I have been using ASCENDO subwoofer, surround and ATMOS speakers for a few years now. It blends well into my PMC LCR speakers and ARCAM AV. receiver. However, my 5.1.2 HT set up is not ideal to fully experience ASCENDO capabilities.
On 15th Feb, I spent a few hours with James Tan in AV Designs to explore the ASCENDO set up and really experience what it can do. The main HT room is equipped with a 24" infrasonic sub alongside the other ASCENDO speakers. Mind you, the AVR was a JBL but still the set up was amazing. James and his team have been tweaking the set up and it was a vast improvement compared to my previous visit many months ago.
Playing movies like A Quite Place and 13 Hours brought out the grunt and hard hiting bass from this set up without loosing any clarity from the LCR speakers. It provided a very engaging and enveloping, non-directional experience of bass extension. Can really experience how a bullet shot sounds like.
What really impresses me was when it was put on a 2 channel demo. In this drum video, the amount bass that comes out of this set up can make any drummers start to tap their feet. Deep, cohesive and fast sounding to keep up with the drummer playing pattern.
To have a room like AV Designs show room would be a dream. I may just settle with adding more subs to my set up 😬😬
Do visit Audio Visual Designs to experience what I experienced here. Ask for a demo today!
Its like the HiFi and AV industry in Malaysia is back into the good old days. More and more shops are bringing in more variety to the audiophiles. A long pending components to be open to the fans are the TAD R1TX speakers, M700S stereo power amp, DA10000TX DAC and also the full suite of Innuos Products. Although TAD has been traditionally part of Audio Visual Designs Sdn. Bhd list of brands, the Innuous has just came onto the list and is now officially available for demo and purchase for local fans.
On Friday 7th July, these products have been officially launched at their outlet. Attended by the usual audiophiles and other media reps, the full capability of the set up was demoed to all attendees.
Excerpt of the event report from my article in hifi4sale.net is as below:
'Audio Visual Designs Sdn Bhd (AV Designs), the official distributor of TAD Laboratory products in Malaysia, launched the R1TX flagship speakers along with the M700S power amp and DA1000TX DAC on July 7. Apart from these TAD products, AV Designs also launched the full suite of Innuos products into the Malaysian market. AV Designs only recently took up the Innuos distributorship.
The launch event started with a quick recap of the R1 speakers' evolution over the past 16 years, followed by an introduction to the Innuous products. Guests and media folks were then entertained with various music genres prepared and presented by local hi-fi celeb Joseph Ki.
The original R1 came out in 2007, followed by R1MK2 in 2012 when the woofer cone design was upgraded. The R1MK2 remain as TAD's reference speaker until 2019, after which the R1TX was officially launched. However, due to the pandemic that followed, the R1TX could only be brought into Malaysia this year.
Although the R1TX retains the original cabinet design, TAD has enhanced its forming and processing method for the baffle. This new cabinet is made by Tendo Mokko, where the reinforcement and fitting methods were improved; the side to back panel configuration was also changed from three pieces to two. Besides these, TAD also enhanced the woofer suspension system. The R1TX comes in a full black design, apart from the traditional wood design on the side panels.
The M700S was also launched in 2019 by TAD but only reach our shores early this year. This stereo power amplifier (a mono version is also available) replaces the M600 which was launched back in 2009. The enhancements include an upgraded transformer from 2kVA to 2.8kVA, increased wattage from 600W to 700W, aluminium chassis instead of iron and also a new spike construction.
On the source side, the full Innuos suite of streaming solutions is now available officially in Malaysia. During the launch, the flagship Statement model was used as the source for the demo of the TAD set up. The Statement is a two-piece dedicated streaming unit with a separate power supply box. This brand from Portugal is not new name to streaming fans in Malaysia. The full range, from the entry-level called PULSEmini to the Statement, is now available from AV Designs.'
AV Designs has also taken the liberty to list Bassacontinuo HiFi racks as one of the brands on their list.
When I lookd at the size of the speakers, I had a concern of an overwhelming bass response. I am not fond of bass that gives out literally a physical impacton my body. One of those too hard of hitting that it makes it uncomfortable to listen to. But not with these TAD R1TX. Excellent balance of low frequency response coupled with high clarity in the mids and highs. The bass drum and also the percussion sounded really enegrized going through this system. It really gets me going, bringing me back to my younger days of clubbing. Now, on another piece, the sound of saxophone was really melodious and engaging. It matches well with the Innuos source.
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Sampler 1
Sampler 2
For a demo session, please contact AV Designs (03-6241 1237).
If there is one hifi brand that I like but have yet to review in my house is TAD. Exclusively distributed by Audio Visual Designs Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia, I have only enjoyed its majestic sound in their show room either back in Rohas Perkasa or in their existing shop along Jalan Kuching. When James Tan informed me of the arrival of the classy looking Evolution 1 E1Tx floorstanding speakers, C600 pre amp and M700S power amp, I knew that I have to go and have a listen to the set up.
Given I am about to start my 1 week annual vacation, I told myself to go and have a listen to this set up on 25th Feb before I go on leave...... and it was all worth it.
The M700S stereo power amp weighs about 75 kg and the chasiss and the 4 legged platform is actually comes as a 1 piece unit! Maintaining its industrial look but in a such classy and minimalist design that will get the WAF approved. It will be a challenge to get a rack that will fit this so most probably for potential owners, it will be set up on the floor.
Its unique design includes:
Vibration-Suppressing technology
Lower Centre of Gravity
High Power Ampification (175 wpc on 8 ohm)
Extra large capacity power supply
Simplified First Stage Circuitry
Dual Logic circuit technology
The Evolution One E1TX is in its class of its own. From physical shape to its finishing, it is another TAD product that will have high WAF. It is a 3 way bass reflex speakers with a 16 cm woofer cone and 9 cm mid and 2.5 cm tweeter berylium dome. It is designed with 88 dB sensitivity.
Standing tall at 1215 mm with a width of 350 mm and depth of 512 mm, this speakers weighs about 46 kg each.
I spent about 1.5 hours here and this is my first impression of the whole set up. TAD have given serious thoughts across the whole sound flow from source to pre amp to power amp to the speakers. The seamless integration throughout the chain was effortless. You can play any genres and it will just adapt itself to provide a presentation that somehow to me is limitless headroom. The sound just keeps on growing as if the sound stage just keeps filling up the room.
The bass was taut, extended just the way I like it. At no stage ever it overpower the mids and highs. It was so coherent that the musicality was just mesmerizing. My initial expectation of this set up was actually to be more laid back given my experience listening to other Japanese hifi. Boy...I was wrong. This is a very convincing, engaging and upfront system.
The price range is out of my reach at the moment as the retail price goes to about RM500K for all 3 pieces (pre, power and speakers) but I still can savour the musical experience.
Do go and have a listen to this set up as to me, it is one of the rare set ups one can experience in Malaysia.
Contact AV Designs through James Tan on 016-3280237
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)
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
