Centre Circle Audio Demo Rooms - Majestic Meets Audio Nirvana

I think I have mentioned a few times that AvantGarde is one of the speakers that I really like to own a pair but given my hifi is set up in the living room, it is impossible to get the Home Minister to agree to place a pair there. 😂😂.

Nevertheless, each time I have a chance to listen to a pair, I seldom will say no. When Nelson of Centre Circle Audio invited me for a private listening after I missed their event sometime in February (I was in Korea), I quickly set a date which was end of March.

Centre Circle Audio (CCA) is the place to go to listen to brands like AvantGarde, VPI, Aries Cerat, Boenicke, Mola Mola, Kharma, VAC and many more. Over the years listening to their set ups in KLIAV shows, I have seen their consistent effort in ensuring their set ups are among the best. While the show was great, their set up in their TTDI shop is nonetheless a very engaging experience. By the way, they also provide home cinema set ups.

At the ground floor, CCA had the HiFi ROSE streamer as the source and music was pushed through a pair of Kharma speakers. Although the Kharma speakers were only set up there temporarily, it still sounded solid with good delivery of musicality. Not the best room size but decent enough for low volume listening.

Have a listen to these 2 samplers.

On the 2nd floor, there were 2 rooms. One room housed the mighty AvantGarde Trio speakers and the other room, housed Boenicke speakers. Looking at the size of the Trio, I was preparing myself to be blown away. I mean literally and physically blown away just like the classic commercial video of Maxell tapes. However, the room was acoustically tuned properly that the music coming out of the speakers was just magical and majestic. Bass was solid, extended and just at the right thump while mids and highs sounded luscious and soothing at the same time. Have a listen to these samplers. 

I didn't get the chance to listen to the Boenicke but given my experience listening to them in my house, it should be able to deliver an exceptional performance as well. If you would like to experience a grand hifi, do visit Centre Circle Audio located at 8 Ground Floor, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.  WhatsApp: +6018 988 2686 

Triple Whammy by Centre Circle Audio

Centre Circle Audio have stepped up the hifi game with a new addition of 2 listening rooms to the one existing in their outlet in TTDI. Taking up the floor above, CCA have set up full Roon environment in 2 new listening rooms and also to the existing one downstairs. Completed sometime in December, CCA was also not spared from the MCO as it is quite restricted to get audiophiles to come and enjoy this new addition to the listening rooms.

HiFi ROSE RS150

Primarily, I went to have a listen to the HiFi ROSE RS150. So, I spent a good 1 hour listening to various tracks where the ROSE was used as a streamer cum pre amp to an Audia Flight FLS4 power amp, driving a Boenick W8 speakers.

    

 

This set up reveals rather a big sound for my first impression. The RS150 is one heck of a machine. The ecosystem which is based on Android is very stable. The unit of course have all the bells and whistles to play a wide selection of streaming platforms.

Here is a sampler form this system:

Mola Mola Tambaqui, VAC and Living Voice

I was then brought up to the upper floor into the first new listening room comprises of Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, VAC Master pre and Signature power amp and Living Voice speakers. Source was from Roon ecosystem placed in the main listening room. This brought my experience up a notch from the room downstairs.

The deco of this room is really relaxing and reminds me of the house I used to live in UK back in my time there. The Living Voice speakers looks like a typical British design, basic and boxy. 

Here is a sampler of this set up:

Avant Garde, WADAC and VAC

This room was the ultimate experience of the day. It was good that we started off with the room downstairs and slowly build up the excitement for this. I personally have always been skeptical about horn speakers given the few times I heard it in the KLIAV show. However, recent 2 experience with Avant Garde speakers in Melaka, told me other wise.

This was the same experience. These speakers and the room was set up pretty darn good that I wish I had more time here. Good solid bass impact. Sweet melodious highs. For this set up, I will not share the sound quality as I would like to keep it as a secret. You have to go and visit CCA to experience a 4 stack WADAX Roon system with top notch VAC and these speakers.

                                 

To arrange for a demo, please contact CCA at 03-77282686. Their outlet is located 

No.8 GF, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malacca's Hidden Gem Just Got Better

Its been awhile since I visited this Malacca's hidden gem. The last visit must be about 2 years ago where the set up was in the living room and the foundation of the man cave was just about to be laid down.  There were also 2 sets of speakers; the Harbeth and Audio Note. Both driven by the the pre and monoblocks by our locally  bred  talent, Ben.

While the Ben's power amplification and source are maintained, Faisal@CB have recently upgraded his speakers to a pair of Avantgarde Acoustic Uno Nano horn speakers. The man cave have also been completed albeit the interior is still work in progress. For this session, Faisal used Ben's passive pre amp as well together with Tricord Dino phono stage.

I spent about 3 hours listening to this newly acquired speakers. To be honest, I had a concern on this speakers will sound a bit sharp and shrill based on my previous listening experience of a similar speakers. The session started off with Eric Clapton unplugged. This first spin clearly shows the strength of this speakers which is clarity. The guitar works on this LP really shine through. There was some signs of restricted  highs but we were just warming up. Bass was controlled and not overwhelming but my concern was immediately diminished. The highs although sligghtly restricted was actually sweet and luscious sounding. 

Second track was one of my favourite; Fly Me To The Moon by Diana Krall frlmo her Live in Paris album. My my my....the vocal on this was so energised that it truely presented the live ambient (but without the Eiffel Tower behind it :). The piano sounded melodic and the percussion, especially the snare sounded dispersed in a good way. A good blend of bass subtlety from the tom toms and sweet highs from the ride and hihat.

 

So, was it just enjoyable with unplugged, strings and live music? We then put on Up and Adam by Lee Ritenour. Now, this was a different level. My excitement just elevated a notch. The level emotion intimacy on this track was very revealing. This is where I started to shake my head and stamp my feet to the beat of the drums. And when I get emotionally engaged to certain performance like this, I basically stop 'evaluating' a set up. There is  no point anymore as that is the objective of listening to music; to be emotinally connected and just drown yourself in enjoyment.

There were other tracks that we played but as I mentioned, I stopped my critical listening after this track above. I was just enjoying the music and chit chat with Faisal and another friend Samad. At the end of the session however, Faisal wanted to see what Siltech speaker cable can do. So I brought my 330L Siltech Anniversary cable for him to try it out. Another joy of this hobby iswhen we get to share different accessories etc. The key to this is to put aside any prejudgement and also be open to whatever the comments that comes with it.

I would like to thank Faisal and also Samad for the session and also post session of makan2.  This is a fine example of how passion towards music and patience in setting up a hifi system really bears the fruit. It was not an easy journey for Faisal with several different speakers have landed in his set up. But once you get to a certain level, the satisfaction can be clearly seen from his expression that night. He still wants to see what else can be extracted from his set up, so I would say.... carry on.