EXPLORING THE BEST OF THE TAIWAN PERSONAL AUDIO FAIR

The Taiwan Personal Audio Fair, a biannual event, serves as a vibrant hub for Taiwan’s thriving Headfi community. HiFi PiG’s Gyula finds out what it’s all about.

The Taiwan Personal Audio Fair or TPAF, traditionally held in Taipei during the autumn season in addition to expanding to Kaohsiung or Taichung for its Spring edition, is an iconic event for audiophiles and enthusiasts across the island. Find out all about what was on offer at the show in our Taiwan Personal Audio Fair 2023 Report.

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.

TAIWAN PERSONAL AUDIO FAIR 2023 REPORT

The event drew a diverse range of brands from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and the United States, with a remarkable turnout of 71 exhibitors. The exhibition featured a captivating blend of innovation and established excellence, with local distributors showcasing major brands and new competitors showcasing prototypes.

The presence of consumer electronics giants such as Sony, Denon, and Edifier underlined the event’s broad appeal, while high-end luminaries such as Audeze, Abyss, Eleven Audio, Hifiman and Focal elevated the experience by providing firsthand encounters with their flagship offerings.

HEADFI AND PORTABLE AUDIO

Headphones and IEMs took centre stage, providing attendees with an overwhelming number of options. The air was buzzing with the exploration of various cables, Digital Audio Players (DAPs), and dongle DACs. I found myself navigating the world of wireless audio options in search of the ideal all-around wireless headphones for my office setup.

I began my exploration at the Austrian Audio table, eager to try out their headphones.  I began with the Hi-X25BT Bluetooth headphones, which impressed me with their comfortable design, light weight, and pleasant sound. While the passive noise cancellation was on the light side, it felt justified given the headphone’s featherweight construction. It struck me as an ideal companion for peaceful settings, providing a pleasing balance of comfort and delightful sound.

Then I tried out the highly regarded Hi-X60, a closed-back studio headphone known for its linear sound signature. The Hi-X60’s exceptional build quality and comfort quickly won me over, creating a sensory experience I’d be happy to live with.

Fortunately for the audience, Taiwan Access, the distributor, was able to demonstrate the brand new sample of Austrian Audio’s latest masterpiece—the Composer flagship headphone. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions for open-back listening, the Composer quickly became a must-listen on my list.

The next stop was at the Audio Linked table, which was full of activity with IEMs, DAPs, and DACs. Here, I encountered the Nostalgia Audio Tesseract, a USD $3700 flagship IEM with 10BA and six electrostatic drivers. Its solid construction and harmonious sound set it apart. The Tesseract created a lovely sound when paired with the Lotoo PAW S2 dongle DAC-Amp.

I also listened the Goldplanar GL2000 open-back planar headphones together with the Lotoo Mjolnir—an all-in-one portable audio powerhouse. With its touchscreen, various output options, and sturdy build, the Mjolnir exuded a cool retro geek vibe. It delivered an impressive sonic experience combined with the Goldplanar. Especially the Goldplanar headphones are very good value for the money!

My next stop was Salvation Audio, a local cable specialist founded in 2021 by an enthusiast. They focus on excellent sounding cables while also putting a lot of effort into cable design. They suggested I try their flagship OCC copper cable with the Hakugei Starry Night IEM, which is also the owner’s preferred combination.

XI Audio recently made a big announcement – they’re changing their name to Eleven Audio. The switch is meant to better match the pronunciation of their name, as many people, including me, used to call them “Xi” due to their Taiwanese origins. The rebranding signifies a fresh chapter for the company, and I was thrilled to get a firsthand look at their new identity during the event. The decision to change their name not only makes things clearer but also suggests some exciting changes in store for Eleven Audio.

Teaming up with Legato, a local high-end audio specialist, Eleven Audio orchestrated an exquisite analogue setup. The ensemble included the Thales TTT-C turntable with Simplicity II tonearm and EMT HSD006 cartridge, HSE Referenceline7 phonostage with an external power supply, Eleven Audio Formula S headphone amplifier with Powerman power supply, and the showstopper—Abyss AB1266 Phi TC Audiophile Reference Headphone with JPS Cabling.

Their listening space, complete with a lovely carpet and a comfortable sofa, promised an elevated auditory experience, and boy, did they deliver. The brand’s founder, Shiny Chang, revealed that the Abyss Diana MR, which was making its Asian debut, was also available for auditions. The new Diana MR’s aesthetics and sonic profile were enchanting; I found it even more appealing than the Diana TC!

Sony and Audeze made a significant appearance, marking their first major show locally since the much-talked-about merger. Interestingly, they opted for separate booths, and Audeze went all out with three tables, showcasing their complete product line, from Maxwell to LCD-5s. The demo was quite a spectacle, featuring Arriba Audio’s recently launched HA1 and HA5 tube amplifiers, expertly crafted by the Taiwanese tube amplifier specialist. The Audeze LCD-XC closed-back headphone was my choice for the trial, and the synergy with the amplifiers, particularly the HA5, was delightful. To my delight, I had the opportunity to firsthand experience the Maxwells, understanding the hype surrounding them, and I ended up preordering a pair for my office setup.

Yamaha’s adjacent booth showcased their latest flagship combo, the HA-L7A amp and the YH-5000SE. I couldn’t wait for my turn because the setup drew a lot of attention. The same thing happened at the Hifiman stand, where they had a lineup with DC Luna, and also at STAX, and Esoteric.

One of the most surprising discoveries at the show for me was the Edifier STAX S3 Spirit, a pair of closed-back, planar wireless headphones. Delivered in an elegant package with two cushions, these lightweight headphones boast a delightful sound profile, sans ANC. I personally see the absence of ANC as an advantage for audiophile listening. After some thorough comparisons between the Edifier and the Maxwell, I ultimately opted for the Maxwell due to its bigger size and better passive noise cancellation.

Carrying on, I explored the new wireless offerings from Shure, the Aonic 50 mk2, and the KEF MU7. Both headsets impressed me, with the Shure delivering a more effective noise cancellation performance than the KEF and it has an excellent manual switch for different ANC levels. The KEF, on the other hand, offered a tad more comfort and a slightly warmer sound signature, which aligns better with my preferences.

I also paid a visit to oBravo [Oh, Bravo], a well-known Taiwanese producer. Due to their popularity among the audience, I was unable to fully explore their offerings this time. The good news is that we intend to reconnect at the Taipei International Audio Show in two weeks. Keep an eye out for more information in my upcoming report!

As the show came to a close, Rossi and Wing invited me to check out their inaugural IEM, “First Light.” This stunning addition to the Celestisium series, which has been in the works for a decade, features a 10mm Reared Electrostatic-Dynamic Driver and 6 DBAA per side, promising an unparalleled audio journey. It is a fashionable flagship with a proprietary crossover system and stylish replaceable faceplate options. When paired with the Sony DMP-Z1, the sound experience was nothing short of fantastic.

You can browse the image gallery for the report, to see a pic in more detail, click to enlarge

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.

To find your next HiFi Show to visit, check out the HiFi PiG HiFi Diary here

Gyula Weeber