Audio Perfectionist

Audio Perfectionist Sdn Bhd, distributor for the renowned McIntosh range of high end hi-fi and AV electronics from the U.S and Focal, one of France’s largest manufacturers of high performance speaker system will be fielding a super system centred around the fabled Focal Grande Utopia EM Speaker.

Flagship of the four model Utopia Series the Grande Utopia EM is a hi-fi enthusiast’s wet dream come true. A mammoth of a speaker the Grande Utopia measures an massive 2012 x 654 x 880mm and weighs an unbelievable 260 kg!

According to Kenny Lim of Audio Perfectionist the Focal Utopia Speaker Series is designed for a cost no object loudspeaker performance that will cause even the most hardened audiophile to drool. The Grande Utopia will undoubtedly also cause some to weep!

A refinement of the original Grande Utopia first launched in 1995 the current model is a third generation design with significant improvement in both enclosure and drive unit technology.

Lim described the unique aesthetics of the enclosure of the Grande Utopia as an acoustical sculpture where 5 separate tiers individually houses 5 separate, custom built drive units. The largest of the tier at the bottom houses a powerful 40cm (16 inch) woofer of a proprietary design.

The other four tiers house a 27cm bass/midrange, two 16.5cm midrange and a 27mm beryllium tweeter. Inspite of its impressive bulk that exudes an immense aura of unlimited power and capability the Grande Utopia is surprisingly easy to drive. It’s high sensitivity rating of 94 db sound pressure level means amplifier compatibility level is high, says Lim who adds that in reality a speaker of the Grande Utopia’s status usually demands an amplification system of near equal status.

That explains the choice of McIntosh amplifiers in providing an optimum drive for the Grande Utopia’s demo at this year’s KL International AV Show 2012.

In addition to Focal, Audio Perfectionist will also be fielding the complete range of amplifiers, processors and universal disc players from McIntosh and Opera speakers from Italy.

To experience this rare moment of audio Utopia proceed to Audio Perfectionist’s booth at Starhill7, Level 4, JW Marriott Hotel, KL International AV Show 2012, July 20 – 22.

McIntosh MX121 AV Control Centre + MC8207 Power Amplifier

Just a little over a week ago we wrote about the legendary 50th Anniversary MC275 power amplifier for McIntosh. If you are an audiophile and Mc fan that classic amp is a must have.

But what about those whose taste include not just high end music but home theatre as well. 

A Control Centre Worthy of its Name

To address that issue McIntosh will be displaying their MX121 AV control center and the matching 7 channel MC8207 power amplifier at the coming KL International AV Show 2012 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel from 20 – 22 July at their room in Starhill 7, Level 4.
3D compatible, the MX121 features up to six HDMI 1.4 inputs, 4 component video inputs, 5 composite video inputs, 2 HDMI and two component video outputs. There are also 3 optical and 2 coaxial SPDIF digital outputs.

Important feature includes Audyssey audio processing. Airplay wireless streaming through iTunes, dual zone operation, a USB input and a moving magnet phono input.

7-way Power Distribution

As a matching power amplifier the massive MC8207 power amplifier measures 44.45 x 24 x 53.3 cm and weighs a colossal 45kg.

According to McIntosh the MC8207 is capable of delivering an effortless 200 watts per channel into either 4 or 8 ohms all channels operating from 20 hz – 20 khz. It achieves all this power delivery at only 0.005% total harmonic distortion. Aesthetics of the MX 121/MC8207 is pure McIntosh, massive and solidly constructed with large LED type power meters (on the MC8207).

The MC8207 Power Amplifier

The MX121 Control Centre

Retail price for the MX-121 and MC8207 is RM29,200 each.

Triangle Color Speaker System

Flawless Floorstanders

Maxx Audio Visual will be showcasing, among others, the exciting new Triangle Color speaker range which include a pair of Floorstander Color, Bookshelf Color and a Center channel Color.

Designed to compete in the busy entry level speaker market the Triangle Color exudes quality in both looks and performance.

Flawlessly constructed and finished the Color range is engineered to perform optimally in a hi-fi as well as home theatre set-up. They are available in selection of colors which include Red, Black, White and Yellow. Top of the Series, the Color Floorstander is a moderately large floorstanding unit measuring 965 x 188 x 275mm. It weighs a solid 16kg.

Dual 160mm mid-bass drive units sit directly below a titanium tweeter. Both mid/bass drivers feature separate, individual grilles while the tweeter is shielded from damage by a protective cover.

Triangle claim a high 90db sensitively into nominal 6 ohms which is above average and theoretically presents an easy load to most competently designed amplifiers. 

Small, but packing floorstander tweeters

For those with more modestly sized rooms Triangle Color offers the more compact Color Bookshelf, a two way unit with a similar tweeter. Dimensions are 290 mm 165 x 240mm.

The Color Floorstander retails for RM5,900 per pair while the Color Bookshelf goes for RM2,800 per pair .

A Perfect Finish

Completing the Color range is the Color Centre Channel where two similar bass/midrange drives flank the same titanium tweeter. The Color Centre measures 175 x 480 x 262 mm and retails for RM2,500 each.

Maxx Audio-Visual will also be fielding exciting new products from Rythmik Audio, Audyssy Audio and Exposure H-Fi at Room 8031 at the KL International AV Show 2012, on July 20 – 22 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

JVC New Lifestyle Audio Series

JVC, after what appears to be a long self imposed hiatus is back this year with a brand new range of gorgeous lifestyle audio systems that will give the likes of Bose and B & O a true hard run for their money.

Expect to see a one (1) box audio design such as the floorstanding BX system that has a large table like top with an integrated dock for the iPod, iPhone or even an iPad. There is also a composite video output.

Available in Gloss Black or White Finish

Available in either an attractive white or black the BX system also features an optical input, an coaxial input and a pair of good old fashion RCA style analogue input. Driving a pair of full range speakers is a built-in 60 watts stereo amplifier.

The BX system measures 500 x 550 x 400mm.

For those where styling, compactness and performance are crucial requirements of a personal audio system the NX – SA7/SA1 maybe just the system they should seriously be looking at.

With a unique form factor that almost resemble a ‘coffee maker’ the NX – SA7/SA1 features an easy set-up system with a very small ‘footprint’ designed to take up precious little space.

Music with your coffee, anyone?

In addition to iPhone the NX – SA7/SA1 also provides playback capability for USB devices, FM radio and CD.

As a ‘go anywhere’ modular unit the NX-SA7/SA1 features the use of up to three full range speaker drive units located at the upper top end of its module to provide an almost 360º sound Field dispersion. Bass extension is aided by a built-in downward firing subwoofer driven by a built-in 4.1 channel amplifier

Perhaps, its most interesting audio product is the TH-LB3. Essentially a compact soundbar designed primarily to enhance the limited audio performance of slim digital TVs the TH-LB3 can be described as a cross between a traditional soundbar and compact sound system.
Measuring 60cm wide the TH-LB3 features four 6.5cm full range drive units driven by a built-in 60 watts amplifer. In addition to its duty as a soundbar the TH-LB3 also comes with a dock for iPods/iPhones and comes with two HDMI inputs and one analogue output and is available in either black or white.

JVC's Reference Series 4K Projector

For the serious big picture videophile JVC will also be fielding its full range of 4K projectors featuring its unique E-Shift video upscaling technology that’s designed to optimally upscale 1080p image to look sharper and crisper at a 4K mode. According to JVC its E-Shift technology is able to scale a 1080p signal (BluRay or Astro B’yond) four times to display at a 3840 x 2160p resolution. The models in display will include the DLA –RS55 and the DLA –RS65.
To audition JVC’s new lifestyle audio system and E-Shift 4K projectors at the KL International AV Show 2012, from July 20 – 22, proceed to Lower Level Three at the JW Marriott Hotel, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Pioneer BDP-3110 BluRay Disc Player

Available in Black and Silver

For both music loving audiophiles and movie fans Pioneer’s reputation as a leader in the field of optical technology is almost unassailable. It’s list of achievements goes a long way back to the pioneering days of the laser disc and DVD.
That will perhaps help explain why Pioneer’s crop of BluRay Disc players have always commanded a premium price compared to similarly rated players from the mainstream AV manufacturers.

That ‘Pioneer is always more expensive attitude ‘ seemed headed for a change when Pioneer introduces its latest entry level BD player model the BDP-3110 at the coming KL International AV Show 2012.

Set to retail at RM 430 an almost unheard of price range for a Pioneer BD player, the BDP-3110, according to Pioneer, is designed to finally bring the fabled Pioneer optical disc performance to a much wider reach of the critical mass market.

The slim and compact BDP3110 measures 360 x 39 x 208 mm and weighs only 1.4 kg. Designed for optimum digital audio and video performance the BDP-3110 eschews any form of onboard decoding and feature only a HDMI, coaxial digital, one set of analogue audio output with composite video out and an Ethernet input.

To audition the BDP-3110 and other Pioneer AV products proceed to Mayang 3 and Mayang 4 rooms, at Lower Level Three, at the KL International AV Show 2012, from July 20 – 22 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Sharp Aquos LC-80 LE 940X LED Backlit LCD TV

Sharp, quite understandably, is basking in its glory as the leader of consumer big screen technology when it recently launched its mammoth 80” diagonal width LC-80LE 940X LED backlit LCD TV.

The Sharp big screen stable now consists of several versions of 60” LED/LCD TVs, a 70” behemoth launched last year and now this 80” super screen.

While big screen TVs are not a new development, remember the huge rear projection TV and other even bigger flatscreen designs? , the current Sharp big TVs are paving the way because they are all remarkably affordable.

Could you have imagined a 60” digital flat panel TV going for below RM6,000 just a couple of years ago? Or that the Sharp 70” LED/LCD TV can be had for below RM17,000 ?

These prices realistically suggest that high resolution big screen TVs are no longer the domain of the rich and are now available to the common man.

The new LC-80 LE 940X retail for RM28,999. If you have a fair sized living or home entertainment room and find a two piece front projection system a little too tedious, the LC-80LE 940X would prove to be the ideal big screen candidate. No replacement lamps or room ambient light control to worry about.

According to Sharp the high 1920 x 1080p resolution of its big screen TVs will enable viewers to sit closer then usual for a perfect view.

This means, says Sharp, that even a big screen TV such as its 70” LC-70LE735X, with an optimum viewing distance of only 2.5 metres can quite readily fit into most medium cost Malaysian terrace or condominium homes.

Its 80” LC-80LE940X, with more than double the screen area of a 55” TV would be ideal for slightly more premium accommodations.

Sharp’s family of big screen LED/LCD TVs can be auditioned at the coming KL International AV Show 2012 at Ballroom 2, Lower Level 3, JW Marriott Hotel, July 20 – 22.

KL International AV Show 2012 Limited Edition Commemorative Audiophile CD

Virtually all of the great  Hi-Fi and AV Shows around the world, particularly in the Far East, produces a CD to be given away as door gift.

This year at the KL International AV Show 2012, July 20 – 22, the organizer, celebrating 19 years of organizing Hi-Fi/AV Shows for the AV Industry says a specially compiled Limited Edition Commemorative CD will be given to every paying visitor.  The special CD is not for sale nor has the entry ticket price been raised.  It remain at RM10.00 as it has been since  1994.  Organiser  Dick Tan says, “ The Commemorative CD is a long time coming.  It is not that a special CD hasn’t  been in our mind but the sheer logistics involved in actually acquiring one has, quite  honestly, put us off, year after year “.

According to Tan, that sad scenario would have remained quite unchanged had it not been for one man,  Joseph Ki -  architect, music lover and audiophile extraordinaire.  Known to friends affectionately  as  Jo  Ki  (pronounced   Jo Kee), Jo is also  the founder of the LS3/5A club where proponents and lovers of the famous small speaker hold court.

Jo Ki, in his calm and collected manner energetically handled all issues that had previously plagued any attempts to produce this Show CD and  these included following up doggedly on difficult copyright issues, painstakingly assessing and writing each track’s audio synopsis and following through with the actual production of the CD.

Inspite of the ‘load’ that was on our shoulders,  we were agreed that if we are to give a CD away we will have to make it the best possible.

All tracks found in the Commemorative CD are sourced  from the highest possible resolution master before being down sampled to CD redbook 16 bit/44.1 khz CD standard.

Every track is carefully selected for their astute music content,  high standard of recording  and are thus excellent materials for testing and gauging audio systems.

The Limited Edition Commemorative CD, the organizer hopes, will be the first of many and in the years to come will be a much sought after collector’s item among audiophiles.