room was dominated by a red pair of Sonus faber Amati G5s and driven by an Audio Research Reference SE Preamplifier and all new pair of Reference 330M Monoblock tube power amplifiers making their Australian debut at the show. The analogue source was a Rega NAIA fitted with an Aphelion 2 cartridge supported by a Rega Aura Phono Pre-Amp.

The digital front end was the two-box Aurender N30SA supported by an Audio Research DAC 9, and everything was connected using Chord Company cables. Phil Sawyer was on hand as a fount of knowledge and with genuine enthusiasm for the brands. The sound was extremely refined and organically palpable. It was unforced with natural sounding dynamics and high levels of grip and athleticism, and a noticeable lack of tension or anything artificial. I really enjoyed the music the system generated. 

Ruark also debuted its new Ruark Sabre R bookshelf speakers and the Ruark R610 Music Console, the first samples in the southern hemisphere.

The second room saw more firsts, with the Sonus faber Sonetto 8 G2 being a show debut paired with a lovely McIntosh stack featuring the MT5 Turntable, an MCT500 CD transport and an MA8950 Integrated Amplifier, which incidentally looked fantastic in the dimly lit room. An Aurender N20 had streaming duties.

What I heard was big and bold, with powerful bass notes and a glorious midrange that highlighted vocals very well and allowed piano notes to jump out of a black background.

Setup across the room was another system with a combination of the Advance Paris A12 Integrated amplifier and X-Stream 9x streamer, with a Mo-Fi Electronics UltraDeck Turntable with an UltraGold MC Cartridge into a Mo-Fi MasterPhono Preamplifier. I was excited to hear that renowned turntable expert and Spiral Groove founder Allen Perkins designed the turntable and tuned the cartridge. This was connected to the debuting Mo-Fi SourcePoint 888 floorstanding loudspeakers with three 8-inch drivers to give its name.

Andrew Jones is the chief designer and it proved to be a good pairing, as the sound was powerful and yet refined at the same time. With a trio of drivers, it easily generates energy and has a lovely fullness and deep extension to the bass that keeps the music interesting, vibrant and fresh. The trumpet of Miles Davis was incredibly revealing and substantial. Steve Shade, a visitor to the show from Mo-Fi Electronics, played some Mo-Fi LPs, including a test pressing from the soon-to-be-released Fleetwood Mac album "Tango in the Night", which was highly detailed and spirited with dead quiet backgrounds and absolutely worth a listen.

Syntec

Heading upstairs to chat with the Syntec team, who distribute Beyerdynamic in Australia, is always a highlight with their extensive range and user-friendly display. Wayne Farran was keen to show the brand new Aventho 300 Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones - a surprising move from Beyerdynamic, as their last attempt at touching something similar was with the Lagoon ANC in 2019.

I gave these new models a quick spin and was shocked at how good the noise cancelling is. Wayne informed me that many headphones of this genre have a single noise-cancelling chip to process both earcups, whereas the Aventho 300 has one for each side. It also packs Dolby Atmos support with head-tracking technology to boot. Neat. The Aventho 300 also has a true wireless sibling, the Amiron 100 and Amiron 300. The latter has LDAC support, only weighs 4.4 grams per unit, and looks sleek and pocketable. I'm looking forward to spending more time with some of these new toys in the future.

Tivoli Hi-Fi

Like many celebrating 50 (or more) years in business in the industry now, it's hard to believe that the iconic Tivoli Hi-Fi shop has also been trading for 50 years - an institution of the Melbourne hi-fi scene. Their room at the show was popular, and the size and shape of the room dictated that running the equipment across the room to the seating position sounded best, which is a stroke of genius; they know a thing or two about how to achieve good sound. The equipment that was featured is Norway's Electrocompaniet electronics paired with the Italian Chario loudspeakers using Transparent Audio cables.

One of the industry's greatest gentlemen, Philippe Luder, was on hand to handle enquiries and explain the equipment. Even after 50 years, his passion, knowledge, and friendly nature are second to none - and no doubt why he's been successful across five decades. What I heard was music playing, full of tonal texture, with impact and life. The room was filled with a large soundstage and free of any fatigue, stress or artificial artifacts.

If you get the chance, seek out a demonstration of both Chario loudspeakers and Electrocompaniet electronics. They're most worthy of discerning music and hi-fi lovers.

Trak Racer

A new addition and perhaps a taste of what we might see more of at future shows, and a highlight for the non-audiophiles were the two F1 racing simulators. The Trak Racer Alpine Racing TRX frames were configured to be ready to use for patrons at the show, complete with sound and a force feedback steering wheel. They were free to use for anyone willing to show off their skills, or lack thereof.

When I climbed in for a session, it was configured for the Melbourne Formula One track (just across the road from the venue!), and I asked for it to be put into automatic gear selection mode to make it easier to use so I wouldn't look quite so amateur. A Formula One car is not easy to drive without experience and some level of skill, and the Trak Racer simulator did its best to assist my progress through the initial getting up-to-speed phase. My son is much better at this than I am. Still, it was very realistic, and it was a whole lot of fun. I have always wanted one of these at home, and they are somewhat affordable now.

Trak Racer is an Australian brand now shipping worldwide and is highly respected globally. Look out for a bigger, more immersive Trak Racer display next year!

Westan

The Westan group had two rooms at the show covering both their AV and two-channel products. You had a 2-for-1 experience in the first room, both seeing and feeling the movie and soundtrack. Utilising the Klipsch Series 8000 surround speaker solution in a 5.2 configuration, with RP-800F II floor-standers up front, 2 RP-1200SW sub-woofers, a RP-504C II centre and the RP-502S II centre-rear speakers, it made a convincing sonic impact on action scenes played through the Onkyo Integra AV amplifier (capable of 11.2 but run as 5.2 at the show) and shown on a Samsung OLED 65" TV.

A neat feature with this AV system was the partnership between Onkyo and Klipsch whereby owners can 'pair' their Klipsch speakers (as preset models) into the Onkyo AV Receiver to optimise the frequency response of the audio configuration. Adding more speakers usually triggers the need for more cabling, but in this instance, the subwoofers were connected wirelessly to the Onkyo which is a neat trick.

The second Westan room focused on 2-channel audio, particularly the pairing of renowned audio companies Focal and Naim. The new Naim Uniti Nova server in PE guise (Power Edition) featured everything you could ask for including pre & power options, 150W of Class D power output into 8 ohms, and a capable DAC fed by the in-built streamer. A step up in power, the Uniti PE answers the request from Naim owners to have more power with features that they were used to or expected. Paired with the Focal Arria Evo X N4, yes, that is a model name mouthful, the Focal 3-way floor-standing speaker was both tall and elegant. The Moss Green cabinet finish was inviting to look at and the leather front finish made you want to touch the speaker more than you should.

A vertical array of drivers under the front grille includes a pair of 8" inch bass drivers handing over to a 6.5" mid-bass and onto an Aluminium/Magnesium 'M dome' (inverted dome) tweeter. The woofer and mid-bass have cones made from flax (as in the plant), and the cone material texture looks impressive, more importantly the sound came across as natural, not mechanised or harsh, with a dollop of warmth added to the music. The soundstage was broad; the timing was fast and well-matched across the drivers. The midrange and highs were clear and clean, and the system provided depth to any musical track. This was another system that was easy to listen to whilst being very engaging and even easier to use via the Naim built-in streamer functionality.

Yamaha

Yamaha is celebrating 70 Years of Hi-Fi in 2024 and celebrated this in style at this year's show. With its vast portfolio of products, as highlighted on a large wall poster, there was plenty to see and hear at the Lake 3 room.

Upfront it was kept simple with only three loudspeakers and three amplifiers to drive them. I sat and listened to the NS-2000A floor standers being fed by the R-N2000A streaming amplifier. Yamaha have been focusing on tonal quality and sonic realism in their recent products and it is paying dividends. The sound was well integrated, harmonious and smooth, with a top end well in control, and a strong bass with excellent extension and control. The music was rhythmically engaging and certainly got my toes tapping to the beat.

Elsewhere in the room there was an array of products released over the course of decades that showcased Yamaha's achievements. It included a pair of NS-10M bookshelf speakers that was first released in 1978 and has since become a cult classic even in the pro audio circles. Two Yamaha engineers travelled from Japan for the event and were happy to chat to visitors.

Wrapping it up for 2024

There's so much to see, hear, and experience at the annual StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show that even three days is often not enough if you want to really look and listen deeply, as many attendees did.

As an industry, shows such as this are an important element. If not just for the opportunity to hear and see products in a 'no-obligation' environment, but for how a show also brings like-minded people together. Many events, get-togethers and catch-ups happen around the show, before, during and afterwards.

It's a chance to meet others in your 'tribe' who understand our love and passion for high-quality music and movie reproduction. It also unites thousands of industry members, local agents, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and those who travel from overseas for such events.

The amount of work and dedication that goes into a show, not just from the organisers themselves but also those participating as exhibitors, will likely never be understood when looking from the outside. For a long time, shows didn't happen in Australia. With your support through participation and attendance, the StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show will continue to prosper as Australia's internationally recognised national show, promoting the industry and celebrating its people and brands.

We can't wait to tell you more about the next show. Until then, get involved in the community in the thriving discussion forums (or, as we like to refer to it, your 'tribe'). For now though, that concludes the show marketing and coverage for this year (we hear you breath a sigh of relief), and we can get back to regular programming!

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