Hong Kong Hi-End Show 2008 Pics

Posting after having spent the morning at said show from the Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong (nice hotel!)... I am very tired - excuse any typos...

This show was probably more 'hi-end' than any other show I have ever been to, and I have been to a few

They had some stunning kit, but the big problem was they played complete rubbish through nearly all of it. No offense to classical music lovers, but I am NOT a fan. I find it impossible to assess system performance when all I can hear is scant pieces with not much more than a violin - and nearly all the kit was playing that kind of stuff. OK credit to Naim for at least playing a well recorded drum kit which showed off some very nice dynamics...

Anyway, there was NO CLX - big disappointment for me, really. But check the Spire pic below... one for Tom with a nice Pass Labs amp

Ok here is an AMAZING MBL system... and what did we get to hear? Some Chinese kids singing on it with some percussion - OK it sounded very clear but this is NOT the way to show off such kit. I was left thinking - what are they afraid off?

Here's some German turntable porn - a yummy transrotor... drool... gimme, gimme. Not plugged into anything - good job too, it would almost certainly have been playing utter tat!

:rocker:More Transrotor:rocker:

Avantgarde Mezzo - now THAT is a beautiful speaker. Unfortunately it wasn't even plugged in. You can just see a pic of the speaker that was - it is called a Neeper Perfection One. This little chap was (according to my wife) absolutely the best sounding piece of kit in the show. From what I heard, I have to agree. Whilst it was connected to some outrageous amps I'd love to know how much they cost. They are very well made, and produced excellent detail and dynamics - really fresh and airy sounding. I have never heard of this brand before - watch out for it - definately excellent.

Now if some of the other kit was playing decent music, I am sure it would have been beaten, but as it was...

Avantgarde Uno Nano - plugged into nothing but VERY tasty...

Brace of Krell Evos that gave the CLX such a hard time (or did they?) in a recently reported demo... not sure what the speakers are... but this set up WAS sounding sweet - and for the money - so it should!

OK - back on track - Vantage and Purity - as can be seen, MLs didn't feature strongly at the show. These chaps didn't make a connection...

The Spire's above sounded nice, but the volume was lowish... I was dying to crank them up a bit. Those Pass Labs amps sounded refined and very smooth....

Back to MBLland, simply because these were the most interesting speakers there. I NEED a pair of these for a while - they NEED checking out extensively in the comfort of my own home Surely they will lend me a pair if I go back and ask

I am sure these would sound awesome given some decent material - the signs were good from the Chinese girl rendition... (pure madness!!!). These Chinese - they are on a different level!

Maybe I'll go back on Sunday and see if they have switched over to some LOUD ROCK/REGGAE/POP ANYTHING BUT...

Now if these fellas can't get yer records clean there is no hope...

OK not the best pic, but respect is always due here - Quad ESL 2905s sounding, well, er, classical. I asked the wife if these were sounding better than the Neepers. She said no, they were too detailed and not as engaging. Personally, I thought they sounded less detailed. I can't explain the difference in opinion here. But the Quads needed a crank in volume without a doubt. Those little Neeper's were getting a good dose of juice - more than most and all the better for it.

I have heard the Quad . They are OK . I liked my CLS better !

A brace of Krells... just because they look cool. They have come to overtake... both your wallet and your mind. Personally, I am not a fan... or am I??? Those Evos were definately sounding pretty good! Again, more volume was required to assess the system they were connected too.

Lower grade Krells (and I mean lower) have never done much for me...

BTW: any suggestion that the Evos can't drive a CLX is close to INSANITY if you ask me. If the Parasound can do it, I just about think an Evo can manage it, don't you?

Now for a glass of some of the unlimited red wine I am entitled to as part of the hotel package... I deserve it, I think. And yes, it is the 1st one

C.A.P said:

I have heard the Quad . They are OK . I liked my CLS better !

Click to expand...

I like my Ascent/Descent better than I like the 2905 from what I have heard. But I'd like to take the 2905 for a PROPER RIDE. I don't think I know it that well...

Tough Work! Thanks for the pictures!

Did you get a chance to play any of your music? Or is the show not that user friendly?

Have a safe trip!

User211 said:

A brace of Krells... just because they look cool. They have come to overtake... both your wallet and your mind. Personally, I am not a fan... or am I??? Those Evos were definately sounding pretty good! Again, more volume was required to assess the system they were connected too.

Lower grade Krells (and I mean lower) have never done much for me...

BTW: any suggestion that the Evos can't drive a CLX is close to INSANITY if you ask me. If the Parasound can do it, I just about think an Evo can manage it, don't you?

Click to expand...

I agree, I have a feeling something else was wrong - maybe with that set of speakers, or something else. I hope the guys in Cleveland can blast the system and find out. If not, Burke and I will be doing another audition, and we will.

I do LOVE turntables. CD players will never match them for pure feats of mechanical engineering... or for looks... or for sound at this level... so give way Transrotor... here's some Clearaudio...

Are we going forwards or backwards in audio??? Pieces of kit like this show that the oldest of technologies can utterly destroy the youngest of upstarts... Move over digital... I am 100% analogue and I am going to teach you THAT YOU ARE WRONG

OK so you can't put me in your pocket...

Let's follow that up with some English digital gear... probably the best that the world has to offer right now... locked up in a cage

What a shame! I sometimes think hi-fi shows tease more than they please...

Prices are as follows in the order that you see them going vertically down... HK $328,570, $97,150, $228,570. I'll leave you all to work that out in your domestics with your Vista gadgets...

I hope this thread is OK... I know it is a bit off topic i.e. lots of non-ML photos... and it's using a bit of disk space... but I think most here like a few photos of some nice gear... be it ML or not

If not, moderators, let me know ASAP...

Anyway, just because these are cute beyond belief.... I need to find a home for some somewhere... I am SURE I can find a home for them SOMEWHERE And I KNOW that you can

Jeepers Neepers! I KNOW you don't believe me. I don't believe me, but these little suckers are very good indeed.

Please note, I am in NO WAY affliated with these kiddies. Next photo I will show you the driving electronics. And the competition is to tell me what those amps are (not the CAT)... cos I didn't take it in.

The Neeper in two finishes... far left, far right. No idea of purchase price yet, but I haven't looked - it might be on the web somewhere as I type.

I wonder what a Vantage versus a Neeper with the same amps would reveal...