Xavian Madre Perla - Sweet Highs and Expressive Speakers

I first saw and heard this speakers through an FB posting by AFC Top HiFi. I believe it was paired with XTARK amp. Sounded huge for its size. Initially I thought it was a Rega speakers as it is quite small for a floorstander. But then they clarified that this a Xavian speakers from Czechoslovakia. This particular model is named as Madre Perla under the Natura series.

Soon after that, the speakers landed at my house for a review. A good time as MCO have started to be relaxed a bit by the authority. Thank you to AFC Top HiFi for this opportunity to review this speakers. Spent about a month with these babies.

BUILD AND SPECIFICATION


At 18 kg per unit, I consider this as relatively heavy speakers given its size compared to my PMC at 23 kg. Matthew helped to set it up which was relatively straight forward apart from aligning the spike with its shoe. It needs 2 people to properly align it as the landing on the shoe is very precisely machined to fit the thin sharp point of the spike. 

The cabinet is of a 'mosaic' oak which was rested for 3 weeks before the milling process is done. The end product is a beautifully finished cabinet that has a high WAF in it.

The mid bass unit is a custom made XAVIAN 150 mm driver made of special PP membrane and the tweeter is an Audiobarletta 26 mm soft dome type. 

Now, another interesting about the design is it front firing slot bassreflex similar to my PMC but this is not Transmission Line design. I have had conventional rear firing and bottom firing speakers before but for front firing without TL, this is the first experience.

For sensitivity, it has a relatively common design at 88 dB with 8 ohm impedance.

The speaker terminals allows single connection so no bi amping option. The terminals are located about 1/3 from the top of the cabinet. So for those with heavy speaker cables, I recommend to use spades instead of banana plugs.

THE SET UP

1. Kronos Sparta

2. SPL Audio Phonos

3. SPL Audio Director Mk2 pre amp

4. SPL Audio S800 Performer power amp

5. SONY HAP Z1 ES

THE TRACKS

• Istana Impian - Saloma (WAV 16/44)
• Dancing In The Dark - Diana Krall (DSD)
• Lets Face The Music and Dance - Nat KIng Cole (WAV 16/44)
• Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden): Dance of the Tumblers (WAV 16/44)
• Gone Too Soon - Michael Jackson (DSD)
• No Me Ames - J.Lo and Marc Anthony (WAV 16/44)
• Pengungkapan Hatimu -Candra Darusman feat. Andien (LP)

Various

Now, I purposely played this old track which was not remastered nicely just to see whether the Perla will show this track full character. The Perla indeed deliver the track as it is. A bit of a 'dirty' sound just as it was back in Saloma's time. The Perla however did not deliver any harshness and this track was still listenable.

Going to a nicely mastered DSD file of Diana Krall Dancing in The Dark, this is where I really start to understand the character of the Perla. It brings out the various layers of music with vocal to be highlight. Diana;s vocal was brought forward while the rest of the music is giving the overarching ambient. 

This was further confirmed with the track by Nat King Cole. The vocal was just mesmerizing. And these are singers from different generation but the emotion delivered through the Perla was indeed sweet and suitable for those who are going for musicality and relaxing ambience.

I then tested the Perla with a more complex music. I chose this track for its complexity in it various tempo and instruments behind it and of course, no vocal as all the tracks I tested the Perla with seems to highlight vocals. Maaaaann..... this was even more exciting as the Perla managed to bring up the energy and various tempo of this masterpiece with such energy, liveliness and at the same time maintain the warm overall presentation. Layer and layer of musical instruments seems to pop out left right and center and I am liking it.

Back to something more common, a slow tune by the King of Pop. This one is mainly to see how the Perla in delivering a simple straight forward piece. No worries for the Perla. Again, the strength of vocal is the main highlight. Perla can really make you enjoy superb vocals from great singers at a different level. No harshness on highs and it really reveals the vocal strength of any singer  of their true potential. i.e. crap singers...take note including myself! 

No Me Ames

This was actually the first track played once the speakers were all set up. I kind of know how this speaker will sound when it comes to vocal and instrumental. I was really curious how it sounds when it comes to a common ballad/pop track. I purposely chose this track as it is not in English nor Malay. If this track could give me the emotional vibes, it can only mean on thing - this speakers can deliver the musicality and emotion of the song. First impression, yes it did!. The vocals are clear and energetic, full of emotion. The guitar plucking during the solo also sounded clean and crystal clear. Percussion especially the high (snare, hi hats, cymbals) sounds splashy and wide. The bass however is not heart pounding nor aggressive. It is sufficient on its own but once compared to an ATL bass from the PMC, one will find that is rather on the soft side.

Pengungkapan Hatimu 

Playing good quality mastered LP like this one will only make you fall in love with the Perla. Sweet and sweet throughout. The bass that I feel was much less compared to my PMC is instead replaced by a very warm and subtle bass that makes music like this sounds deep and emotional. Wind instrument sounds alive and spacious, giving me the pleasure listening to rather a huge sound stage. Vocals again, super wow with its clarity and while delivering a nice tone variation between Andien and Candra.

THE CONCLUSION

This is in fact a very unique experience for a few reasons. While the Perla is not a power hungry speakers with quite a high sensitivity, depending on the music, I can get the impact at lower than usual volume, but for some music, I had to crank it up a bit more.  Secondly, is one of those speakers that the more I listen to it, the more I feel that it does have a special place for those who really focus on vocal. While the bass is not for those who are into metal nor hip hop, it substitute that with an overall warm and also refined bass. And lastly, I am still very surprised with its ability to deliver that complex music with such boldness and energy.

It is worthwhile to check the speakers out at AFC Top HiFi if you are into vocal, orchestral music and refined bass. The Perla MSRP is RM 13,980. You can contact Min Ping Ong for an audition and maybe you can request to bring your own amp as well to test the speakers with.

Sepang Audio Den Revamped - Zu Audio, Accuphase, Denon and Bladelius

It has been 6 years since my last visit and first experience with Zu Audio speakers and Leben amp. To listen to this pairing or even to one of the product here in Malaysia, one have to know who owns one and request to be invited to have a listen. There was a distributor of Zu Audio here but not Leben if I am not mistaken. At this time, it was a pair of Zu Audio Druids.

Over this 6 years, the owner fondly know as Sting (yes, not the singer 😬) have gone through quite a revamp of his system but I have not had the chance to audition the synergy of this new set up.

• Zu Audio Soul Supreme
• Accuphase E600 Class A integrated amp
• Bladelius Embla media player
• Denon DN950FA CD player
• A pair of Goldenear ForceField 10" subwoofers (yes 2.2  set up)

The only remaining from the previous setup was Frank Power Bank and PTP TT.

Believe it or not, this must be the longest digital session I have been in for quite some time. 3 hours solid, from track to track of various genres were played alternately between Bladelius and Denon.

Sting has always been very particular of component matching and proper set up of the listening area. 6 years ago I experienced a fluid presentation between Zu Audio Druids and Leben with Triode CDP and PTP TT. He has now outdone his previous set up with this current one.

Why?

1. The vocal was dead centre between the speakers.
2. When played a full spectrum tracks like Dire Straits, I could feel the energy transmitted in the song.  The highs and lows were very controlled. A very tight and impactful presentation.
3. It delivers a very musical and enveloping ambience that wraps your body all around. Literally I had to look behind me on what he has done with room acoustic.
4. Emotion ran high throughout the 3 hour session. When I listen to a set up, 2 things can happen. Either I just sit still leaning against the sofa or I will start leaning forward and sing along or drum along. Listen to the video and you can hear me singing along.
5. I came home and start looking for my CDs of the tracks that were demoed this morning particularly Ella USA.
6. All the experience were coming from digital source that most would say, only analogue source can deliver such presentation.

This is not a review article but sharing of a listening experience. I find that this set up have stepped up 2 notches from 6 years ago which evolved around mostly analogue. 

The addition of the 2 subwoofers have injected life into the musical gaps if any. Positioning of the subs have been moved from beside the sofa to the front. According to Sting, he is still experimenting on the sub position.

Control, refined and huge sound extension are the 3 top characters I can say about this set up. The vocal throw, although having the speakers line as the main stage, I could feel the vocal reaches to my listening point.

It shines fully with full spectrum music a.k.a bass, electric guitars, drums, vocal, keyboard maybe. On  live, acoustic or unplugged tracks, although detail and emotions delivery are good, the highs can be a bit sharp to my ears. Prefer to play typical full spectrum songs.

But nothings beats his Mrs Mee Bandung and cheesecake that was served for lunch. 

Thank you Sting for the Hari Raya listening session.

AV Fair in 2021:A New Dawn For AV and Hifi Enthusiasts

Despite the current world pandemic of Covid-19 we are pleased to announce that Gryphon Production Sdn Bhd has made plans to host an audio-visual fair in 2021. The fair is slated for early Q3 of 2021 and will be held in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

“We have noticed that due to the MCO situation that many hifi enthusiasts are missing a fair this year. So, it struck us that there is a need to put on a great spanking fun audio-visual fair. The event industry is in a predicament, but we cannot just be waiting, idling away. We need to have some faith and plan now.

Discussions with potential venues have been concluded and it has been narrowed down to just 2, with one having an upper hand due to its strategic location. Attendees and exhibitors can rest assure that the venue will be most conducive as it is a 5-star venue.

At Gryphon Production we believe in pushing the envelope. For those who attend they will have a totally new experience. There will be a lot of content, other than what the exhibitors are offering. Expect to see live performances and more. As organiser of the event we need to ensure that attendees have a memorable experience.” said Wilson Teoh, director of Gryphon Production Sdn Bhd

Other than just a mere event website, a bespoke app is brewing. This is so that being at the fair will be more interactive and engaging affair.

“Having been in the concert, entertainment and events industry for 2 decades, we want to now bring in all our wealth of experience and inject it into the audio-visual industry. Times are changing and we need to evolve so that all stakeholders benefit. That is why we are also 

engaging a professional ticketing company as our partner,” added Wilson Teoh.

Having touched base with audio-video dealer and distributors in Malaysia, their response has been most encouraging.

“I have personally been in touch with dealers from Peninsular and East Malaysia over the last few months and quite a few have given me their backing for this event. It is most encouraging and humbling that they are placing their faith in Gryphon Production. Nonetheless, there is much more work to be done in putting the whole event together.”

However, the event is subject to circumstances of the worldwide pandemic and the approval and conditions set forth by all relevant authorities.

“We have started discussions with relevant parties to ensure that the event is properly sanctioned and organised with all the appropriate health guidelines in place. It is still very fluid for the moment, but we feel that it is most important to commence all the ground work now rather than take a wait-and-see approach. Attendees and exhibitors can rest assure that the event will be put together with constant advice from professional and authorities. Health and safety of our utmost concern.” he said.

Further information on the event will be released once a date is set for the official launch, of which is expected in Q3 this year.

Harmonic Technology LP-10 Phono Interconnect - Decent Upgrade For Its Price

So you have chosen your turntable and phono stage. Satisfied with it. Play lots of music. Until one day, for no reason at all, decided to change your interconnects (IC). OK, in this particular review, there was a reason. There was an opportunity to test out the Harmonic Technology LP-10 phono cable.

Harmonic Technology is based in San Diego, USA and was founded back in 1998. Based on their website, this company patented the OCC Single Crystal^TM design process where metal is purified to eliminate any potential crystalline barrier distortion. This design process is claimed to obtain purity levels in excess of 99.999997% in an atmosphere completely devoid of oxygen and other contaminants. More importantly, it is supposed to improve clarity, dynamics and power of the signals travelling through the cables.

The sample I received came with Neutrik Profi RCA and equipped with grounding cable on both sides. Based on the info I received, the LP-10 model is an only China Limited version and most probably not be available in USA. The build of cable is of high quality standard, sturdy with good flexibility if you have a tight spot to connect it to your system. The cable is based on 26 AWG 7N high purity OCC single crystal copper cable. Now, I am not going to go into details of the specifications as readers can get more info from the website here. One thing I am interested to hear is actually the impact of those ground wires that come with the cables. The LP-10 is characterised to deliver a neutral, open and refined sound. So, lets hear it.

THE SET UP

1. Kronos Sparta with ZYX Omega Cart
2. SPL Audio Phonos
3. SPL Audio Director Mk2 pre amp
4. SPL Audio S800 Performer power amp
5. PMC Twenty5 24 speakers

The LP-10 was used in between the Kronos Sparta and the SPL Audio Director Mk2 pre amp, replacing a Siltech Silver Anniversary IC.

Ode To My Family by The Cranberries

The very first thing I notice is how open the sound is with LP-10 in the equation. Dolares vocal sounded so energetic and upfront. I can agree to the claim of being open and refined sound. The LP-10 have delivered an unrestricted sound where every details of this track have surfaced out in a different presentation that I am used to. The sound of the percussion playing sounded sharp but sweet. The bass however can be a bit overwhelming but I know that this track, the bass guitar have alway seems to sound heavy. The guitar sounds was delivered with high clarity note by note. Although I could not find the neutral ground of the overall presentation, the video I shared got the agreement from the Kronos Sparta designer, Louis that it sounded quite beautiful. But I still wanted to explore more.

Moonlight Lady by Julio Iglesias

The open presentation is consistent on this track as well. The soundstage somehow sounded bigger than usual.  Julio's vocal sounded luscious just as the image he carries. On this track, I started to experience the neutral presentation that the LP-10 was known for. There was no overwhelming experience from the different spectrum of sound. Highs sounded crisp and light on the ears. The low end frequency was subtle but still impactful to create that 80s music sound. Sweet to my ears.

To All The Girls I Love Before by Julio and Willie Nelson

This was an even more involving experience with the LP-10. Willie's vocal sounded very lively and emotional with the LP-10. The open sound was maintained but without loosing any depth to the presentation. On the percussion side, the rimshot, snare, toms also sounded quite open and wide without loosing its impact. Refinement is one of the improvement I can hear after putting in the LP-10 into my system. Is it a lot of difference from my usual listening experience? Read the conclusion.

THE CONCLUSION

What is it that make audiophiles debate about the impact of cable, power cords, interconnects? I have always been neutral on this matter. There are instances where I do not find any impact at all and there are times where I will just go -  Wow!

Now, for this particular review, I had to change my set up a bit before I started listening to it more seriously.

• I first replaced my Vermouth Audio Reference interconnect (which is based on OCC as well) with a Siltech Silver Anniversary interconnect. between the Kronos and the Phonos.
• Listened to my system for a couple of weeks
• Replaced the Siltech with this LP-10

The reason I did this is because of 2 reasons:

• The Vermouth Audio Reference was in a different price bracket. The Siltech was retailed at a similar price as the LP-10
• The Siltech is a silver based interconnect as oppose to the Vermouth Audio Reference which is based on OCC copper similar to the LP-10

Comparing the LP-10 and Siltech, the LP-10 have given me a different experience with the 3 tracks above. Key word here is different and not necessarily better. The LP-10 was definitely true to its claim of being open, refined and neutral. Apart form the overwhelming bass on the first track, the other 2 tracks were definitely neutral. I have actually listened to many other tracks with the LP-10 in the past 2 months or so. Mainly to confirm the consistency in its neutrality. I must say that this is LP-10 main strength. It will deliver whatever the sound from your TT as it is. There is no additional coloration or so called extra bass or clearer treble. I believe that with this neutrality, the refinement and open sound just naturally surface out.

However, it was hard to hear any big improvement when compared to my Vermouth Audio Reference cable. It may be because of a similar base design using OCC but I did not have the overwhelming bass experience playing the first track when the Vermouth Audio Reference was in my system.

At RM 1,490 or SGD 490 for a 1.2 m pair, I would recommend this cable for those who like to complement your TT and phono with a neutral sound experience but with still enough refinement and open ambient. You have the option to have either Teflon DIN, Neutrik XLR (gold pin) or Neutrik Profi RCA. If you are looking at changing your phono cables, do give this LP-10 a try.

For more information, please contact KC

EPSON EF-100 - Petit In Size, Grande In Picture

When it comes to enjoying a good movie at home, nothing beats the feeling to watch it on a huge screen which most of the time is only achievable using a projector. One of the main challenges that a common household face is to have a dedicated room or area big enough to set up a projector. Not only you need a decent size screen but also ample space to install those bulky projector.

The EPSON EF-100 might just be the answer to this issue. Launched on 27th August 2019 in Malaysia, this projectors weighs at just 2.7 KG and at 23 cm on its longest edge, this projector is ideal for any space constraint home. Don't be fooled by its petit size though. It can easily project up to 150" screen size on Wide mode (111" on Tele mode).

This model is equipped with 3LCD technology that displays 100% of the RGB color signal of every frame. What does this mean? It basically provides better color accuracy without compromising on brightness (2000 lumens of colour/white brightness). With this, the projected image is detailed, vibrant, lively and definitely minimizes any jittery images.

THE BUILT

For a small unit like this, I was expecting the built to be cheap and flimsy. I was wrong indeed. EPSON did not deprive its consumers of any substandard materials. The ergonomics of the chassis was well thought off with the option to lay it flat to project forward or to project upwards to the ceiling though its 360 deg projection technology. All the connection ports are well hidden under a fabric mesh like cover which can be sturdily locked in. The front fascia is simple with just the lens and ventilation fins. The connectivity ports are also well fitted although I would prefer an option to extend the USB cable out. This is truly a non intrusive projector and with the choice of 2 colours, Classy White or Tailored Black, it can easily blend in any modern home deco nowadays.

It comes with small remote with a simple lay out to ease the usage. It is adequately sized for consumers to easily browse through the settings of the projector and also control the built in 5W monaurel speakers volume.

THE CONNECTIVITY

The unit offers simple connectivity options:

1. HDMI x 1
2. Stereo mini out x 1
3. USB Type A x 1 (for 2A power supply, firmware update and Copy OSD settings)
4. USB Type B x 1 (for firmware update and copy OSD settings)
5. There is also Bluetooth connection that supports external speakers
6. There is also an option for wireless connectivity to stream movies with its built in Android TV function

THE SESSION

Most reviewers will choose movies that are known to be good in projecting the vibrant colours and also the ones that were highly mastered and processed to meet the highest quality of image projection. Very rare that these movies will fail to mesmerize viewers once played on a decent projector. Now, for me I used 2 different movies that are not known to be as a masterpiece production.

First up is The Brothers Grimsby.  This movie was on 1080P BluRay quality. I chose this movie because of its bright settings throughout the movie. I wanted to see how it fairs in a dark and bright room settings.

 

In a brighter setting, I find that the image was natural with a decent projection of colour definition. However, compared to a darker viewing environment, I find that the image is more defined and engaging. Livelier and more vibrant images with a well defined colour tones. In this scene, I could see that the skin colour of Sacha is more defined in the darker setting. Even the hair colour of the surrounding people look were projected in a more variable tones compare to the brighter setting. 

In another scene, the blood stream has more colour intensity when the projector is running in a darker room. The red colour of the blood stream looks more convincing compared to when used in a brighter room.

Another example here is how the face and hair colour of Penelope Cruz looks more natural, lively and convincing in the darker setting. This is where I believe the 3LCD technology really plays its part. The colour vibrancy can be easily experience without loosing any brightness intensity even though you watch this in a dark environment.

The second movie I watched was The Woman in Black. This movie is a very dark movie where most of the settings on this movie was filmed in a dark settings.

The scene at the beach here looks livelier and natural thanks to the 3LCD technology that the EPSON EF-100 has. The sand contour also looks more defined when watched in a darker setting. It does not loose the brightness even though this is a dark scene. I have experienced with other projectors that fails to project a dark scene with the right colour variation of the objects in that scene. With this projector, somehow I can still sense some variation in this dark scene.

THE CONCLUSION

At RM 3,999, this is actually a steal for those movie buffs that are looking into a more cinematic experience at home. Provided you have an empty wall area or ceiling, this is a much more worthwhile investment compare to a normal LCD/LED TV. It is small enough not to be intrusive to your living area but at the same time provide a very vivid and vibrant images straight out of the box (I did not do any calibration). With the wireless streaming connectivity, its an added bonus as you can also stream online platforms like Netflix, Youtube etc. The EPSON EF-100 would be a great add on to your existing home theater without creating a big hole in our pocket. If there was a one downside of this unit is mainly on the audio side. The 5W speakers is nothing to shout about. In fact, it can sometime sound very highly distorted. Best to connect the sound to an external speakers either via BT or wired.

This unit is also suitable for the less techy consumers as it is so easy to set it up. No messing around with jargons or features that you are not familiar with. Its close enough to be defined as Plug N Play.

For a more detail info on specs, click here

Oopiib Sings Impression 2 - Live Recording in Bangkok

When Auu of Impression Sound Studio posted on FB that this album will be on sale, I immediately pre ordered one. As Kusuma and her were heading this way, I managed to get a hold of this CD sometime in February.

Based on my previous experience buying LPs or CDs from Aau during KLIAV, the sound quality of the recordings is something that you look forward too. I dont speak Thai apart from Khub khun karb but listening to ISS production is a must. 

There are 10 tracks on this album and all of them were recorded live in Studio 28, Bangkok.  I have been listening to CD for over a month now and I must say, it does not matter that I dont understand Thai. What matters is that I felt really engaged and entertained. My favourite track on this album is track 7. You might want to guess why? I particularly like the sound of the percussion on this track. The snare, brush stick, toms sounded full eventhough it was played at a lower volume. Besides the drum, the piano also sounded really melodic . Oopiib vocal really mesmerizing. The recording really focused on ensuring her vocal comes out clearly but at the same time full of energy to deliver  that emotion across. 

String instrument is a bit on a mellow side but wind instrument makes up for it. It really sounded huge and airy but at the same time it is mesmerizing. Never once Oopibb vocal fail to surface despite of the multiple musical instrument used for this recording.

On the highs, her vocal can sound pinchy at times but still sweet enough to forget about that. With the multiple layers of instrument properly staged during my session, even at low volume, the presentation from this album was still lively. The energy dispersion just envelopes me. It is so engaging that I didnt even realise  that its already on the 10th track.

Listening to this CD made me realised that there are a lot to learn to properly record a live session. But doing it right will give listener a full satisfaction. I wonder how it will sound if this was recorded in a high resolution format or LP.

I would like to say thank you to Auu and Kusuma for bringing the CD to KL. Now I await for an LP version of this live recording.

XTARK IA10 - Solid, Bold and Huge Sounding

More and more local products started to surface in the past few years. As far as I can recall, I have reviewed speakers, cables, pre amps, power amps, streamer, and headphone amps. This will be the first integrated amp with a Malaysian touch that I had the pleasure to review. First of all, a big thanks to Matthew Ong of AFC Top HiFi for sending this unit over.

THE BUILT, INS AND OUTS, SPECIFICATION

Sturdily built and beautifully finished aluminium chassis with a simple front fascia. The front is equipped with a small screen to show the volume step. There are 2 knobs, one for input selector and one for digital volume. The volume knob also act as a mute knob by pressing it in. The power button is also located here.

The unit is relatively heavy compared for its size. I would say about 6 to 7 kg.

On the rear, the unit offers 4 RCA inputs and a 2 sets of RCA outputs (I believe there is a plan for XTARK to introduce power amps as well). The speaker terminals accepts standard banana plugs. 

The remote is something special. Reminds me of a Bryston remote. Metal remote with minimal buttons for volume, input selector and mute. Even battery compartment is locked in with screws.

The IA10 amp is a 100 watter per channel amp at 8 ohms, 200 watts at 4 ohms and 300 watts at 2 ohms. THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) is at 0.005% and the response frequency goes from 20 Hz to 35 kHz (-0.5dB)

THE SETUP

The amp is hooked up to SONY HAP Z1ES, Kronos Sparta via Absolare Phono stage and the PMC Twenty5.24 speakers.

THE SESSION

On the digital side, playing Tak Seindah Wajah by the late Dato S.M. Salim from my SONY HAP Z1 ES, I was extremely surprised by how huge the sound stage have transformed in my set up. Clarity of vocal seems to be the main strength in this first impression session. Its not just clear but the amp injects the energy to reproduce his sweet and emotional vocal.  With regards to the low frequency, the amp does not fall short in providing very well defined bass. The PMC Twenty5.24 was giving out an immersive bass experience driven by this amp. The highs can be of a concern as at times, it can sound a little bit harsh. The huge sound stage is also one the amp's strong point. I initially thought that this was a hybrid amp i.e. having both tube and solid state characteristics.  But nope. This huge sound stage was coming from an AB amp.

On the analog side of things, this track Samba de Menino by Michael Blicher, Dan Hemmer, Steve Gadd is a testament of what this amp can deliver . The percussion on this track was presented in a very engaging manner. The bass drum was hard hitting and so were the toms. The snare was dispersed and hi hat was splashy to give that huge staging impact. This one really got me going as my feet was moving to the beat of this track. The part that impressed me most was the fact that the amp can still produced such a controlled and grip on the bass but at the same time maintained that huge sound stage that painted a real lively listening ambiance.  

THE VERDICT

At RM4680, I would place this amp as a very decent start up hifi category. Minimalist but with a very high grade build and also a decent specs. In this price range, consumers are spoiled with various options from Marantz, Arcam, Musical Fidelity, Rega etc. However, this XTARK IA10 can give you the spacious sound if that is what you prefer in your listening session. It does  give a little bit harshness in the highs but given the overall presentation, the clarity from the vocals and controlled bass delivery compensate a lot to this minor setback. Give it a go and demo it. AFC Top HiFi is located at Bandar Kinrara 5.

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. 

Stoner Acoustics UD130 - The Peak of All UDs

Every time I get a hold of a Made in Malaysia hifi product, I have this sense of pride and it comes with a responsibility to give it my utmost attention in the review. For this particular product by Stoner Acoustics, it's even more special as I have been using their USB DAC since July 2012 for my office set up. The first model was UD100 which I used to call it 'The Naked DAC'.

When the owner and designer, Mr. Ooi Tze Yang contacted me just before Christmas, I quickly agreed to give a review on this as I have in the past reviewed their UD100, UD 110 and UD120.

THE SPECIFICATION

As opposed to the previous models, this unit came with an amplifier as well. Complete in a small casing and volume control, the UD130 is lightweight which makes it portable enough to carry around. When you purchase the UD130, it comes with a USB cable to connect to your laptop and a carrying case as well. If you want it to be music on the go, it also support Android OTG. For me, this unit works well with my Samsung Fold, running Onkyo HF player, Google Music TIDAL and Spotify.

The unit is equipped with an AKM AK4493 high performance DAC, TI TPA6120A Dual Channel High Power Amplifier and a switchable USB Audio Class 1 (24 Bit/96KhZ) and Class 2 (32 Bit/384 KHz, DSD 64/12/8/256, DoP-64/128). You can read the full specs here.

THE SET UP

Source: Macbook and Samsung FOLD playing iTunes, Google Music, TIDAL and Spotify

Headphones: Beyerdynamic T1, Sennheiser HD800S

Earphones: RHA MA750

Compatibility: Literally plug and play for both Mac and Samsung FOLD OTG. 

WAV, DSD, MP3, AAC... no issues

 

THE SESSION

Take Five by Dave Brubeck on DSD

My usual first track for me to experience how deep can the UD130 deliver its bass. First of all I am happy to report that the UD130 is sooooo quiet. No hissing sound, no hums. Dead quiet. And yes, the bass extension on this track was exceptionally good. It juices up the cans sufficiently. It takes a bit more to drive the Senns and Beyer but the RHA, no issues at all. Effortless to deliver the bass that I like. On the high notes, the snare dispersion sounded extended as well.

At Last by Etta James on TIDAL HiFi

Love it Love it. The intro was mellow all in the right places. Send shivers to my spine. Etta's vocal was sharp and lively. I can experience the emotions through this track. The violin sounded very sweet too. At times, the vocal can sound a bit too sharp especially when she stretches her high notes but still tolerable.

Sweet luscious sounding Etta this UD130 allows her to sound like. Still cant believe it can deliver such sweet vocals through both HD800S and T1.

Return to Love - Andrea Bocelli and Ellie Goulding on MASTER Tidal

Ellie's vocal sounded sweet and luscious on this track. In contrast to Andrea's vocal, it made the duet sounded well balanced between Andrea's deep voice and Ellie's more high pitched voice. The piano notes also sounded very lively yet subtle. The bass and electronic effects were vibrant enough to make this track to sound old but new.

Enter Sandman by Metallica on TIDAL HiFi

Is UD130 all about vocal? Enter Sandman was a test for  heavier sound for UD130. The UD130 presented this track with such control yet still deliver that metal adrenalin that this track offers. Bass was abundant from Lars's double pedal and the overall drum tom toms. Kirk's guitar riffs were energetic but maintains its rawness.  This track shows that the UD130 is capable to cope with a fast paced and heavy metal tracks.

Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N Roses on 16/44

What can I say? I was in the mood of 90s metal and rock. I was expecting a similar experience like Metallica but for this track, it sounded a bit on a mellow side. It started off quite energetic with the guitar intro but the overall sound was a bit on the thin side. This was true for all 3 headphones/earphones that I used. It was still entertaining but I could use with a little bit of liveliness and essence behind this iconic track.

Sand of Time by Slumber Sonic on WAV 24/44

This soon to be released track by Slumber Sonic was experimental test for UD130. The bass intro sounded plucky but with still enough extension. The bass drums sounded full and well rounded but the snare dispersion sounded a bit uncontrolled. Clarity was evident here as I can hear each instrument separation clearly. The guitar solo sounded huge too. The vocal was mellow which suits the genre of this track.

THE CONCLUSION

Stoner Acoustics has once again produced an affordable, locally made USB DAC amp that does not compromise on sound quality. At RM300, this is a no brainer for anyone who is interested to improve their digital source without burning a big hole in their pocket. If I was to sum up the performance, I would say this DAC amp is the quietest portable model I have encountered at this price range. Its good for quite a range of musical genre including metal. It is also quite transparent. Playing high quality files is fun to listen to. Bass is exceptionally good and mids are sweet. High notes however may struggle a bit no to sound on the shrilling side. Have no issues driving headphones like T1 and HD800S although I had to play it at nearly maxed out on the volume pot. The unit is also powered directly from your source, so do check with Stoner Acoustics on compatibility. For me, no issue for Samsung FOLD and Macbook. It did not power up with Sony TPA Walkman. 

The sound characteristics described here is quite consistent across Beyer T1, Senns HD800S and RHA. It was just a matter of volume level, how is it for UD130 to drive and overall ambience. 

If interested to purchase, do head towards their website at STONER ACOUSTICS or email them at stoneracoustics@gmail.com