HIFI PIG’S FIRST REPORT FROM THE FANTASTIC AUDIO VIDEO SHOW WARSAW 2022

After what seems like a lifetime, we were delighted to be back in Warsaw, Poland for the Warsaw Audio Video Show with Adam Mokrzycki and his team.

Adam and co have grown the Audio Video Show into what is undoubtedly one of the highlights in the HiFi Show Diary and one that HiFi Pig very much looks forward to attending. The organisation is fantastic, visitors are enthusiastic, and the exhibitors come from all over the world to attend this huge event; in 2022 there were more than 170 rooms spread across the Golden Tulip and Sobieski hotels and the National Stadium and it is now the second largest show of its kind in Europe.

Before we start I would like to thank Adam and his wonderful team, the staff at the Sobieski hotel for making us feel so welcome, all the waiters and waitresses we had so much fun and wonderful service from, the exhibitors from all over the world that work so hard to make their rooms as good as they can be, and of course all the fantastic people who attended what has to be the most enjoyable large scale audio show in Europe at the moment.

The show started with a press conference and then throughout the weekend there were talks, lectures, and musical performances with a whole host of people, but, as always, it was our intention to get on with the job of getting around the show, take loads of photographs and to find out what’s new and what’s great in the world of audio. It’s no mean feat and we had planned our visit with as much precision as we could possibly muster. Like Munich or any other show for that matter, Audio Video Show Warsaw isn’t an event you can hope just to turn up to and manage to see everything there is to see. Planning is the key and the show’s website proved to be a huge help in letting us know what was where.

For those that haven’t been to Warsaw then I can highly recommend it. Its people are incredibly friendly, it has an international vibe, there are loads of bars and restaurants, and everything seems to cost a lot less than at home; a taxi ride of around half an hour from the airport is a little over ten euros!

So without further ado, here is the first part of what we saw at the show….

Please note, all content and photos are the copyright of HiFi Pig Magazine/Big Pig Media LLP and must not be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior, written consent of HiFi Pig/Big Pig Media.

JPLAY

JPLAY were playing the following digital front-ended system with YG Acoustic loudspeakers: XACT S1 Music Server (€10, 500). APL DSD-MR SE DAC (€49,000), M12 Switch GOLD (€4,500), JCAT  OPTIMO 3 DUO PSU (€4,500), JCAT Signature LAN (€1,400), SPEC RPA-MG1000 AMPS (€60,000). SIN PSD -7 FFO (€6,000), AUDIO REPLAS CPC-43 9 (€1500) and AUDIO REPLASOPT-GR-SS (€1500).

Launching at the show were the new music server XACT S1 and the new JPLAY app which works with their own server and other servers.

SZEMIS AUDIO KONSULTANT

This room was full of Kondo, including the ONGAKU amp, and Audio Note UK turntable, which was itself sporting the latest Kondo IOXP cartridge.

The speakers are made by Szemis Audio and are based on the original SNELL A design which the company has researched and built from scratch. They are 93dB sensitive without bass-reflex with the goal of being totally transparent to allow the electronics to do their thing.

This is a mega-dosh system but far from just playing plink-plonky jazz, this system did a great job of playing Wildfire Featuring Little Dragon.

FALCON ACOUSTICS

Jerry and Graham from the UK’s Falcon were playing the new Falcon M50, from the new M range, with the Mofi VK 56se turntable vk80 tube phono.

The 3-way vented M50 (12 795) design features the proprietary Falcon B139 bass unit, twin Falcon B110 midrange units, and the 25mm ‘M’ range custom soft dome tweeter. The M50, which is also available in natural Walnut veneer (Rosewood as a special option), will deliver articulate full-range fidelity. EXCELLENT sound.

Static display of M10 (£2395) speakers. The 2-way vented M10 model features a 5” Falcon B110 bass unit, which exclusively replicates the original KEF B110 used by the classic LS3/5a monitor, and a 25mm ‘M’ range custom soft dome tweeter made to Falcon specification by SEAS. Available in natural Walnut veneer (with Rosewood as a special option), the compact M10 will supply the signature sound of a classic British 2-way speaker. Not wholly different to a 5A but with extended bass response. These will be massively popular!!!

8MM AUDIOLAB

They were using 8mm Audiolab PIU MKII loudspeakers which have a horn-loaded tweeter cost €20,000 and Rada electronics in the room were made up of the Precious valve monoblocks 2x €10,000, the Precious phonostage at €7,000, and the Precious preamplifier at €5000. They were also using a Sikora turntable and arm. The J.Sikora Initial turntable and Kv12 tonearm cost €16,800, the Aidas Trustone Goldweb phono cartridge is €5000.

This was a nicely treated room and sounded very easy going and effortless. Very nice through the mid-band with vocals sounding clear and natural.

CLOSER ACOUSTICS

Using the little OGY speaker which we reviewed here along with the Closer Provocateur Signature (SLOTI 99K)300B amplifier. The preamplifier is a Flow by CLOSER.

Played ups Miles Davis Kind of Blue. These really are a much bigger sounding loudspeaker than their size would suggest and the amplifier clearly works well with them.

Turntable is a LENCO L75 modified by CLOSER.

PEINE BRZMIENIE STUDIO HI-END (ART)

Using the ART new Emotion 10 loudspeakers (£16K) which was making its debut. SEAS Alnico tweeters, 10 inch driver made of Nextel coated paper. The speakers are made of 24 mm ply that is glued together and then routed out into shapes for the speakers. There is also a version of the speaker with a diamond tweeter. The front is made of Richlite which is essentially a paper product coated in resin. Conductor pre and 211 monos by ART.

AUDIO ANATOMY

One of two rooms by Audio Anatomy and this one used AudioFlight electronics along with the AUDES Maestro 146 speakers. Also in the room were a new speaker in the form of the SHUBI Suave.

AUDIO ANATOMY

Audio Anatomy’s next room had the  GERMAN PHYSIKS HRS-130 which features the brand’s DDD driver, it has a  wide frequency range, 220Hz to 24kHz and no crossover point in the mid-range. The German Physiks Emperor integrated amplifier delivers 300W into 8 ohms, 600W into 4 ohms and nearly 1,000W into 2 ohms, both channels driven. In the room but not playing were a pair of UBSOUND Multico ML68 speakers.

When we walked in this room was playing a little loud and over energising the room but it was brought back a notch and sounded pretty good.  I’d really like to hear this system in a bigger room!

NAUTILUS

This room had the Circle Labs P300 preamplifier and M300 power amplifiers in monoblock mode along with a Transrotor La Roccia turntable with an Analog Relax EX 300 cartridge. Speakers were the Dynaudio Confidence 50. Played us Thomas Newman’s Dead Already. All sounded really nice but quite a lot of talking most of the time. However, this was a VERY nice sounding system that was played at good but not excessive volume to good effect.

AUDIOMAGIC

The amp here was the TONE WINNER AD -2 Pro integrated at 13, 900 PLN. The speakers were an interesting design by FINAL AUDIO in the form of the 15 HG (87,900PLN). Other electronics in the room were also by TONE WINNER.

Full system: Final Audio 15, Final Audio Model 7 Hybrid, With ToneWinner AD1Pre, AD-1A, CD TY-50 and AD-2PRO integrated amp, Volumio RIVO streamer.

Tellurium Q cables were used throughout in this system with Statement speaker cables.

This was a really nice-sounding room that was, unfortunately, let down by problems with the WiFi dropping out.

AUDIO PHONIQUE

All the system was by AUDIO PHONIQUE, a new brand to me from, Warsaw, Poland. The system is from the STATEMENT line and the amps are €80K a pair; they certainly look the part in their chromed finish.

Q21

Buchardt s400 speakers with Audiolab OMNIA was a real-world set up.

WK AUDIO

The Western Electric E91 was making the noise in this room though the main attraction were the WK AUDIO cables. Difficult to hear over the guy in the door speaking loudly.

POPORI ACOUTICS / 72 AUDIO

POPORI ACOUSTICS ELECTROSTATIC SPEAKERS are a new Hungarian brand and come in standard colours of white, red or black with white front and back planes, other colours and patterns are available on request.

The full audio band is reproduced by an ultra-thin foil stretched between electrostatically charged insulated wires. No dynamic drivers and no subwoofers are used in their design. They cost €43K but there are a smaller pair for  €12,800.

Playing opera when we went in the room and through the mids they are a very natural sounding loudspeaker in this room, though I think they were playing them a bit loud for the room.

The front end was by 71 Audio with an interesting 14” tonearm costing €3200, though a 12” version is available. The phono pre is €1400 and the power amplifier is €3600.

AUDIO NOTE UK

How refreshing to hear a brand play Iron Man by Sabbath at a show. Sounded great; not too loud and not too quiet – just right for a room this size and sort of what you would expect for a room at home.   System was an Audio Note Cobra amp with DAC with the AN K speakers.

Please note, all content and photos are the copyright of HiFi Pig Magazine/Big Pig Media LLP and must not be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior, written consent of HiFi Pig/Big Pig Media.

Read the first report here!

Read the second report here!

Read the third report here!

Read the fourth report here!

Read the fifth report here!