What Is There In A TT Mat? - Sph PH SCuMat and My Lenco L78

A few months ago, after about a year not meeting up, Sph PH and I managed to meet up and had a good few hours testing out his SCuMat (copper mat with some design changes in the holes sizes). Comparing it to my SSSMat, it did somehow give a different experience to my Lenco L78. Read on!

This is not so much a review but more of me telling you a story of how little things can make my Lenco L78 sounds different. For those who know me should already know that regardless of how things have evolved in the TT market, Lenco will always have a place in my heart. Mainly for nostalgic reasons of growing up seeing my late dad and his TT set up. The bonus of this is of course, Lenco can still give a decent sound if set up nicely. For many years, I was using this Lenco L78 for some of my reviews as well.

Going back to the SCuMat, the first thing that I notice is the low frequency weight. It really brought it down a notch that I feel that the bass is tighter and having more control. The ambient listening to Take Five by Dave Brubeck was the most evident in which I experience this compared to using SSSMat. Of course, I will never compare with other TTs but using the SCuMat alone provided me a different listening experience.

Putting on Diana Krall's 'S Wonderful was another experience where I feel that her vocal went deeper but still retains some level of liveliness. I kept changing the mat between SSSMat and SCuMat just to revalidate the experience and each time, I feel the same experience. 

Now both the tracks above are what I call 'no noise' tracks. At times, listening to simple music like these is where differences in the experience can exist. Now, how about tracks that are ferocious and what most audiophiles call it as noise such as metal genres? I actually played a lot of Metallica's Last Caress and Die, Die My Darling. For heavier songs like this, it took me awhile to really experience the differences between SSSMat and SCuMat. Its subtle but if one is not listening hard enough may not be able to tell the difference.

All and all, I do believe the different experience with SCuMat is due to the combination of the material, weight and holes orientation and size. The physics behind it? Not sure to be honest. But it is as it is when I keep on listening to the tracks above.

I have been maintaining my Lenco L78 to be as close as its original design but with these external accessories, I do not mind to add it on as it provides a different sound to my Lenco. I have placed an order for a new SCuMat and hopefully Capt Sph PH will make me one soon.

JVC NZ Series 8K Projectors Now Available In Malaysia

On Friday 14th Jan 2022, AV Designs held a product introduction event at their outlet. Steven Woo of JVC Malaysia introduced us to the new 8K NZ Series projectors. The event was attended by a small group of reviewers and AV enthusiast was conducted under strict COVID19 SOP (I did not get to have the tasty curry puffs they usually serve).

The event started at 3 pm and was concluded by 430 pm. It was kicked off by a briefing from Steven where the various new features like the 8K eShiftX and BLUEscent were explained in details. Steven also explained to us some of the main differences between the NZ9, NZ8, NZ7 and N5 models.

At about 330 pm, we moved to the first part of the demo in which I get to experience the NZ7 in the smaller AV room. Two sets of specially produced video clips were presented where they were repeated in the main AV room with NZ9 in action.

With the NZ7, I feel that these new line up of projectors are living to its claim as it captures the essence of colours vividly. To me, its easy to display a nice scenery in all its glory but what really strikes me is the details of human skin tone that fascinated me. The NZ7 really brought up the details and complexity of human skin tone during the session.

The NZ7 uses the same chassis as previous model but weight about 5 kg more (25 kg)

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At about 4 pm, we moved to the main AV room where this is the only place one can demo the flagship NZ9 projectors in Malaysia! I thought NZ7 was already enough but this NZ9 brought the whole 8K experience to a different level. The skin tone on NZ9 retains the detail and complex display but in a more natural tone. 

The NZ9 is a monstrous unit packed with capability to portray complex skin tone in a more natural way

The whole event was concluded at about 430 pm. I have been following the JVC product launch event ever since 4K first came out a few years ago. It may sound cliche but I do notice the huge differences moving from previous models to a new one each time JVC comes out with  a new design. If there was one thing that I have yet to be able to fully experience in this whole HiFi and Home Theater hobby is to have a projector set up at home. I have tried a few years ago but the AV area at home is just not feasible to set up one. Believe me, I tried!

Regardless whether you are new to projector or looking into upgrading, do not miss the chance to experience these new NZ series down in Audio Visual Designs show room especially the NZ9.

H-2-6, Block H, Boulevard Business Park, No. 115, Jalan Kepayang
51200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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03-6241 1237