TAIWAN’S HIGH-END AUDIO SHOW 2023 REPORT PART TWO

Here is the second Taiwan TAA High-End Audio Show 2023 report from HiFi PiG, as Gyula covers the top two floors of the show at the Taipei Grand Hotel.

NO PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE COPIED IN ANY FORM. THIS INCLUDES WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH ARE THE PROPERTY OF HiFi PiG AND BIG PIG MEDIA.

For part one of the Taiwan TAA Audio Show Report 2023 click here

THIRD FLOOR

301  尚馬 (Project, Tone Factory, Level 10)

This room introduced a somewhat confusing setup, with a new Upstage 360 omnidirectional wireless speaker and a Project T1 Bluetooth turntable.

303 文鴻 (Canton)

Canton focused more on the home cinema enthusiast with their setup. They introduced the Canton Smart Amp 5.1 G2 with the Vento 80 and Townus 90 speakers.

305 文鴻 (Kharma, Boulder, Franc Audio, Brinkmann)

Another from my top list, the brands occupied two rooms with impressive setups. The larger room provided us with the rare opportunity to listen to the stunning Kharma Enigma Veyron V4 speakers. They used Boulder electronics, which included the tough 2150 mono power amplifiers (1000W peak power, 8 OHMS in class A), the 2110 preamplifier, and the 2108 Phono preamp. The source was the Brinkmann Bardo turntable with the Pi cartridge. The room had great sound and a very comfortable atmosphere.

Another of my personal favourites was their smaller system in the next room, which was well designed and focused on the essentials with the great Boulder 866 amplifier and the Kharma Elegance dB7 speakers. Probably due to the moderate size of the speaker, a lot of visitors skipped this room, to my advantage, so I could just sit and enjoy the setup. I recognised the effort put in to make the space not only sound good but also look cosy and private.

306 傑富音響 (dCS, Magico, Soulution, Taiko Audio, IsoTek, CMS, Tara Labs)

They set up two systems to showcase the Magico speaker’s abilities. The first room had the new Magico S3 speaker with Taiko SGM Extreme music server, dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC, and Soulution 725 preamp and 711 power amplifier. They used IsoTek V5 Titan and V5 Aquarius power conditioners and a variety of TaraLabs cables.

The other system was built with the Magico S1MKII speakers, the Soulution 525 and 511 amplifiers, the dCS Bartók DAC and Lina masterclock, and the Taiko SGM music server. The cables were TaraLabs The One’s.

307 天樂 (Divini Audio)

A reputable Taiwanese audio manufacturer best known for their cables but also for producing high-quality speakers. During the show, they debuted their first active speaker, the Classical LCR-A, which can be used individually or in stereo. They also displayed their nicely designed cables.

308 迎家 (Luxman)

The main attraction in the room was to introduce the updated M-10x flagship power amplifier from Luxman. They used the CL-38uc vacuum tube control amplifier and the D-10x SACD player with the ELAC Concentro S 509 speakers.

309 全真 (Allmusic)

Interesting setup from the Taiwanese tube amplifier manufacturer. They used big ATC SCM100 speakers (88 dB) with their Lion power amplifier, with four 5687 tubes per side and only 18 W of power output.

310 迎家 (Wharfedale, NAD, Audiolab)

This room introduced some great recent releases, with the whole line of new Audiolab products available for display. They mostly played the Elysian 4 floorstanders, with the NAD M33 serving as a streaming preamplifier and the M23 as a stereo power amplifier. They also brought the fresh Dovedale standmount speakers, which only arrived a couple of weeks ahead of the exhibition.

312 集雅社 (KEF, SONY)

314 富禮韻 (Isoacoustic, Amphion)

It was an excellent demonstration that helped real customers. They installed a Naim Uniti Nova as an all-in-one (AIO) and two sets of Amphion Argon 1 speakers, one pair with Isoacoustic Aperta antivibration feet and the other without. They paid attention to getting the height correct as well. And with a remote controller, visitors could hear the difference between the different pairs. I bought my set of Gaia’s last year thanks to a very similar review at this exhibition.

315 索耳 (Sower)

A local amplifier producer with an interesting design philosophy. They make amplifiers without internal voltage regulators, and all of their products are mono-integrated amplifiers. They had some really nice equipment set up in the room, including Rockport Aria speakers, a TEAC UD-701n streaming DAC, and a pair of SA90M amplifiers (with 20 pairs of MOSFETs).

316 仩益 (ELAC)

There were a few other rooms with ELAC speakers, but it was in this room that they debuted their flagship speaker, the Concentro, as well as its smallest counterpart, the Concentro S 503. They used the Linear Acoustics LA150.2 and LA400 power amplifiers and a Linear Acoustic LA V120 Integrated amplifier as the preamplifier. The analogue chain was the EAR 324 Phono and the E.A.T. Forte S turntable with Jo N° 8 MC Cartridge. The digital source was the Lindemann Musicbook Source II. They used a TAOC rack.

It was a very nice-sounding room, and I liked the Linear Acoustic design, but there were surprisingly few details available about it. As far as I can tell, they are manufactured in Taiwan, so I am on the lookout for more information about them.

317 台企行 (SME)

This room didn’t have a demo setup, but they displayed multiple SME turntables, notably the Model 12, the Synergy, and the Model 6. They also had Nitty Gritty 2.5Fi and Loricraft PRC6i vinyl cleaners.

319 台音 (Magnetar, Audionet, Piega)

The Magnatar UDP900 UHD Blueray player was supposed to be the main attraction of this room, but they only introduced its audio qualities with an impressive setup. The Piega COAX 711 speaker was paired with Audionet Heisenberg power amps and a Stern preamp. They displayed an open-case version of the UDP900.

320 集雅社 (LG, Cabasse, B&O)

Cabasse debuted the large Pearl Peregrina in a very impressive room last year, which I had missed. This year, they were in a more multimedia-focused room with LG televisions and B&O products. The smallest of their Pearl lines, the Akoya still provided room-filling sound, and it was just great to look at.

322 理查 (Bypass, Mighty Audio)

The two brands are owned by the same person and primarily cater to the Karaoke audience. It was nice that they collaborated with a local coffee roaster, who prepared really high-quality Geisha coffee and provided free tastings to visitors. They were popular among returning visitors who needed to refuel between auditions.

323 卡本特 (Vienna Acoustics, Descartes, Synthesis, Amphion)

The Taiwanese electronics company prepared with their own Descartes JC-226S preamplifier and JC86B power amplifier, Vienna Acoustic Beethovern Concert Grand and Amphion speakers, an Arcam ST60 network streamer, and some live musicians. They were performing live music in tandem with the digital recordings.

324, 326 飛揚 (LA Audio)

A Taiwanese local brand specialising in tube audio and offering a wide range of products at very reasonable prices They had a large selection of products for listening, ranging from standalone speaker setups to headphone rigs. During my visit, the A-60R integrated amplifier was paired with their flagship Monarch speakers and the Pro-2 CD player.

327 歐美 (Triangle, Nuprime, AIM)

Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th Anniversary Edition, Nuprime Evo Two monoblocks, Evo DAC 2 Dac and preamp, and CDT-10 CD transport I just sat there and listened for a while, as the sound was so captivating.

328 進音坊 (Lansche Audio, Octave Acoustics)

Lansche is another speaker manufacturer I met for the first time at the show. They have a unique technology called the Corona plasma tweeter, which uses an 8-mm quartz cell to allow it to be used at lower frequencies while maintaining higher-frequency output up to 150 kHz! The system was powered by Pass Labs XA160.8 Monoblocks, the Octave HP700 preamp, the Auralic Aries G2 network transport, and the Vega G2.2 DAC.

329 笙凱 (Tidal, Lampizator, Telos, Vimberg, Absolare)

Tidal has created an impressive piano-black system. The Tidal Arkas network player, Intra power amplifier, and Preos-D preamp were used with the Piano and Contriva G2 speakers. They demonstrated Telos’ Earth Grounding Monster and Monster power station, as well as Lampizator products and a second system with Vimberg and Absolare Pre-power setup.

330, 332 鹿港 (Lu Kang, Musical Fidelity, Métronome, Kojo, SAEC)

Lu Kang is a Taiwanese speaker manufacturer and distributor. They are the distributors for Musical Fidelity, Métronome, Lector, and other brands. In the larger room, their Spoey 230 FS (srp £7800) was paired with a Musical Fidelity M8S preamplifier and M8S 500s power amplifier, as well as a Métronome AQWO2 CD player. In the smaller room, the Spoey 200 used a Musical Fidelity M8Xi integrated amplifier, a Métronome Le Player 4 CD player, an MF M6x DAC, and an MF MX-Stream. They used SAEC cables and Kojo powerline distributions.

331 華克 (Ray-Audio)

Ray Audio is a well-known manufacturer of tube amplifiers. They offer a diverse range of products, ranging from power conditioners to DACs. The Stenheim Alumine 5 speakers were used to introduce their KT150 fully balanced PP power amplifiers with their fully balanced tube preamplifier. A Mytek Brooklyn Bridge served as the streamer.

334, 336 谷津 (DA&T)

DA&T is a Taiwanese audio company that produces high-end amplifiers. Their K422 integrated amplifier is a truly unique design, with a separate class A and class D power amplifier stage, allowing users to bi-amp their speaker with this one-box solution. They introduce two new products at this show: the K221 is a class-D integrated amplifier with DAC and Bluetooth, and the K200 is a switchable mono-stereo balanced power amplifier. They used all three amplifiers in their smaller room, with the three-way Linn Majik speakers, the K221 as the preamplifier, the K422 class-A segment for the high frequencies, the class-D segment for the midrange, and the K200 for the bass. They had a really well-controlled sound, and their price range is reasonable. In the other room, they used their DSP-controlled active speaker, which was interconnected in stereo with two pairs of Xi-51 and Xi-82 speakers. Both rooms have an unusual setup, demonstrating their unique and innovative approach to audio.

335 笙凱 (Penaudio, Leben, Acoustic Revive, Perreaux, Lampizator)

Together with the Leben CS-600X, the Penaudio Alba Lumi, and the Lampizator Baltic 4 Dac, they unveiled a great sound. What was even more intriguing was the service they introduced, which allows you to rent specific setups for your own use at a reasonable monthly cost. It is a great idea; for example, the Perreaux SR35 speakers with the 80i amplifier and iFi Zen Blue DAC setup in Taiwan would cost around £8300, but you can live with that setup for £123 per month. Great deal!

338, 340, 348 音寶 ( Focal, Naim)

The renowned French-English team set up two rooms. One of the rooms debuted the Focal Stella Evo, which was powered by the Naim Statement NAP S1 and NAC S1, the ND555 network player with the 555 PS power supply, and the Naim Solstice turntable. The power conditioner, cables, and speaker cables (Odin 2) were all made by Nordost. Since the entire system cost more than £400,000, they installed a less expensive system in the other room. Including the Kanta No. 2 speakers, the anniversary Nait 50 integrated, the Uniti Core, and the CD 5Si CD player with Nordost cabling. Although the setup looked quite out of place with the huge speaker and the tiny amplifier, they played nicely together. They had a dedicated room for the car audio equipment as well.

339 唐竹 (SB Acoustics, Elikit, WATTGATE, ETI research)

SB Acoustics was a new name to me as well, and they debuted their speakers and speaker kits at the show. They are a Danish-Indonesian collaboration, and the speakers they introduced have excellent sound quality. The room was designed for DIY audio enthusiasts, with the Elekit TU-8900E 300B power amplifier and TU-8550N preamplifier; the Marantz SACD-30n serving as the source; and the SBA Arya, a beautifully crafted 2.5-way speaker. They also offered Duelund and Jensen capacitors and parts.

342 恰順 (Vifa)

They introduced a handsome selection of portable Bluetooth speakers.

343 卡本特 (Amphion)

I was looking forward to hearing Amphion’s new flagship speaker, the Krypton3X, but they did not bring it. The Argon 7LS and Argon 1 were on display, along with a T+A PA1100E integrated amplifier, an Auralic Vega G2.1 Streamer, a Melco S10 Switch, an I-O Data Soundgenic Audio server, a Telos Grounding Noise reducer, and an IsoTek Aquarius power conditioner.

345 風格 ( Gauder Akustik, Restek)

Gauder Akustik, a lesser-known (in Taiwan)  German manufacturer, introduced the impressive Arcona 80 Mk2 speakers, along with the new Restek EPAL integrated amplifier, Radion 4 CD player, and Highfidelity cables.

346 勝旗 (Esoteric, Tannoy)

The Esoteric-Tannoy room greeted the visitor with a very classy setup. The Kensington speakers and ST-300 super tweeters were playing in front of an impressive, newly announced Esoteric 05 setup. The system included the S-05 class-A power amplifier, the N-05XD network DAC preamp, the G-05 master clock, and the K-05 SACD player.

347 卡門 (Mark Levinson, Revel, Arcam, Gallo, Hegel)

This room was jam-packed with a wide range of unique and intriguing products. The main system consisted of Revel F226Be speakers, a Mark Levinson No. 5101 CD player, and a Mark Levinson No. 5802 integrated amplifier. The event also saw the debut of the innovative Hegel P30-H30 configuration as well as the new Arcam SA series. A small Gallo Acoustics Micro-Arcam Uno setup adorns the side, providing yet another enticing audio experience.

350 勝旗 (Avantgarde, Esoteric, Teac, Stax)

Esoteric debuted their entire Grandioso line using Avantgarde Duo GT speakers.

The Esoteric stack included a Grandioso T1 turntable with an Ikeda Sound Lab 9 TS MC cartridge and an external power supply, an S1X stereo power amplifier, a D1X monoblock D/A converter, a G1X master clock generator, the C1X solo preamplifier, a PS1 power supply, and a K1X Super Audio CD player. In addition, they used the E-02 Phono preamplifier and the N-03T network transport. Very impressive and high-end setup, with an overall value of £380k.

Moving on to the second room, a dedicated STAX setup for headphone listening awaited, and the impressive Tannoy Turnberry speaker was present alongside a showcase of TEAC products. The TEAC Reference 700 and 500 series were on display, but they were not connected, so listening was not possible.

351 尼威特 (Neotech)

Neotech, a well-known and respected cable manufacturer, took advantage of their home turf, offering a wide range of products as well as enticing discounts.

353 名傑 (Fiesta, Klipsch)

Fiesta is a successful Taiwanese company known for its Karaoke products as well as being a distributor for Klipsch products. During the event, they used the Klipsch RP-600M II and RP-6000F speakers to showcase their main products, the impressive Fiesta Karaoke Mixer and the Dynastar amplifier.

356 勝旗 (Vivid, DartZeel, Esoteric)

The room featured an impressive audio experience with top-tier gear, including the Viva Giya G1S speakers, which are renowned for their exceptional performance. The Dartzeel NHB-18NS 042 preamp and NHB-468 mono power amp added unrivaled precision to the setup. Esoteric’s premium components, such as the K-01XD CD player, the N-01XD streaming DAC, and the Grandioso G1X master clock, elevated the audio journey. With a total cost of over £380,000, this setup truly represented High-End Audio.

FOURTH FLOOR

401 笙偉 (S8 Audio labs, Voxativ)

S8 Audiolab is a local project that specialises in custom tube amplification and distributes transformers and Voxativ drivers. They brought their 275a triod direct-heated single-ended amplifier with 2W of power (£6900 with an external power supply) and the 45 triode amplifier in bamboo housing. The speaker is a do-it-yourself project based on the Nelson Pass design, and it features a Voxative full-range driver and an active 15″ bass driver. The sources were the legendary Nagra VI Red and a Studer A816 tape recorder. The sound was mellow and very enjoyable. It was an inspiring experience to listen to, especially with the tape recording.

402 鴻盛 (Jadis, JBL, SPL)

Equipment in the room included a Tascam CD-RW901 MK2 recorder, a Mutec MC3+ USB Master clock and USB interface, the SPL Mercury Mastering D/A converter, their DMC Mastering console, an Amphion Argon 1 speaker, and the Jadis Diapason Luxe integrated amplifier.

403 山葉 (Yamaha)

It had been difficult to obtain Yamaha stereo products for quite some time, so it was wonderful to finally see the long-awaited R-N2000A Streaming amplifier in action. It was paired with the NS-2000A speaker and the CD-S2100. Yamaha also showcased its A-S 2200 and A-S1200 stereo integrated amplifiers, as well as the RX-A8A and RX-A4A home theatre amplifiers, in addition to the new R-N1000A and R-N800A streaming amplifiers.

404 名揚 (Magnificent, ATC)

MAG Audio is a local company that introduced some novel technologies, including a passive preamplifier with an inductive volume controller that they patented, an electrostatic noise cleaner, a zero-feedback power amplifier, and a balanced tube amplifier. They used a Northstar CD player, model 192, and an ATC speaker.

405 茂凱 (Morkai Audio)

MOAUDIO is a manufacturer in Taiwan that offers original design manufacturing (OEM) services and also makes its own products. They brought a lot of different kinds of audio enhancers as well as a couple of full HiFi setups. The main system included their MK10 Flagship 3-way speaker, MK300 active cross-over power amplifier, MK9038 Pro preamplifier and DAC, and MK-CD1 CD player. They also unveiled their power conditioner design, which uses a unique principle to convert AC to DC and back to AC to provide clean power. The second system had their Prolog speaker and their MK100 Bluetooth hybrid amplifier.

406 仩益 (Elac, EAR Yoshino, Linear Acoustic)

Another ELAC room, this time with two additional HiFi systems. The main room featured the Concentro M speakers, which were powered by EAR 861 mono power amps, a Chord Dave DAC and preamplifier, and a Lindemann Musicbook Source. The smaller room had an array of Elac speakers: Vela FS 404, FS 403, FS 407, and FS 287. The amplifier was the EAR 834 integrated with a Lindemann Musicbook Source II CD. They used Audio Reference Technology (A.R.T.) cables.

407 尊品 (Obit, Tecsun, Pi Audiotech, Analogue.artist lab)

They used a vintage Sonus Faber speaker in conjunction with an a.a lab Model 204 integrated amplifier and Pi Audiotech, a local maestro’s Raspberry Pi-based streamers. Obit is also a local brand focusing on vibration management solutions. They also displayed REPP cables.

408 正成 (Genelec, Presonus)

In the pro audio room, professional equipment from Genelec and Presonus was introduced. Visitors could experiment with various configurations, but stereo listening was also possible. The Genelec One (8331A) combined with the 7360A active subwoofer provided a delightful listening experience.

409 極光 (Odeon, Absolute Sound)

A CD and LP store with sweet-sounding Odeon Tosca speakers, an EAR V12 amplifier, and an Audio Research Reference CD9 CD player.

410 愛普生 (Epson, Magnetar, Denon, Quadral)

Epson unveiled a new close-throw 4K projector with a Denon home cinema amplifier and Quadral speakers.

412, 416 宙宣 (Sennheiser)

Sennheiser occupied two rooms, one dedicated to headphone listening, with options to try a wide range of their iem’s and headphones. The second room was designed to showcase the full capabilities of the Ambeo Plus soundbar. I was very pleased and surprised with the outcome; the music and movie samples sounded very realistic and well-controlled throughout the room. The sound was fantastically immersive, just as advertised. One of the highlights of the show for me

414 聿鑫 (Fiio, Kanto, ZMF)

In addition to introducing this summer’s headphone amplifier sensation, the R7, they also provided some headphone options. I was most excited about the ZMF Vérité, which has been praised by critics worldwide. They also had some desktop speakers, like the Kanto YU6 and Audioengine HD3 and A2+.

415 慕特 (Harbeth, Stemfoort, Moonriver, Bricasti, Dynamique, NAD)

The Harbeth SHL5 and M40.3 speakers are prominently displayed in front of the massive Union Jack on the back wall. They brought a couple of different amplifiers: the Moonriver 404 Reference, the Stemfoort SF200 Passive Line Amplifier (reviewed by HiFi PiG some years ago), and the NAD C3050 LE. The source was the mighty Bricasti M1S2 with Roon.

419 品嘉 (ProAc, Benchmark, Auralic)

I have been to this great audio store a few times. For the show, they prepared a system that I had always wanted to hear but never had the chance to hear. The Benchmark HPA4 was used as a preamp, the Benchmark DAC3 as a digital-to-analog converter, and the Benchmark AHB2s in mono to power the ProAc K6 Signature speakers. Kimber Kable Summit power cords, Carbon XLR, and Carbon 16 speaker cables were used. The power conditioner was a Keces IQRP3600. On the source side, Melco S100/2 switches, Auralic Aries G2.2 network transport, and a Sirius G2.1 upsampling processor with a Roon nucleus were playing the music. They used Divini Audio X-N12 CAT8 network cables from Taiwan, a Kimber Kable Ascent PK14 power cord, and a Keces P28 linear power supply. The MYSTJ stands were present in this room as well.

420 世貨 (Harman Kardon)

This room was dedicated to lifestyle audio products. Introducing the Citation Multibeam 1100 Dolby Atmos soundbar and the Radiance 2400 wireless home audio setup.

422 雅鈦 (AECO, AEC)

AEC, a Taiwanese high-end OEM connector manufacturer, displayed a wide range of their products, including their own brand, AECO. AECO connectors are serious, high-end-grade connectors with meticulous execution and a contemporary design. There were banana plugs and unique spade connectors that made me want to reach for my wallet.

423 方浪 (Avalon, Weiss, Vitus, Viard, Grimm)

My absolute favourite room at this year’s exhibition. The amplifier was a Vitus SIA-030 Integrated, the DAC was a brand new Weiss HELIOS, and the speakers were Avalon PM 1.2. Using the GRIMM MU1 and CC1 master clock, they streamed music via ROON. The cabling was from Viard. They used Weiss proprietary room acoustic software to set up the room, and I’m happy to report that they achieved audio nirvana. The atmosphere of the room, the music selection, and the sound reached that threshold where I felt the sensation of “being there”.

424 東億 (Audio Physic, Triglon, Cary Audio)

Lovely acoustics thanks to an Audio Physic Classic 35 three-way speaker They used the Cary Audio AIO and DMS-800 as streaming transports alongside the appropriately named Triglon Monolog and Dialog power and preamplifier pair.

427 音悅 (Viva, dCS, final, Focal, Stax, Mola Mola)

They dedicated the room to headphone gear, with two systems. On the left side, they had the dCS Lina amp+dac with Final 8000 or Focal Utopia 2022 headphones available for listening. On the right side, it was the Viva Egoista STX and the STAX DR-X9000 with a Mola Mola Tambaqui. Unfortunately I didn’t had the chance to try them, as they were always on some ears.

428 宏業 (XTZ, Nuprime, Optoma)

They were still setting up when I visited the room on the first day, so it was a fascinating experience for me to witness. A Merging Hapi MK2 16-channel DAC was used to manage the settings of a Dolby Atmos system featuring XTZ speakers and Nuprime power amplifiers. The engineers configuring the system were kind enough to play some music by KOSwing (a big band from south Taiwan) to introduce the concept. The KoSwing session was recorded in an Atmos studio, and they used the original master recording. They experimented with different arrangements, moving the performers and instruments to various spots in the room. I could physically feel the singer moving around me as the engineers fine-tuned the recording, giving new meaning to the phrase “the speakers disappear.” It was a thrilling adventure that left me thinking about the possibilities of the future.

431 米地摩爾 (Neumann)

Neumann unveiled their 5.1 Immersive Production System (IPS), aimed at content creators on social media. I never got to hear the system because there was always a talk or demonstration going on when I stopped by, but I imagine it was quite the experience for the intended audience.

432 日日升 (Tracer)

An audio equipment company from Taiwan with impressive CNC capabilities demonstrated their prowess with the TS-10 (70W) and TS-30 (100W) integrated amplifiers. Both models are meticulously carved from a single block of aluminium and adhere to a unified design philosophy. Among their new products was the TS-1A201, a 3-way bookshelf speaker with an aluminium enclosure. They also displayed the TS509 network player, which has 1TB of SSD storage and is expertly milled from a single aluminium block. They had a very clear and well-controlled sound signature. Last year I had the fortune to test their TS-10 amplifier in my own system, and it was a lovely experience.

434 法韶 (Fasound)

A Taiwanese company that specialises in streaming audio and designs streamers and streaming amplifiers I first met them last year and have been following their progress ever since because their products are very reasonably priced while providing sound quality far exceeding their price points. They debuted the Qi-27Pro, a balanced streaming DAC, and the Qi-66M, a 400W Class AB Streaming hybrid amplifier. The Qi-66M has an enormous touch-sensitive screen in the front, AirPlay 2, all of the major streaming services, and can function as a ROON bridge, all for under £2000 (international pricing is currently not available).

435 神韻 (Fischer & Fischer, Western Electric, Reimyo)

Exciting room with the Japanese engineer Kazuo Kiuchi’s masterfully designed Reimyo DAP 999EX DAC and CDT 777 CD transport. The Western Electric 91E 300B integrated tube amplifier, which drove the Fischer & Fischer SN 670 slate speakers, was the showpiece of the setup. As someone who has long admired Fischer & Fischer’s slate speakers, the opportunity to immerse myself in the experience of one of their larger models was unquestionably a delight.

436 承德 (Sony, Q Acoustics, Pioneer)

They were focusing on flatscreen promotion, but they had a very nice speaker in the corner, the Q Acoustics Concept 500, and a Pioneer home cinema amplifier.

439 志仁 (Thorens)

There is room for analogue enthusiasts. The majority of Thorens’ current lineup was on display, including the redesigned TD-124DD, TD-1500, TD-403DD, and TD-309. The WestminsterLab Rei Class A mono-amplifier made its debut at the event, though it was only on display along with a selection of their company’s cables. The speakers in the room were vintage Naim NBL speakers with Mola Mola Kula integrated and a Lupe phono amplifier.

443 德城 (DC Cables, Lalio)

Originating from Taiwan, this cable manufacturer offers an extensive range of both budget-friendly and premium cables, supported by a highly regarded research and development team. They unveiled a range of top-tier DC power cords designed to cater to the heightened requirements of DACs and streamers. In addition, they showcased a collection of pre-owned “research” and test cables at enticing prices—a true treasure trove for cable enthusiasts keen on exploring different options. They also brought some cables specifically for car audio, which they demonstrated in front of the hotel.

445 熊快樂 (Crystal Cable, Audionet, Swisscables)

Despite the fact that the Crystal Cable Minissimo Forte was only recently announced at Munich 2023, it was available for listening during the show. Behind the speaker, they had an impressive setup, including Audionet Max monoblocks, a Pre G2 preamplifier, and an ART G5 CD player with an EPX power supply. They used Crystal Cables throughout the setup, with Art Series Monet as the speaker cables.

447 音譜利 (YPL)

A Taiwanese audio manufacturer and distributor. They unveiled the TP-1, their new turntable. It is a high-quality belt-driven mag-lev turntable with Clearaudio’s ceramic-magnetic bearings, a 4.5 kg, 40mm thick aluminium platter, a separate synchronous motor, precision speed adjustment, and a 12″ carbon tonearm (options for two arms), weighing around 19kg. The TP-1 will be available in Taiwan for around £2400, which includes an MC/MM phono preamp design in addition to the TP-1. They showcased the turntable with their own speaker, the YPL HN-600, and their new T-5 Pro tube integrated amplifier. The amplifier, using four KT88s, two 12AX7s, and two 6N6 tubes, offers 48 W of ultra-linear class-A power and balanced and RCA connections. With the MP5 Mk4 hybrid dac-amplifier and Favorite 402 speaker, they also provided the best sound quality for the lowest price of any true HiFi system at the show, coming in at just £900. This is a brand that should be known far beyond Taiwan.

449 雅風 (ATC)

The well-respected British brand took up two rooms. Their flagship SCM300 ASLT speakers were installed in the main room, along with two ATC P4 4-channel 3-way mono-block amplifiers, a SCA2 preamplifier, a CD2 player, and an additional SCA 100 speaker. It was a very ‘masculine’ looking room, and  it was a powerful setup. The smaller room allowed for more home-friendly ATC speakers, ranging from the SCM7 bookshelf to the SCM40 and SCM19A. ATC also supplied the electronics, including the P2 power amplifier, SIA2-100 integrated amplifier, and CDA2 CD player.

450 愷銳 (Perlisten, M&K Sound, TDG)

452 曲奇 (Sixth Element)

An esoteric room with quantum stickers and other strange objects as part of their acoustic improvement system (A.I.S.).

453 波音聲技 (Piega, SPEC, Designer Audio)

SPEC is a cult brand, so it is understandable that I was taken aback when the distributor introduced me to Mr Ishimi, the founder and president of SPEC Audio. They had one of the best sounding systems at the show, and I spent a lot of time there. Using Piega’s flagship speaker, the Coax 811, with Audioplan Faraday SII cables from Germany and a full SPEC setup including: Spec RPA-MG3000 stereo power amplifier, RPA-MGCEX control centre, RMP-UB1-KEX USB bridge, RMP-DAC3EX D/A converter with external powersupply, and Pachanko Labs Constellation Mini SE music server from Réunion.

456 金山 (KEF)

Another room from KEF, where they introduced the LS60 Lotus edition

玻音先創  (GAIT)

GAIT stands for Glass Acoustic Innovation, a Taiwanese manufacturer that has invested heavily in the development of glass acoustic diaphragms. This is the first time I met with them, and I think the technology is exciting and their dedication is admirable. During a brief conversation with the president, Mr Chou, I learned that glass possesses exceptional acoustic properties. They have managed to achieve a diaphragm thickness of 0.03mm and can manipulate its shape into various patterns for precise tuning. To demonstrate their ability, they introduced two speakers, the GlaxFi BSA-23 Active speaker with a 6.5” glass woofer and 1.5” glass tweeter, with a stated frequency range of 36–25 kHz. The FSP-23 is a passive 2-way floorstander speaker with two 6.5″ glass bass drivers and a 1″ glass tweeter. I spent some time auditioning the BSA-23, and I really liked the sound signature; it had excellent timing and control, as well as a large soundstage and impressive clarity.

愛樂 (Borresen, Raidho, Aavik, Axxess, Silent Angel, Solidsteel, YBA, Ideaon, PinkFaun, SVS, Shunyata)

This was a large, open location on the second floor, which is certainly a challenging acoustic environment. They set up two systems facing each other. The right side included the recently announced Borresen M3 floorstanding speakers with an Aavik I-880 200W class-A integrated amplifier and Ansuz cabling. The streaming setup was also very high-end, using the Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra music server with the Ideon Audio Absolute ℇ DAC and Absolute Time Signature reclocker.

The other side of the room had the Raidho TD4.2 speakers with YBA Signature electronics, an Ideon Audio Absolute DAC, a Signature V reclocker, and an Absolute streamer. They used Shunyata Research power distribution.

The other brands were only for display; they had a table of Silent Angel products, a Shunyata Research table with their cables and accessories, and a large display of SVS active subwoofers right in the corridor. They also introduced the AXXESS Forté, an intriguing all-in-one solution from Audio Group Denmark.

And that’s a wrap for Gyula’s coverage of the Taiwan Taipei TAA High End Audio Show 2023!

NO PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE COPIED IN ANY FORM. THIS INCLUDES WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH ARE THE PROPERTY OF HiFi PiG AND BIG PIG MEDIA.

 

 

 

 

 

Gyula Weeber

For part one of the Taiwan TAA Audio Show Report 2023 click here