Audio Perfectionist Launched Audiovector R and QR Series Speakers

 

The Arrete R6 paired with Aavik electronics

On 17th August 2022 marks another spectacular milestone for our local hifi outfit Audio Perfectionist as they welcome Mads Klifoth, CEO of Audiovector to grace their official launch event of both the R and QR speakers series. During this event, the models were introduced are the R6, R3 and QR7.

Yes, you are correct! AUDIOVECTOR is not a new name in Malaysia but Audio Perfectionist have just been appointed as the new official distributor for Malaysia. Exciting times indeed for them.

WHAT IS NEW WITH AUDIOVECTOR?

The R - Series

Treble Drivers - Their Signature Soft dome designs have always been ahead of their time. Featuring a silk done which is supported on its rear side by a pressure regulating accelarator, a no compression driver - due to its open back which is carefully adjusted to work in their unique Soundstage Enhancement Concept (SEC). 

The Avantgarde & Arrete Air Motion Transformer treble drivers are probably the fastest treble drive construction you can find. Based on the original and revolutionary technology invented vy Dr. Oscar Heil, their AMT tweeters have no mass to accelrate or decelerate. It can reach up to more than 52 KHz with perfect dispersion on both horizontal and vertical planes.

The AMT features ultra strong Neodymium magnets, lightweight precision coated mylar membranes and are mounted and decoupled from the cabinet in 3 points, a proprietary concept, No Energy Storage (NES). The tweeters are open to the front and to the rear, being able to move freely due to the SEC.

The Freedom Grounding Concept addresses the movement induced distortion of and between the drive units in the loudspeaker. The currents running between the chassis are being processed and dealt with through a new separate crossover which routes the signal to the ground terminal of the wall socket or grounded mains distributor. These currents cause coloration and distrotion between drive units. By balancing and filtering these through a dedicated spearate filter and by offering the possibility of connecting them to earth/ground, a cleaner and accurate sound can be achieved with lower noise floor.

The QR Series

The QR-7 paired with McIntosh electronics

This is the entry level of Audiovector that offers hyper dynamic, neutrall sounding loudspeakers with big and open soundstage. The concept is classic designs with a twist that out perform competition in this segment.

The goal has always been to offer the most advanced technology in a perfectly finished and proportioned high end package. The sound is big, bold and dynamic yet subtle and detailed when required.

Due to its gentle impedance load and high efficiency, it is an easily driven speakers with either solid state or tube amps.

The QR Air Motion Transformer Treble (AMT) Driver are the fastest high frequency drivers available now and can reach up to higher than 40 KHz with fine dispersion in both horizontal and vertical plane.

By using high precision components in combination with their in house designed drive units, they can use a target function filtering which uses minimal components to achieve a high precision roll-off profile on all drivers resulting in better dynamics, lower loss and less heat build-up.

This series was also designed to handle power transients with precision and low distortion with all genres of music. There is just one Xover component in series with each driver which allows for an easy amplifier load.

This is one happy family

 

For a demo, head on to Audio Perfectionist

Unit 91-1, Block H, Jaya One,
72A, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Phone : (603) 7954 2818
Fax : (603) 7954 2919
Email : audiopf@gmail.com

SB Acoustics SASANDU - Beauty with Sweet Highs and Controlled Lows

SB Acoustics speakers (or their kits) have been going around the local scene for a few years now. While I was first introduced to it in one of the KLIAV show a few years back, the Ara BE bookshelf speakers I reviewed recently really explains why it became a rave here. When the local distributor offered me to review the big brother Sasandu model, how can I say no to this opportunity right? 

I had the chance to listen to this Sasandu for more than a month now in my system. Throughout the review  period, I got to play around with different amps and also speaker positions to really push the boundaries of this speakers. A few other audiophiles also had the chance to come and listen to Sasandu.

BUILT AND SPECS

The SASANDU is a mighty looking, 3 way floor standing speakers. The design is based on the SATORI 29mm, Neodymium Berylium tweeter, 6.5” SATORI Egyptian Papyrus cone midrange and 2 units of 7.5” SATORI bass drivers. All of these are housed in a solidly built glossy piano black cabinet. It also comes in white or black satin.

The cabinet is made of MDF with specific internal bracing to distribute vibrations and lower sound coloration. The internal partition is designed to be slanted to reduce standing waves. It also comes with a 75 mm rear port to ensure uncompressed bass is delivered.

Size wise, it stands at 110 x 23 x 61.5cm (H x W x D) and weighs 32 kg each cabinet. It offers quite a high sensitivity at 89 dB and recommended to pair it with 100 to 200 WPC amp.

THE EQUIPMENT

I started off with using the McIntosh MA9000 integrated amp connected directly to the SASANDU. After a couple of weeks of listening to them, I decided to also try them paired to a pre power combo of McIntosh MA9000 and SPL Audio S800 Performance power amp.

I mainly use my digital sources HiFi ROSE RS150 via Roon and also McIntosh MCD350 SACD player to review this but I also did play some analogue from my Kronos Sparta turntable. 

THE SESSION

When I received the SASANDU, the Wellerman song was going viral. Hence, I tried playing it as one of the first impression of this speakers. The sound was definitely huge and it fills up my hall with lots of dynamics and clarity. Vocal seems to be a strong point for the SASANDU. For the bass, I was torn between liking the energetic thumping and missing the extension that I enjoy with my PMC. 

Later that night, I out on Come Fly With Me on CD and my my my. It was so mesmerizing to listen to jazz  genre with these SASANDU. I can literally experience the wire brush played across the snare. The piano sounded really engaging as well. 

Overall first impression I would say that these babies lean towards delivering a wide and huge sound with great focus on highs and mids along with high level of clarity.

1st Impression - The Wellerman Song played directly with McIntosh MA9000

1st Impression - Come Fly With Me

The LP playback - Bengawan Solo by Anneke Gronloh

Of course, playing LP gave even an elevated experience for me. The SASANDU still maintains the high level of clarity and even sweeter mids and highs. It is very musical sounding and made me feel like dancing to this track. I still find the bass can be little bit deeper though to have that extensive low frequency experience. 

I continue to play various music through the SASANDU using the McIntosh MA9000 integrated amp for a couple of weeks plus I also changed the toe in angles and also distance between speakers. I find that the SASANDU gives the best performance with no toe in in my hall. Once I found this sweet spot, I then was curious to hear how it will sound with a different amp.

I hooked up my SPL Audio S800 Performance power amp to the McIntosh and connect the SASANDU to the power amp.

Take Five by Kenichi Band

Playing Take Five by Kenichi band, it was a totally different performance. Everything seems to sound even more coherent. A good blend across different frequencies. The percussion sounds alive and full of energy while the saxophone gave a very airy performance without sounding lost in the whole music. The brass instruments also sounded sharp. Overall, the SASANDU delivered quiet an impressively huge sound without loosing any essence and details of this great track.

The Remembering Sound by Aubrey Logan

The usual difficult song that I put on to hear how low can a speaker go to in practice. The double bass on this track was so subtly recorded that at most time its difficult to hear it. The SASANDU had no issue to surface the bass line albeit not as deep as I expected. Aubrey’s vocal was astounding coming out from these speakers. No sign of fatigue to listen to her vocal over and over again even when she hit those higher notes. The trombone also sounded really soothing and refine coming from the SASANDU.

Take Five by Dave Brubeck

As I was still finding that deep bass lines to come from the SASANDU, I then put on the original Take Five by Dave Brubeck. The percussion still sounded really great and the toms and bass drums sounded natural just as I would imagine it would like back in the past. The saxophone maintains to sound very airy and sweet.  I do believe the SASANDU is capable of the delivering a deep bass experience if the source file was properly mastered.

Easy on Me by Adele

On this track Easy on Me by Adele, it sounded a bit more on the flat side of things. Somehow, Adele’s vocal sounded a bit on the sharp side. It still carries that energetic and lively sound but became a little bit sharp. Most probably due to the gentler and more controlled bass reproduction. The piano still sounded musical and the vocal was till very detailed but it sounded a little bit flat to me.

Enter Sandman by Metallica

The final test was to listen to Enter Sandman by Metallica and hear whether the SASANDU can be played with a heavier music. The drum intro sounded really bodied with SASANDU thud thumping inorganic bass sound. It can really hit hard. The guitar works sounded really ferocious and James’s vocal was also very authoritative. It really provided me with an experience of attending to a heavy metal show. Excellent final experience with the SASANDU. A well balanced experience.

THE CONCLUSION 

I would have thought that the SASANDU would just multiply my experience with the Ara BE tenfold. This is not the case as the SASANDU carries its own sound signature albeit using similar drivers as Ara BE. The whole cabinet design somehow gave a different perspective and listening experience to me in my system.  

I also find that my SPL Audio power amp matches better compared to playing directly from the McIntosh integrated amp despite the latter offers 300 WPC; 120 watts more than SPL Audio. The pre power combo manage to provide a better bass control and sweeter highs and mids to the SASANDU.

Who would enjoy SASANDU? To me, if you are looking for a listening experience that leans towards hard thumping bass with a pinch of sweet high and mids, this could be the speakers that you would want to demo. A good amp match is essential I think even though with its high sensitivity. I would stick to their recommendation of 100 to 200 wpc amp. It does not give that deep extensive bass line but it can really rock you out with some heavy bass hits.

The SASANDU will be featured in the upcoming KLIAV show in October 2022, proudly brought to you by HiFi Paradis, the official SB Acoustics distributor in Malaysia.

 

 

Gelombang 2022 AV Show - A Brand New Show

After many months, the highly anticipated AV show will become a reality. The Gelombang 2022 AV show, brought to you by Gryphon Production Sdn. Bhd. will be held in Melia Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Jalan Imbi. It will be a 3 days event on 5th to 7th Aug, from 10 am to 8 pm daily.

The entry fee will be RM10 per person per entry but do bring along a friend and it will be RM10 for 2. Do you want to introduce your children to the world of AV and music? Kids under 12 years old enters for free.

With a successful teaser show in Penang held recently, audiophiles have a high expectation on this new show especially after the absence of AV shows in the past 2 years.

Quoted from their press release:

“We have noticed that due to the Covid situation that many hifi enthusiasts are missing a fair for the last 2-3 years. So, it struck us that there is a need to put on a great spanking fun audio-visual fair. At Gryphon Production we believe in pushing the envelope. Those who attend Gelombang 2022 will have a new experience. A fresh perspective.

Of course, the exhibitors will be displaying the latest hifi and home theatre systems as an audio and visual feast. Products on display will range from a few hundred ringgit to a few hundred thousand ringgits. There is something for every enthusiast.

There are also a few overseas exhibitors who come from Singapore and Australia. It is our desire that when international travel is more convenient, we shall see exhibitors from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan for starters.

Other than hi-fi and home theater systems on display, visitors can expect to enjoy live performances, talks and workshops. We need to ensure that attendees have a memorable experience. We want Gelombang 2022 be a more interactive and engaging affair.” said Wilson Teoh, director of Gryphon Production Sdn Bhd

The list of exhibitors is as follows:

AA Audio

A & L Audio Station Sdn Bhd 

Absolute Sound Malaysia 

AFC TOP HIFI 

Atlas Sound & Vision Malaysia 

Audio Art Malaysia 

Audio Perfectionist 

Begins Acoustic Sdn Bhd 

Caruso VINYL 黑膠卡魯索 

Centre Circle Audio 

CMY Audio & Visual Sdn. Bhd. 

Desa Home Theatre Sdn Bhd 

Fine SPL 

Hi-Way Laser Electronics Sdn Bhd

Novaris Technologies (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Pop Pop Factory

Quantum Acoustic AV Sdn Bhd

Silbatone SEA

Statement Systems Sdn Bhd

Style Laser Audio Sdn Bhd

The Experts Group, The Experts Group Malaysia

True Life 68 E-Shop

There will also be live music performance brought to you by the event collaborators for this show - Pop Pop Factory and Caruso Vinyl.

To top off the event for visitors, they have over RM20,000 of prizes to be won. No purchase is

required to win!

Be there or be square!