Impressions of The Melbourne HiFi Show 2023

[tripitaka]

Great show, well done to all. 

 

Rooms sounded better on average than I 

recall for past outings. Super-friendly atmosphere for the show overall and generally really lovely room staff.

 

I sort of whizzed through with wifey in tow but was happy to hear a lot of new gear that I hadn't come across before. I liked the imposing Revel/Levinson combo, nice to hear the OAD open baffles, Nirvana room is always good and they had interesting amps this year from Alieno (250w/ch Class A), also enjoyed TAD, Sonus Faber's Serifino, Harbeth, Hulgich, Wilson, also a budget entry ($5K) from MoFi.

Pity the Triangle' s Quatuor 40th weren't wired up when I went through and the Pitt&Giblin room seem to locked when I went past. All in all I was very happy with what I could view in the time I had.

 

Asked after @El Tel and @Mendes at the aftershow get-together down at the bar, but will have to catch up another time.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2023 by tripitaka

[euphonia]

If you're going to the show, make sure you make your way up to the second floor. The Nirvana Sound & Epiphany Audio rooms set the standard for me. I'm probably biased because I have a pair of TAD speakers, but they really are sublime!

 

Other highlights were the Raidhos , the dutch and dutch actives, and the RAAL ribbon headphones. Those things are just a class above...

 

Have fun if you're headed in tomorrow

[Steff]

10 minutes ago, euphonia said:

The Nirvana Sound & Epiphany Audio rooms

 

FYI @Epiphany Audio will not be there on Sunday from what he told me, so room 2208 will be closed.

[pass the bass]

The KEF room (M6) had nice sound coming out of the R3 & R7 Meta speakers, driven with Hegel amplification. What stood out was the clarity of the sound, which is unusual as many exhibits have some degree of distortion, more from room limitations than from the equipment.

 

What I found really interesting, though, was an off-hand demonstration of the effect of MQA through streaming. The exhibitor played a latino jazz piano track, and part way through he switched over to the same track without MQA (semi-blind comparison). I preferred the sound without MQA as it sounded more "in the venue". It made me wonder what all the fuss is about with MQA. The last time I experienced this kind of hi-fi education was hearing the difference that subwoofers do to enhance upper frequencies. I would like to thank all exhibitors, past present and emerging, who engaging in this kind of education for us show-goers.

[Mendes]

18 minutes ago, tripitaka said:

Great show, well done to all. 

 

Rooms sounded better on average than I 

recall for past outings. Super-friendly atmosphere for the show overall and generally really lovely room staff.

 

I sort of whizzed through with wifey in tow but was happy to hear a lot of new gear that I hadn't come across before. I liked the imposing Revel/Levinson combo, nice to hear the OAD open baffles, Nirvana room is always good and they had interesting amps this year from Alieno (250w/ch Class A), also enjoyed TAD, Sonus Faber's Serifino, Harbeth, Hulgich, Wilson, also a budget entry ($5K) from MoFi.

Pity the Triangle' s Quatuor 40th weren't wired up when I went through and the Pitt&Giblin room seem to locked when I went past. All in all I was very happy with what I could view in the time I had.

 

Asked after @El Tel and @Mendes at the aftershow get-together down at the bar, but will have to catch up another time.

 

 

Had to flee and catch up with Mrs.

Now currently drinking

[Luc]

4 minutes ago, Mendes said:

Now currently drinking

Well I never...

[mattd2308]

Went yesterday (Friday) spent over 4 hours there, and still did'nt get to rooms i'd planned to visit. Overall, well presented and everyone was accommodating with any questions or requests.

Standouts for me. Synergy audio with the new Rega Naia TT, those massive Mcintosh Monoblocks and Sonus Faber speakers. Listened to the best version of "Private Investigations" on vinyl, geezuz, sounded very good.  The Triangle speakers with the MF (Musical Fidelity) gear.

Those Gershwin Acoustic speakers in the Lux Audio room, the control, depth and bass of those speakers, (for their size) driven by a 30watt Class A amp. Ian and Ruby were a delight to deal with. 

March Audio, seriously very underrated gear. Those new speakers looked and sounded fantastic. OAD with the open baffle speakers.

Rab and the lads from CAV (Carlton Audio Visual) playing the Yamaha gear,  listened to  "On every street" (Dire Straits) on that brilliant looking TT and sounded fantastic through the NS 5000's.

Overall, enjoyed the day. Well done to Marc and everyone involved.

Edited October 21, 2023 by mattd2308
spelling

[Lysander]

 

Arrived at the show and walked through the swivel door at precisely 11.01 to be greeted by a massive line that went all the way to the first bar. No problem as it moved fairly quickly. Greeted by the same lovely ladies at the counter and went. I first made way to the klipsch cinema demos. part A of the demo did not impress at all, sound was OK although the tube nonsense (my opinion) with those very cheap looking ceiling lights were awful and way too expensive. Part B was better although all at the show (that I saw) tended to use the same extremely over the top film mix on offer. In order to show how good Atmos can sound they need to exercise some restraint and use a much quieter mix for demo work.

Anyway now the rest, highlights for me in no  order.

 

 

The Microphase speakers sounded very big for the size in room 1208, very well made as well.

The Sonos Arc cinema setup in room 1204 sounded suburb and reasonably priced. The two small subs poured massive amounts of bass considering their diminutive size. While the system was designed to be wireless only the two rears were not wired. The sales person admitted it sounds better when wired.

 

 

The Audiovector R6 speakers in room 1303 sounded very good and clean, massive bass output when needed down to 27hz I was told.

The DEQX in room 1203 was impressive although they should have had it first played without the room clarity calibrated and then with, so one could compare. Made here in Sydney Australia > price 20K.

 

 

The Klipsch Heritage speakers had bass for days, pound in your chest bass. One needs a BIGGGGG room for these,  forget about placing these in your 4x4 room, not going to happen. I felt the room provided was a tad small. A track by Ghost Rider called 'Make us stronger' had nightclub levels of  bass was played to excellent affect.

 

 

 

The Copland amp in room M5 sounded vivid with the provided Kudos Audio Titan 707 speakers. Very nice.

 

 

The Gershman Acoustic speakers in room 1202 also sounded lovely especially with its room filling bass. Also voted by me as having the best music playlist of the show. The very friendly couple who ran it was most lovely and Ian the husband was very delighted by my comments on his playlist.

 

 

The SPL gear in room M4 was good as was the gentleman running it.

 

 

Room 1311. I don't understand all the hoopla in general regards Sonus Faber and McIntosh gear sounding fantastic together. To me they sound average, certainly not for the asking price. My opinion.

 

Other comments:

Yamaha gear in room Lake 3 is always good value.

Dutch and Dutch 8c Active 2-Way Monitors in room M7 were good value at 2.5K per set.

The music played for the most part was far superior to shows in the past. Of course there were the rooms that still persisted with the 'audiophile' cliche stuff.

The 'Maggies' are sublime with mid-range although if you want super dynamic sound move on. Good music played in this room.

Nearly all rooms had streaming as their source for music. A few turntables on use although many merely for show. I believe the top in interest with turntables may be behind us. Streaming is the future......for many of us.

The MIni-Disc headphone area was totally fantastic. I will be sending them an email thanking them for making a tremendous effort. I finally got to try the ZMF caldera and HiBy R6 Pro II (Gen 2). Amazing sound quality. Almost bought one.

Osborn speakers was absent I did email him and was told that he will be tampering down from now on, show wise.

People still talking loudly behind you while you're trying to audition gear.

I missed out on Audio Note gear in room 2209. I went twice to a full room and then forgot to return....damn.

I missed out on the TAD speakers in room 2208.

The new Lumin P1 and U2 mini and X1 gear is always impressive.

 

Things I did not like. Not having sufficient funds to buy some of that juicy gear on show and the terrible coffee I had from the coffee stand at the back.

Overall I had I good time.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2023 by Lysander

[Demondes]

44 minutes ago, euphonia said:

If you're going to the show, make sure you make your way up to the second floor. The Nirvana Sound & Epiphany Audio rooms set the standard for me. I'm probably biased because I have a pair of TAD speakers, but they really are sublime!

 

Other highlights were the Raidhos , the dutch and dutch actives, and the RAAL ribbon headphones. Those things are just a class above...

 

Have fun if you're headed in tomorrow

The Dutch and Dutch sounded great with the right music.  I heard a Metallica Track (enter sandman) that was unlistenable. Whilst I understand a poor recording is not the fault of the playback devices.   It got Me thinking along the lines of some speakers sounded great but too much for long listening sessions.

 

[Darryl]

Thanks for the pics to those posting them

I won’t be there but I appreciate living vicariously through others

[amey01]

Enjoyed the exhibits.

 

The show was somewhat spoilt though - the "Pratt factor" was much higher than normal this year. 

 

The number of self-entitled, uningratiating, uncouth peasants: 

* Being pushy

* Talking while there was music playing - sometimes at length for extended periods of time

* Standing in front of speakers playing

* Being overbearing and taking control of the music

* Taking control of the volume level and making other demands

* etc - and generally just treating everyone else with contempt

---was extraordinary this year. 

 

So if I have any feedback, it is that the organisers really should provide some simple training to exhibitors on how to deal with these situations in a respectful but professional manner. The show would be more enjoyable for exhibitors and attendees alike. 

 

It's nice that the show is relaxed and people can make requests, etc - but when "relaxed" is taken advantage of (by a very small but highly impinging cohort) then it unfortunately makes it less enjoyable for the majority. 

 

 

 

 

[Jehuty]

On 20/10/2023 at 8:15 PM, noddyc43 said:

Audionote

Wow, Audio Note UK field coil speakers! Years in development and they are finally here! Gorgeous veneer too! 

 

Thanks for sharing!

[RankStranger]

6 hours ago, Thunder_Snake said:

Lots of mentions of other brand’s “unveiling,” “launching” or “debut” of new equipment at the show in the home page of the AV show forum, but no mention of Audio Note’s new Field Coil speakers until I come here.
I wonder why?  

 

I spent more time in the AN room than anywhere else, including most of the last hour. Easily the best sound of the show for me (although, honourable mention to the AudioVector/Vitus/Ayon room) and the gent presenting (names are not my strong suit) was a delight and the source of some great music recos

 

i don’t have any experience with the prior AN drivers but the field coils sounded incredible - authority and easeful depth that supported without overwhelming the rest of the sound. I immediately went home and googled what Audio Note products I could afford to get me started, which was none, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 
 

without singling-out anything particular, many of the rooms left me a bit cold this year, even (especially?) the megabuck ones. Everything was very technically "impressive" (ok not everything) but I was left with the sense that I had heard everything and felt nothing. Maybe it’s just me and my evolving taste (or lack of it).  

Edited October 21, 2023 by RankStranger

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Thunder_Snake said:

Lots of mentions of other brand’s “unveiling,” “launching” or “debut” of new equipment at the show in the home page of the AV show forum, but no mention of Audio Note’s new Field Coil speakers until I come here.
I wonder why?  

 

For absolutely no other reason than no press release was received. 

[Mendes]

So, my two cents….

Best Room… Audio Note, by a fair bit.

 

Nice work Mr Fletcher 

 

Then really liked 

DacMan Room 

Bill McLeans room

And Lux Audio with the really cool int amp’ and great front end.

 

 

Sorry, no pics

Edited October 21, 2023 by Mendes
.

[Mendes]

8 hours ago, Mendes said:

So, my two cents….

Best Room… Audio Note, by a fair bit.

 

Nice work Mr Fletcher 

 

Then really liked 

DacMan Room 

Bill McLeans room

And Lux Audio with the really cool int amp’ and great front end.

 

 

Sorry, no pics

And the open baffle speakers were great also… OAD?

Edited October 21, 2023 by Mendes
.

[Jehuty]

44 minutes ago, RankStranger said:

I spent more time in the AN room than anywhere else, including most of the last hour. Easily the best sound of the show for me (although, honourable mention to the AudioVector/Vitus/Ayon room) and the gent presenting (names are not my strong suit) was a delight and the source of some great music recos

 

i don’t have any experience with the prior AN drivers but the field coils sounded incredible - authority and easeful depth that supported without overwhelming the rest of the sound. I immediately went home and googled what Audio Note products I could afford to get me started, which was none, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 
 

without singling-out anything particular, many of the rooms left me a bit cold this year, even (especially?) the megabuck ones. Everything was very technically "impressive" (ok not everything) but I was left with the sense that I had heard everything and felt nothing. Maybe it’s just me and my evolving taste (or lack of it).  

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the field coil speakers. In my hifi show experiences, Audio Note room is always one of the best, if not the best, in show. And yes, I always enjoyed listening session with Bryan as he got great musical taste and collection.

 

Just goes to show you how well designed their speakers and system are where majority of those supposedly technically excellent system fail short....and then blame the room 

 

FYI, your experience mirrors mine so it's definitely not your lacking per se.

[RankStranger]

5 minutes ago, Jehuty said:

Bryan

thanks  

[Mendes]

He is the Guru 

 

️

[Addicted to music]

51 minutes ago, Marc said:

For absolutely no other reason than no press release was received. 

shock and awe surprise maybe?

[Mendes]

2 minutes ago, Addicted to music said:

shock and awe surprise maybe?

Is that you Peter?

[Addicted to music]

1 minute ago, Mendes said:

Is that you Peter?

yes

[Mendes]

8 hours ago, Addicted to music said:

yes

We met with Clive today.

 

Nice to meet you

Edited October 21, 2023 by Mendes
Spelling

[Addicted to music]

3 minutes ago, Mendes said:

We met with Clive today.

 

Nice to merry you

that’s the beauty being at this show,  I had fun meeting members here and also had some fun in listening rooms…..  too bad I had to leave,  got there at 12:00 and had to go at 2:00pm, had to pick the boss up!!!!
one thing I learnt today was that Dan D’ Agostino  uses Onsemi for output devices……

 

The other highlight was to meet some of the reps that have made the effort to be there from all over the globe and listened what they have to say about there products…..  The struggle that D’Agostino with supplies on 1ohm resistors during COVID wasn’t a surprise,  we are still suffering to this day on products……

[Keith_W]

Overall, I thought that the standard of the demonstrations has been improving over the years. Most of the demonstrations in earlier SNA shows in the same hotel sounded between bad to horrible with a few "good" demonstrations. This year, the standard was much higher with nearly all the rooms sounding decent. I was surprised to see that 1/4 of the rooms had some form of digital room correction, and nearly all the rooms had strategies to cope with acoustics - from setting up the system diagonally (Tivoli Audio) to various forms of room treatment and bass absorption. Well done to the exhibitors! 

 

Surprise of the show for me: the Krix room. When I walked in, I saw a giant screen and a sound bar with nobody in the room except the exhibitors. I was about to walk out when the guy convinced me to sit down. I thought it was impolite to walk out, so I let him demonstrate. So it turns out the sound bar is effectively three bookshelf speakers turned on its side and built into a "sound bar", with 2 surround speakers and 2 subwoofers. I was totally unprepared to be as impressed as I was by the size of the sound and how effectively Dolby Atmos was able to create an immersive atmosphere. It's a great party trick. 

 

2nd surprise of the show: Audio Note. I was fully prepared to hate them because of my previous prejudice against Audio Note, but I was surprised that they actually sounded good. Not horrible, not average, but actually GOOD. Well done. 

 

Best demos of the show: there were so many that I am finding it difficult to pick just one. So I will nominate: Dali, KEF R3 Meta, the DEQX room, March, and Wilson-Benesch. 

 

Worst sound of the show: may not be PC of me to name it but there was one clear loser. Hint, it was near the front, it was a large room with large speakers, and it was almost always empty when I walked past - so other people must have thought the same as me. 

 

Dislikes: all rooms which required appointments to be made. I did not go to a single one. 

 

Most unbelievable: Alieno amplifiers. 300B, output transformerless, output capacitorless, single ended, AND able to produce 250W of Class A by "modulating the current" of a solid state amplifier? I have never heard of such a thing, I wouldn't expect a 300B SET to put out more than 8W. Nor would I expect a 250W Class A amp to occupy such a small chassis without massive heat fins. However, it was in the same room as Wilson-Benesch and Doehmann turntables and it sounded amazing. I just don't believe the claims about amplifier topology, but the result was really good.