International HiFi Show, Melbourne - Impressions

[Red MacKay]

Many thanks to Marc and Vanessa for an awesome weekend!

 

 

To my knowledge there was not a glitch anywhere and all the presenters I talked with, were saying great things about the Show, not a negative anywhere.

 

I spent all three days at the Show from almost opening time, to well after closing time on all days. (don't tell Marc)  Here are my impressions...

 

 

The Number 1 standout room, audibly and clearly light years ahead of all others -The TELOS Room.

 

Crazy Con was a man on a mission, in complete control of the remote control, he was King of all proceedings!  This room was his show and he was in familiar territory, his serfs obeying his every utterance.

To the sound, WOW!!!  The new Doehmann TT was simply excellent, but then they rolled out the tape on a 40yr + old R2R machine.  I ask - just how have we audio officiando' been hood winked so completely by the marketing machine, re this supposed 'progress' of the digital era? ??

At 15 inches/ sec, I experienced Led Zepplin like never even imagined before.  It was astonishing, a real treat - and I dislike Led Zepplin!  How can that happen?  Well, it was just so dam good!  After 10 min, Con turned off the tape.   He bellowed, "What now boys?"  "More, we want more of that," was the common cry" from us, the great unwashed.  With a smirk on his face, maybe it was a grin like a cheshire cat, he again turned on the Studer and cranked up the SPL level to boot.  It was like throwing meat scraps to a pack of starving hyenas!  Oh yes, Con just loved it, theatre in motion, superbly pulled off.  Then more tape, Louis Armstrong doing 'St James Infirmary'.  I thought Louis died 40 years back, well no!  I swear he was in the room with us!!!  Oh yes, it truly was that good.  We then had some Frank Zappa, another muso I dislike.   Again, just stunning!!!  From that we went back to some Deano 12" 45rpm style on the Doehmann TT and were not disappointed - this was the real deal.  The Epsilon gear was impeccable, I simply cannot fault any of it in any regard. (except I can't afford it, but hey, that's what dreams and hifi shows are for.)

 

Real music with not a dud played in this room at varying SPL levels for the 2hrs I was there.  The commoradorie and banter with Con was just brilliant and I personally found this a really friendly room.  SUPERB

 

Equal second-

-the Studio Connections Room and Warwick' PMG Room.  I love my valve gear and these two rooms had not a tube to be found, all SS.

Much care was taken in both rooms and the music selections were thought out.  I was particularly impressed with the quality of the recordings sourced by Brian Zolder for the Bricasti demos.  Careful room treatment really helped with this room too.  I found the build quality of the Bricasti gear to be awesome from the first time I spotted the M1 DAC three years back.  Those M28 amps had head room in spades too, very tasty...  They remind me of a pair of ML 33H monos I borrowed 2 years back, still the best sound I have ever had in my music room.  This system was completely distortion free and I had no listener fatigue whatsoever as we travelled the roller coaster that is Rimsky-Korsikoffs Scheherazade at over 90dB levels.  The Tidal speakers punched well above their weight as well.

 

The Gauder Acoustics in the PMG Room were very similiar to the Tidals, employing almost identical Accuton ceramic drivers.  While the Accuton driver derived speakers are not quite my preferred choice, they performed beautifully and I can in no way whatsoever criticize them, they delivered.  Real music was played in this room too, alternately from the AirForce TT and then from the Antipodes Server.

 

Fourth - the Audio Note Room.   I always love the ease of the AN Room at all of the audio shows they have attended.  Although AN was a late starter for this Show, I was very pleased (and relieved!) to find Bryan would be attending and yet again he did not disappoint with his presentation of quirky and downright weird musical selections that capture your attention.  OK, so some were just too left field for an idiot like me to absorb.  But yes, absolutely refeshing!  All delivered with just 6.5 magical watts.  It could only be a more pleasurable experience if Bryan could be convinced to turn up the wick a bit more and a bit more often.  

 

The "surprise" of the Show for me - Mary.  I caught a couple of her sets on Sat arvo in the SNA Lounge.  A beautiful delivery of her songs in trying conditions, she did a great job and her effort at caring for her craft was very evident.  A nice addition to our Show, great vision Marc.  It still discourages me to find that a live performance through a rubbish PA can so easily eclipse the replay of our carefully selected audio treasures.  Hate that!

 

I got to have a rummage through the room full of vinyl at the Fair and found some new treasures contained within the many crates ans so left some notes there.  I also spent many hours catching up with familiar faces and comparing notes re the different exhibitors and names to faces of several fellow SNAers.  It was great to see so many that had made the effort to attend from interstate.

 

Many thanks to all the Exhibitors for coming to the Show!  At great financial expense they drag all their expensive wares into a 'hostile audio environ' that is a hotel room.  They set up their gear in such conditions in a small time window and present it for our complete examination.  Well Done to everyone for your time and effort!

 

So what weekend do I need to lock in for next year?

[Cookies]

I really liked the $300k Raidho's, the receptionist lady reserved the best seats for us (the two middle seats at the back) and the Raidho's sounded amazing - as they should when costing half a house!

 

The Atmos demo afterwards was dreadfully deafening and left my ears sensitive for the rest of the weekend, it's still a bit sensitive today I hope it's not permanent hearing damage!   It's put me off Atmos completely, as I now just psychologically associate the word "Atmos" with this traumatic experience. I still much prefer Seaton Sound to their $100k Atmos demo, I've played the Seatons at 0dB before and it sounded clearer and more pleasing.

 

My favourite rooms were JBL, Tidal and KEF. Audiotrends was nice when they were showing the Quads (first time I've heard them). Telos was nice but I've heard too many speakers of the same design. I was really looking forward to Wyndham's new speakers but was disappointed. I was really looking forward to Lenehans but was disappointed, they sounded great but not to my hyped up levels, maybe if I didn't go with such high expectations I would've enjoyed them more. And as usual, I always go for a listen at the Osborn room as people always praise them as one of the best sounding rooms at the show, but it's been disappointing every year.

 

There were nobody checking the tickets, so it's all about honesty.

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, I also liked the free food in Melody's room

Edited July 3, 2016 by Jackula

[Luc]

Diametrically opposed to the above view 're the Osborne room.

I think Greg was still fiddling with the small details on Sat when I was there with Sir Eggnog and we left acknowledging the lovely finish on the speakers and the competitive pricing of them and indeed his amps but were underwhelmed by the sound.

No such niggles yesterday when Sierra, cretin and I sat down and listened to possibly the best sound we'd heard.

Marvelous stuff. If I could reproduce that in my room I'd be very happy indeed.

[Bass13]

+1

To be honest ....I enjoyed the sound of the Osborne's too...

imo, they sounded great.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Bass13

[Candyflip]

I know nothing about Hi-end audio, so I'll just say that the Melody room sounded great to me while I was in there briefly on the Sunday for 5 minutes, sitting front and center by myself, listening to some classical music which was pretty damn nice. Filled me with warm feelings. Not a fan of the genre, so that's an achievement in itself.

 

Else I was surrounded by friendly SNA faces all weekend in the vinyl room. Nice ta meet ch'all.  

 

I thought Mark did an incredible job and, most importantly, was already listening, noting and making changes for the next show - the mark of a true successful businessman who doesn't pretend that he knows it all already. The Record Fair will be 10 x better whenever the next show presents, and we're all behind you in that.

[Cookies]

Diametrically opposed to the above view 're the Osborne room.

I think Greg was still fiddling with the small details on Sat when I was there with Sir Eggnog and we left acknowledging the lovely finish on the speakers and the competitive pricing of them and indeed his amps but were underwhelmed by the sound.

No such niggles yesterday when Sierra, cretin and I sat down and listened to possibly the best sound we'd heard.

Marvelous stuff. If I could reproduce that in my room I'd be very happy indeed.

 

I visited them on Saturday, as you said, it was underwhelming.

 

Maybe I should consider getting the Sunday tickets for the upcoming Chester show to give them another go...

[betty boop]

I visited them on Saturday, as you said, it was underwhelming.

 

Maybe I should consider getting the Sunday tickets for the upcoming Chester show to give them another go...

 

 

for osborne?, jees if in victoria why would you wait if actually serious to check them out. greg probably happy to let you hear them at a mutually arranged time ? probably in better more homely surrounds as well.

[Cookies]

for osborne?, jees if in victoria why would you wait if actually serious to check them out. greg probably happy to let you hear them at a mutually arranged time ? probably in better more homely surrounds as well.

 

Greg's house is a long drive, going to Chester is more convenient.

 

Did check out the speakers at Greg's house a few years ago. They sounded good but still preferred the overall presentation of my PMC. I know Greg uses a lot of Focal drivers in his speakers, I've never really been a big fan of Focal myself maybe that's why I can't get into his speakers.

[Guest yamaha_man]

for osborne?, jees if in victoria why would you wait if actually serious to check them out. greg probably happy to let you hear them at a mutually arranged time ? probably in better more homely surrounds as well.

 

I've heard them in both environments, they are not for me but their finish is to die for.

[Krispy Audio]

I visited them on Saturday, as you said, it was underwhelming.

 

Maybe I should consider getting the Sunday tickets for the upcoming Chester show to give them another go...

Sunday is always the best day so good idea. The system is the most settled, exhibitors have tweaked more, and we have a better idea of what music works well in the rooms that are otherwise unknown to us.

From the perspective that most don't see, I have to add that logistics for this show were outstanding as well. If not planned well it can be an absolute nightmare so this is very much appreciated. Great show!

[Juicester]

Sunday is always the best day so good idea. The system is the most settled, exhibitors have tweaked more, and we have a better idea of what music works well in the rooms that are otherwise unknown to us.

From the perspective that most don't see, I have to add that logistics for this show were outstanding as well. If not planned well it can be an absolute nightmare so this is very much appreciated. Great show!

I saw you floating around but you looked too busy to chat!

 

IMHO the best experience i had (not necessarily best system, but the system, track playing and position I managed to sit in all aligned) was in the Lenehan room with the ML2 reference. Now considering you can pick these up for around $4k second hand (from what I've seen) - the sound was superb. Obviously it was connected to probably about $50K of PS Audio stuff, but still; I think the room treatments paid dividends. Really enjoyed it.

 

Also, thought the Harbeths and AudioNotes were sound fine. The FIIO room was so bad it wasn't funny.

 

The TIDAL speakers just annoyed me because they are such a bad copy of Marten speakers - where is the designer's creativity and influence?! 

[Jarrod Harrison]

Firstly - Thanks to the organisers for putting together this event. I can't imagine the work that went into this and I'm truly thankful. I'm sure you will learn from this experience. I REALLY hope that it all happens again next year!!!

 

If it was my event knowing what I know now I would consider the following...

 

1. More accessories for sale if possible. I would have loved to take away a souvenir bit of kit. Things like interconnects or spikes or isoloators. really anything that would go on a mere mortals credit card.

2. if you can achieve more accessories then put them in between the speaker/amp rooms to isolate some of the bleeding of sound.

3. Please run it for 3 full days. Many had to travel and we couldn't set aside the whole weekend (unfortunately) and we were disappointed to not get to the record fair.

4. If you could find a hotel with slightly bigger rooms...

5. Faster Wi-Fi for the exhibitors

 

 

To the exhibitors

1. THANKS SOOOOO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS EVENT COME TO LIFE!!!!!

1. Please no more acoustic guitar or weird folk music. I wanted to moved physically and emotionally.

2. Not all of us are 100% ofay with the equipment on display. Perhaps spend 2 minutes explaining what we are listening to. I think that short scheduled listening sessions would be more effective rather than random drop ins. Perhaps every 15 minutes would be regular enough. 10 minutes of music and 3 of questions / comments.

3. Get your tech sorted. Several of you had issues with streaming. Not sure if it was the facilities or if you were having internal issues. 

 

 

To the punters

1. If you need to talk, please go outside to the hall.

2. Be polite and say thanks to the exhibitors. They are really trying hard and this type of event is very taxing. I saw some quite rude behaviour.
 

 

Just my thoughts and whatever happens next time I'll be there again.

 

Thanks

Jarrod

[joz]

Like many here,the sounds I heard varied enormously.

So because I attended all three days I could give each room multiple visits and guess what?

Each time things sounded different , sometimes better sometimes worse.

Depending on the volume , track selection and of course chatter ( was evil in every room?)

My favourite was the Radhio room not only because of the speakers but they controlled the audience as far as chit chat went.

It was also nice that a few played my tracks of usb, yep I didn't like many of their tunes.(oh well)

I found pretty much every system had things to offer but sometimes the conditions were less than forgiving.

As mentioned before if you want to hear any of this gear at full potential better to follow the exhibitors up and audition away from the crowds.

Then of course what more could be said of the social aspect, great catching up with the old and also meeting the new and interstate guys. I really love a chat hehe!

But a big congrats to Marc with an event well done and better than I had experienced previously.

[klackto]

Flew to Melbourne Saturday morning and attended both days on the weekend and have to say show was a great success.

Drew much larger crowds than the show I attended in Sydney in 2012 and generally there was a friendly, upbeat vibe.

Agree with everything Red ( who it was a pleasure to meet in the Audio Note room) said about the Telos room .... kept going back and overall would have spent at least a couple of hours in there. The Studer R2R was a revelation .... I have NEVER heard Led Zeppelin sound like that ... I remarked to Con that his was the only room at the show that made want to get up and play air guitar.

Also have to mention the Audionote room which was like a little oasis of calm and I spent a fair amount of time there.

Other rooms I liked were the Wyndham and also Pure Audio Project ... Ze'ev was very friendly host and I liked the Voxativ trios

which I think would have been an order of magnitude better in a bigger room where one could sit further back from the speakers.

I thought the PMG system sounded great, especially with vinyl and I was also really impressed with the Lenehan ML2s.

Mike did remark that they did have trouble getting them to sound right so others may not have had the same impression but to me they were stunning at the time I went in.

I was really disappointed with the big JBL Everests in the Melody room. I really wanted to like them and went back several times but they were played way too loud and they sounded really overblown and larger than life. Naturally recorded vocals sounded like you were somewhere like Wembley arena with sound cranked through a huge pa.

Now while I loved the show, the real highlight of my trip was going to Hamer hall on Saturday night and seeing Sir Andrew Davis conducting Mahler 6.

Anyway, back home now and sitting here listening to my pressing of Led Zeppelin II while I type this (yeah, I know, had to do it) and while it doesn't have the palpability and impact I heard in the Telos room I still had to put the iPad down a couple of times in order to play a bit of air guitar.🙂

Edited July 4, 2016 by klackto

[blybo]

Sunday is always the best day so good idea. The system is the most settled, exhibitors have tweaked more, and we have a better idea of what music works well in the rooms that are otherwise unknown to us.

From the perspective that most don't see, I have to add that logistics for this show were outstanding as well. If not planned well it can be an absolute nightmare so this is very much appreciated. Great show!

 

Agreed Cam (Nice to meet you despite being a bit dusty early on Sunday). I found every room I visited on Sunday (apart from the Melody room) sounded great, whereas a few were disappointing on Friday. I was wondering on the drive home whether electronics can take a day or 2 to "settle"in to new environs, not sure that's what you meant or just that exhibitors found better speaker locations etc.

 

My left ear was still sore late last night after hearing the Chinese drums demo in the Melody room around 10:30am. Almost everybody I spoke to thought the demo's in there were dreadful, such a disappointment for what should have been a highlight. I read a few had good experiences, so perhaps they just need to drop the Db's significantly and play "music"

[mattd2308]

Interesting comments from everyone, I'm guilty of probably playing/requesting stuff that may not have been to everyone's ears. (I had Agnes Obel ...Aventine and Fuel to Fire) Sounded the best on the Osborne Eclipses and the i93's. (The finish on the VAF range look stunning, Osbornes aren't to shabby either) Would have liked to hear some of the Wyndham Audio gear, but forgot to go back.

Looked for CDP's in the B&W and  Bricasti rooms but they were only streaming. Requested  "School"- Supertramp. "Sorry, don't have it "  ...Arghh!  Stupid me didn't think to ask if they could stream Agnes!!!

Was able to enjoy the company of the Richter staff, (within my budget). John had a copy of Supertramp's  "Crisis, What Crisis". Audiophile copy.. I said  "I've got the same copy". John goes "I'll put it on"........Sounded fantastic with their Medusa valve amp and their

Harlequin floorstanders. The bass they produce far outweighs their size. Played on an RP6.....and at good volume.

As some have stated the KEF speakers didn't do the o'l "if i win lotto I'd consider these" impression. Look the business i must admit.

The Lenehan's sounded very good for a standmount speaker....as they should for $12,000 !!!!  But lack bass...obvious really, however Agnes did sound pretty impressive. The PSaudio gear looked nice and exxy!

The Bricasti and AVM gear look imposing and the Melody valve amps....well if price is no issue, (definitely not portable, didn't realize valve amps could be made that big) They played an ear bleeding track of japanese/chinese drummers, which incidentally is off an Usher promotion CD, which i grabbed at the one of the shows, some years ago. I remember because you don't need much volume to have it VERY LOUD!!!

Which bring me to JBL...... yes they will go loud, however ive yet to hear anything that grabs my attention. Remind me of just huge PA speakers hanging from a gantry in a cluster at the Tennis Centre. 

This is just an opinion. If updating speakers down the track.... they will be Australian.

Overall a great effort from everyone involved, yes, seemed to be more people there than other shows run by the other crowd.

Well done.

Matt

[Lazz]

Wondering were there any Acoustic Arts amplification or Vitus Audio on dem'.

[Juicester]

Wondering were there any Acoustic Arts amplification or Vitus Audio on dem'.

Couldn't speak for AA but didn't see Vitus anywhere. Don't think Absolute Hi End was at the show (probably not Boris' thing).

[Tony M]

A Vitus transport was in use in the big Raidho room.

[Saxon Hall]

Not really that keen on Snake Oil. Having an Italian Heritage I prefer a good old fashioned Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Anyway.

That was a mighty effort Marc.

I suspect that Marc is not reading this as he is probably catching up on about 6 months worth of sleep.

[Jarrod Harrison]

What I learned from listening on the Friday is that room correction is the key.

 

The best sounding equipment (to my ears) were the Magnepan with room correction and the Hansens which also had room correction.

 

Incredibly as I was walking to the Magnepan room I thought that there was live music being performed in the foyer. Just amazing for the price, but I just can't get around needing the extra bass modules.

[Happy]

What I learned from listening on the Friday is that room correction is the key.

 

The best sounding equipment (to my ears) were the Magnepan with room correction and the Hansens which also had room correction.

 

Incredibly as I was walking to the Magnepan room I thought that there was live music being performed in the foyer. Just amazing for the price, but I just can't get around needing the extra bass modules.

 

did you get to hear the maggies without the DEQX? what was the difference if so?

[TFJ100]

What I learned from listening on the Friday is that room correction is the key.

 

The best sounding equipment (to my ears) were the Magnepan with room correction and the Hansens which also had room correction.

 

Incredibly as I was walking to the Magnepan room I thought that there was live music being performed in the foyer. Just amazing for the price, but I just can't get around needing the extra bass modules.

 

Interesting to hear that the Hansens had room correction. They were my favourite speaker in my visit (although I didn't hear everything).

 

Can you tell me how it was being provided? I didn't notice anything. The amps were called Violalabs. I notice when I look at their website, that they have an external crossover which is adjustable...is that what you were referring to?

[Jarrod Harrison]

There was a slender black pole between the electronics and the right hand speaker. I asked him what it was and he said it was room correction but I didn't get the brand.

They were also one of my fav's. Probably the Maggies were better in their special way.

[Guest guru]

There was a slender black pole between the electronics and the right hand speaker. I asked him what it was and he said it was room correction but I didn't get the brand.

They were also one of my fav's. Probably the Maggies were better in their special way.

Check synergistic research for the room correction specs.