I just returned home from the 36th Taipei Audio Fair being held this weekend. This show is perhaps 50% larger than Axpona 2014 to give you an idea. I saw a grand total of three non-Asians attending the show - four if I count myself. Two of the non-Asians were part of different demo teams. One was with the Spendor room team and one was representing his own cables - VDP Audio. He said he was one of the founding partners of Stillpoints (if I heard correctly). His name is Ray van de Putte. Anyone know about him?
I spent time in most of the rooms at the fair today. Some rooms got 3 to 5 mins, but others got as much as 20 minutes and a few got zero time because they didn't look appealing. It all depended on whether I liked the music coming out of the speakers. After all, I was there for 'me'.
My favorite speakers today in no particular order: Spendor's new floorstanding speakers 'SP 200 Classic', Lawrence Audio's Violin, Odeon Nova S/2, Daniel Hertz M8 'Baby Daniel, and LALS Audio's Classical Monitor High Sensitivity Horn Speaker.
The Spendor SP 200 speakers are three-way floor standers:
[They were not handing out spec sheets, so I must go from memory here.] This is the second production pair in the world. (I imagine the first pair is in England??) There were two big woofers (12"?) below, tweeter in the middle, and midrange on top. The Spendor rep quoted me $17k USD for the pair. The sound was tremendous. Okay, the sound was too big for that 14' x 17' hotel room, but they sounded fantastic when bass heavy music was not playing. The first time I entered the room big orchestra music was playing and it was too damned boomy, so I walked away. Later in the day fewer people were in there, so I stayed for a good 20 minutes. Piano sounded like grand piano; flute sounded like gold flute; cello sounded like '???' cello, Eva Cassidy sounded 'there' as if she were sitting beside me close. Wow! I've never heard Spendor sound that fantastic before. Don't misunderstand - I'm not knocking Spendor, but I've never heard their speakers like I did today. Hmm. My only two negative comments on these speakers: they were in the wrong sized room. [My living room in Oregon is 13' x 29' x 8.5' high. I'm sure these speakers need a bigger room than this.] and the cabinet/veneer was boring. I expect a prettier looking speaker for $17k USD.
Okay, you get the idea. Those SP 200 Classic speakers sound fantastic and $17k seemed like a reasonable price to charge for that sound. I checked Spendor's website, but could not find the speaker, so I asked the rep. He said these speakers are NEW and not yet added to the website. That's when he mentioned they're just the second pair in existence. You don't suppose Asians have buying power, do you?
Lawrence Audio's Violin (first generation):
I have known about this brand of speakers for a couple years. I have felt the shape, the styling was over the top exaggerated, but until today I had never heard his speakers. Dammit! Speakers that look that silly shouldn't sound so damned good or have such excellent sound stage. Yet they sounded damned good. They tied for the best sound stage of any of the speakers I listened to today. Look. I'm a visual guy. I really care about how speakers look. These just don't pass my visual test, but they excelled at the aural test. These are two-way speakers with what appear to be a 6.5" midwoofer and a long ribbon tweeter (4"?). I normally prefer dome tweeters over ribbons, but I had no complaints about this ribbon. I think this runs for about $6k or $7k in the States, no? Apparently, there is a version 2 that is almost ready, but I was told nothing about it.
Odeon Nova S/2:
Website
http://www.odeon-audio.com/modelle/Now isn't that interesting. The website doesn't mention the speakers I listened to today. I'll call the dealer to ask why. The Nova S/2 two-way speakers sounded well balanced, good bass down to 40 or a little below, wonderful midrange and clear highs that I could probably listen to all day long. Show special price of $158,000 NTD (just under $5k USD). Well worth the price IMHO. The No. 38/2 speakers were in the room, but they were far too big for the room. I understand that you want to present the best, but c'mon! These monsters need ROOM to breathe. They BLASTED powerful bass more appropriate for a 20' x 30' x 10' room.
Daniel Hertz M8 'Baby Daniel":
Visually these are okay, but nothing to write home about. Then, you listen to them and forget about their looks. I listened to about 6 different songs and loved every single one of them. I wanted to listen to more. Hell. I wanted to listen to them overnight at my home and maybe return them tomorrow (or disappear with them into the mountains of central Taiwan). Yes. They sound this good. These are two-way speakers with an 8" paper woofer and a wave guide tweeter. I asked three times for info on the tweeter and was told three times that Mr. Hertz does not disclose information on his drivers. These were the other pair that imaged best at the show BTW.
LALS Audio's Classical Monitor High Sensitivity Horn Speaker:
I included this speaker because I liked - really liked - the sound I heard, but I did not listen to any music that I normally listen to. It's quite possible music was chosen to play the speakers' strengths and avoid their weaknesses. I did not hear any violin, trumpet, flute, or female vocals while I sat there, so I don't really know how they sound, but I did hear some lower midrange, mid bass, and lower bass that sounded fantastic. The monitors at the show were the 12" and not the 15" (
I think!). It's a big monitor. I've never heard of this brand before. I'm fairly sure it is a Taiwanese company. Here is the website link:
http://www.lals-audio.com.twWhat else?
I had a blast today. Once again, I was the only non-Asian wandering the halls who could speak reasonable Mandarin. I got to ask all kinds of questions without anyone's complaining because of the novelty of having a foreigner ask the questions in Mandarin.
To top it all off I was given a free pass today (by an industry participant), I got a free dinner, free parking, and got to stay in one room after hours as the only guest allowed in. Hot DAMN!
I'll probably think of things I missed later, but this is a great start. Pics to come in the second post. You may have to wait a few hours as it is late at night here.
Peace all, and enjoy yourselves!
Michael
