Highlights from the KLIAV 2022 Show

After a 2 year hiatus, the 2022 version of the KLIAV Show was finally held from 28th to 30th of October at the InterContinental Hotel. Let me share the photos I took during my visit to the Show. 

I'd like to start off with, in my opinion, the best discovery from this Show, It was the 2 made-in- Malaysia loudspeaker models from JW Speaker Lab, with their introductory prices set at RM3,699 and RM3,999 respectively. I found them to be of extremely good value with their performance at the Show. They were matched to Bluesound and Kinki amplification. JW Speaker Lab's website - https://www.jwspeakerlab.com/.

  Rather than a bass reflex port, JW Speaker Lab used passive radiators on their loudspeakers instead. 

AV Designs came up with an impactful exhibit for both visual and audio, as usual. Video clip selections from James Tan covered a wide spectrum of materials, ranging from blockbuster action movies to musical concert. The demo was one of the most enjoyment experiences in this Show for me.

An audiophile friend who was with me commented on how solid and well defined the bass was, which i agreed. Given the number of Ascendo subwoofers (5) and their sizes (ranging from 15" to 24") used in this system, such performance was just to be expected.

In this Show, there were also a number of ultra high-end systems which the showgoers got to conveniently savour in one place:

From Centre Circle Audio - Accustic Arts, DS Audio, Aries Cerat, Pilium and the massive Kharma loudspeakers:

From Audio Perfectionist - McIntosh and Borresen:

From DALI APAC and Lenbook Asia - NAD and the new DALI KORE flagship loudspeakers:

There were a few mega halls in this Show where multiple systems were demo'ed in a rotating manner. You'd need to spend perhaps 1-2 hours in the hall to listen to all the systems. 

CMY occupied one of these mega halls, and it was stuffed with multiple highend systems:

Perfect Hi-Fi was also in one of these mega halls, with their main Audio Research, Sonus Faber, Nagra and Vivid product ranges:

These Vivid loudspeakers with their funky shapes and colours attracted quite a bit of attention. I was really interested to listen to them, but my rounds to the Perfect Hi-Fi's room didn't coincide with their demo time, hope I'd have other opportunities to experience them.

Absolute Sound also had multiple systems set up on their hall, here are 2 of them with dCS, Boulder, Neukomm and Stenheim:

Other exhibitors at the Show:

MAXX Audio Visual has its extensive line of JL Audio subwoofers on static display:

YL Audio was producing pretty nice sound from its system:

Hi-Way Laser's ATC SCM100 ASL active loudspeaker was really rocking with rock music:

The Expert Group's Rotel Michi and B&W system:

Style Laser - Esoteric, Dali, Audiolab, Wharfedale:

Creative AV attracted a lot of eyeballs with its darTZeel electronics:

Lenbrook Asia demo'ed with a simple system consisting of Bluesound Powernode Edge all-in-one unit with PSB loudspeakers:

Audio Concept / Audio Art paired the Egglestonworks Kiva loudspeakers with the cost-effective Tonewinner electronics and amplification:

Lu Kang Audio from Taiwan, matched with Musical Fidelity, their loudspeakers was a comfortable listen:

A&L Audio Station's Canor and Acoustic Energy system:

Hoe Huat's KEF galore:

Choy Audio Visual:

Double GT Audio:

The Ultimate Audiophile Reference Test Disc

This test CD, the "Ultimate Audiophile Reference Test Disc", is a Malaysian production by COI Records. The package consists of  2 CDs and an extensively written 20+ page booklet. 

Let's cut to the chase - I found this CD to be of very good value. In addition to the technical aspects of an audiophile test CD, you also get music tracks and HiFi knowledge write-ups. You can find it on Lazada for RM79.90/pc - https://s.lazada.com.my/s.4t9Pt or better still get it from this coming weekend's KLIAV Show 2022 (28/10 - 30/10) at a special price of RM59.90/pc.

The accompanying Guide Book starts off with a list of definitions - on what "HiFi" means, on HiFi terminologies that we audiophiles use to describe aspects of sound performance, and the writer's take on good sound from a HiFi system. There is also good information on how to set up of a system, including speaker positioning and finding the listening sweet spot. It also has an extensive section on room acoustics, which will be very useful for any audiophile who is looking for a primer in this critical area for good sound performance in a listening toom. 

CD 1 is labelled as "Technical" and consists of 99 tracks (click on the track listing to read a higher definition version). You can find further explanations of the content and the purpose of the tracks in the Guide Book. I believe many will find the burn-in track to be useful whenever new equipment or cable is inserted into our system. Another good use I found during my test sessions was the bass tone tracks (20Hz-200Hz, tracks 2 to 13), which could be used to gauge, by ear, the evenness of the bass region in my listening room. 

CD2 is labelled as "Showcase" (click on the track listing to read a higher definition version). It starts off with 8 tracks of various music. Don't expect some simple audiophile-approved music among them like a slow female vocal solo with sparse instrument backing. Rather, almost all of the tracks display wide dynamic range,  fast attack and tonal complexity. If you liked a good challenge, play these tracks and see whether your system would pass muster or not. The CD goes on to provide multiple tracks for you to gauge various aspects of your system's performance, such as soundstage width/depth/height as according to the Guide Book. The last section of the CD showcases recordings of various instrument allowing the listener to learn about the timbre of these instruments. 

All in all, an audiophile will find much use for the CDs and the Guide Book. Recommended. 

More Power For HT! Frank Doepke Cryo 32 Amp MCB & ABL Sursum Cryo 63 Amp ELCB

The MCB box in my HT room, if you zoom in, you'll see the cryo label on the Doepke MCB(in the middle) & ABL Sursum ELCB(on the right side)

When Frankie was in my house to install the Frank PE-35 Ground Loop EMI Filter, I also took the opportunity to ask him to check out my HT MCB box, just to see if there's anything he could do with it. Upon checking, Frankie identified he needed to do 3 things to make it perform better.

First, he said he will have to isolate the actual MCBs powering my AV equipment from the others in the circuit that powers all the other appliances in other parts of the house which includes refrigerator, washing machine, ovens, hot water pumps, and various other stuff. This is to reduce interference between all those said appliances from my AV equipment in the HT room.

Next he'll replace the standard MCBs that I was using for the Audio & Video circuits with Doepke Cryo 32 Amps MCB for cleaner power safety contact point.

Last but not least, he will replace the standard ELCB unit with an ABL Sursum Cryo 63 Amp ELCB unit.  

This box helps Frankie's team of electricians to confirm grounding and circuit connection by flashing lights and a loud beeping sound! It's a great tool

Frankie came back to my place about 2 weeks later, and it took his team of trained electricians about 2 hours to complete the job. Frankie confidently told me to have a better movie time! As soon as he left, I couldn't wait to start my new movie experience.

I played my usual Dolby Atmos reference movies, including San Andreas, yes that earthquake movie, & Unbroken, with lots of American bomber vs Japanese Zero dog fight actions and major sound panning effect in the opening scene. Also played 13 Hours to have fun in all the infantry battle scenes.

I immediately found better separation between the center & the main channels. Dialogue becomes distinct & easier to follow, especially during the noisy scenes, which can easily drown out dialogues in the past. Next thing I noticed was tightened bass grip, where the sub woofers are much more well controlled, less looseness coming from the sub woofer movements, which indirectly contributes to improved macro & micro dynamics, making each gun shot & every bomb blast that much more filled with impact. The surround sound panning effect becomes more distinct & dramatic. All without even resorting to any adjustments on the Denon AVR menu settings.

On the picture front, I see crispier and sharper quality, it's like as if someone did a lens focusing adjustment. Overall, the movie experience is much improved on a visceral level. 

Total cost for the transformation is as follows:

1) 2 units Doepke Cryo 32 Amp MCB = MYR1000

2) 1 unit ABL Sursum Cryo  63 Amp ELCB = MYR850

3) Installation and labor = MYR350

TOTAL COST = MYR2,200

Like my previous Franks PE-35 experience, Frank's power supply products & expertise do bring about genuine sound & picture quality improvement via any audiophile's power supply box. That improvement is usually at least worth while, or in my case worth more than Frankie's asking price. 

Well done Frankie! 

With Power Comes Responsibility, With Cleaner Power Comes Better Sound? FRANK PE-35 GROUND LOOP EMI FILTER

Frank PE-35 Ground Loop EMI Filter

Every once in a while the topic of power supply to my hifi & HT system comes to mind. Questions always arise, if I am doing enough to keep EMI/RFI at bay, from manifesting as some kind of a sonic sludge in my music or movie enjoyment?

Then come Frank, or Frankie as we would call him. Gotta love Frankie as he always has some solution up his sleeves regarding the juice that feeds our audio systems, POWER to tha man!  During the recent Gelombang AV Fest, and we were blowing water so to speak, and he brought out the Frank PE-35 Ground Loop EMI Filter, which is designed to be fitted in to the MCB box of my home.

The Frank PE-35 is devised to sit between your wall electrical grounding outlets (or your main DB Fuse box) feeding your electronic playback equipment with an EMI interference free flow of AC power for the operation of the equipment. The Frank PE-35 is not all theory without substance as it has been thoroughly field tested in its beta phase of development in actual environments where the Frank PE-35 is most likely used in. The results, let’s just say we’ll leave it to your ears and your heart be the judge to that it can do to the overall performance of your cherished AV/Hifi system in your home 

The above paragraph taken from Frank's blog page, see link below if you wanna know more about Frank's other power supply related products: http://frankacoustics.blogspot.com/2013/03/frank-pe-35-ground-loop-emi-filter.html

The wiring schematic with the Frank PE-35 used in your MCB

And sometime after the Gelombang AV Fest, a date was fixed for Frank & his team to come install the Frank PE-35. They first identify the dedicated power line from the MCB that feed my man cave, do some testing to check if the earth in the house and particularly on that line is still effective, if yes then installation can begin. The whole process took a little over an hour and just before Frankie left, he said to me, :"you're gonna be amazed by how the sound of your system will open up!" I thought to my self, "we shall find out!"

I fired up my hifi system, let it idle while I get a shower. Then I went in for a listen and bang!, from the very first track I was amazed with how the sound of the system opened up, just like Frankie said! First thing I noticed was the bass integration. I have a small, sneaky Bose Acoustimas sub woofer modded to sit just behind my throne to provide some bass re-enforcement effect to complement the main speakers, and all these while I believed I had the bass nicely integrated, but with the Frank PE-35 in the works, now I feel it's truly integrated. Only now I realized there were actually still some gaps in the sub woofer to speaker integration prior to this. The Frank PE-35 certainly showed me a thing or two already!

Typical installation of Frank PE-35 inside the MCB box, top left corner in this case

However, that is just the start of the whole she bang of sonic pleasures that came with the Frank PE-35. Next the top to bottom frequency coherence is much improved, highs nicely airy and smooth as baby's butt, that mid range texture is now so nicely evident, lastly, do I still need to mention the bass quality? Yes, I should! While I have described the bass integration, I should also note that the bass now fall back in to the overall sound stage, where everything has it's place within the sphere of space that extends beyond the left, right walls of the room, and far, far behind the speakers but still clearly defined and believable.

In short, while the sonic changes brought by the Frank PE-35 are quantifiable by ear, the wholistic value of music with audiophile values goes up a few notches too! That's the great thing about the Frank PE-35 Ground Loop EMI Filter. I do not know enough electrically to explain to you what it does, but my ears certainly enjoys better musical reproduction now, every time I play my hifi!

Frank PE-35 cost MYR $2300.00/unit with cost of installation included, and for me at least, the sonic value it brings far exceeds the asking price. However as in the nature of products like this calls for a caveat, your experience may differ from mine to varying degrees due to a variety of reasons.