AudioNervosa

Group Therapy => Sharing Experiences => Topic started by: mresseguie on December 14, 2019, 02:54:13 PM

Title: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 14, 2019, 02:54:13 PM
There will be a medium-sized audio show in Taipei from 12/19 - 12/22. I'll be on a family trip until the 19th, but I will try very hard to attend the show on the 20th or 21st. I'll post pics of interesting looking gear/brands that one doesn't often see in N. America. My commentary will never match that of Pez and Tyson's reviews of RMAF, but I'll try to keep it interesting.

You may need to brush up on your Mandarin. I know - "appliance fair" just doesn't seem very enticing.

https://appliance-fair.top-link.com.tw/ticket/10642?income=11610135&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3M6doLav5gIVQq6WCh2jjAQLEAAYASAAEgISV_D_BwE

Link to some of the brands being represented:

https://appliance-fair.top-link.com.tw/shopsMichael
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 14, 2019, 03:10:27 PM
Thanks, Michael. Am anticipating your report and pics! I was hoping for a Google translation version of the website, but no such luck....
Nick
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Jack on December 14, 2019, 04:41:07 PM
Nick

It translated for me using Chrome.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Guy 13 on December 14, 2019, 05:08:44 PM
Hi Michael.
Also here, no problem for translation with Google - Yahoo.

Guy 13

So close to Taiwan and not able to go-get there.

Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 14, 2019, 05:30:58 PM
Guy,

Don't despair - my master scheduler may still be persuaded into a trip to Vietnam in January or February.  :thumb: Geez. We're almost neighbors.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 14, 2019, 06:04:00 PM
Nick

It translated for me using Chrome.

Thanks, Jack. I forgot about that simple solution.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Guy 13 on December 14, 2019, 06:55:21 PM
Guy,

Don't despair - my master scheduler may still be persuaded into a trip to Vietnam in January or February.  :thumb: Geez. We're almost neighbors.

Hi mressequie,
please tell your '' master scheduler '' that in February there are lots of things going here on planet Vietnam.
Vietnamese Lunar New Year, our 25th wedding anniversary, my birthday,
however, that doesn't mean I will not have time for you and your wife,
nothing would make me more happy to meet someone that has so much in common with me :
Asian wife, Asian location and music equipment.

Guy 13
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 19, 2019, 05:50:33 PM
I'll attend this Audio & Art Show tomorrow afternoon. I'll have about 5 hours to ooh and aah before I leave for an engagement.

An AC friend has asked me to inquire about pricing on NeoTech items: NeoTech NEI 1001 / 1002 (3m speaker cables) and 3 pairs of NEI 1002 Interconnects (1 or 1.5 meter RCA cables).

Let me know if there's anything else that you're curious about, and I will look for it. If you want photos of the art stuff, you're welcome to hop on a flight to Taipei.  :thumb:

Michael
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Folsom on December 19, 2019, 06:35:49 PM
Pictures and opinions, pictures and opinions!
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 19, 2019, 07:24:37 PM
Teasers:

This link takes you to LuKang Audio's speakers. These speakers will be in a room. The tweeter is a 3/4" Hiquphon OW4; woofer is Audio Technology 230mm or 200mm customized drivers. With AT woofers, one might expect great sounding speakers, no? The cabinets are very thin and unbraced. The man who demonstrates them hawks them exactly as a carnival barker might use his voice (and tactics) to persuade potential victims customers to hurry up and lay down their money to buy white van speakers. I've watched him demo his speakers 4 times over the years, and I've never understood why he chooses to use this tactic to sell speakers. I got to see his crossovers last year, and <even though I'm a XO noob> could see that he uses cheap components.

http://www.lukang-audio.com/list_003.html

LALS-Audio:

I really like these speakers. I know a guy who owns their 12" woofer Neo-Classical floor-standers, and they are fantastic and non-fatiguing. I may someday own a pair if I can con...persuade my wife that they will complement the decor.  :duh The website doesn't seem to like Chrome. You can toggle for English, but there's more information in Mandarin. [I know. That doesn't help you.]

http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/eng/product/index.asp?smenutitle=Neo%2DClassical+12&MenuTitle=Neo%2DClassical+Series&anclasspro=&nclasspro=A035&programid=&Category1_ID=460&Category2_ID=470&selectnless=y

http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/eng/product/index1.asp

Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Folsom on December 19, 2019, 08:03:37 PM
I can't see any of the pictures on Lals. When I search for pictures the classic ones look nice that use bigger drivers.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 19, 2019, 08:45:01 PM
Neo-Classical 12":
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Neo%2DClassical+12&book_id=113&hot=&Category1_ID=&Category2_ID=&anclasspro=&nclasspro=&MenuTitle=Neo%2DClassical+Series&pagetitle=Neo%2DClassical+12


Classical 12M:
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Classical+12M&book_id=129&hot=&Category1_ID=473&Category2_ID=507&anclasspro=&nclasspro=A035&MenuTitle=Classical+Series&pagetitle=Classical+12M

Neo-Classical 152:
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Neo%2DClassical+152&book_id=115&hot=&Category1_ID=460&Category2_ID=472&anclasspro=&nclasspro=A035&MenuTitle=Neo%2DClassical+Series&pagetitle=Neo%2DClassical+152
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 19, 2019, 08:53:43 PM
Neo-Classical 12":
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Neo%2DClassical+12&book_id=113&hot=&Category1_ID=&Category2_ID=&anclasspro=&nclasspro=&MenuTitle=Neo%2DClassical+Series&pagetitle=Neo%2DClassical+12


Classical 12M:
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Classical+12M&book_id=129&hot=&Category1_ID=473&Category2_ID=507&anclasspro=&nclasspro=A035&MenuTitle=Classical+Series&pagetitle=Classical+12M

Neo-Classical 152:
http://www.lals-audio.com.tw/product/product.asp?smenutitle=Neo%2DClassical+152&book_id=115&hot=&Category1_ID=460&Category2_ID=472&anclasspro=&nclasspro=A035&MenuTitle=Neo%2DClassical+Series&pagetitle=Neo%2DClassical+152

Ah, yes. Thanks for that. The Classical 12M is my favorite. Workmanship looks very nice.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: rollo on December 20, 2019, 12:12:01 PM
Nice looking speakers. Beautiful finishes.


charles
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Folsom on December 20, 2019, 04:46:41 PM
Indeed, I would have high hopes for them.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 21, 2019, 06:07:07 AM
LALS Classical 15EX two-way:

These speakers sound so good that I really want a pair...knowing there's no way they will fit in our living room in Taiwan. Well, okay, my wife would never allow them in the living room. 15" paper cone and 2" compression tweeter with a very nice CNC cut wave guide. Just marvelous music comes out of them. I think the rep said they're just under $8k USD. I forgot to ask if the stands are included in that price.

My Taiwanese audiophile buddy owns a pair of Neo-Classical 12" two-ways that sound almost as good, but the 15EX play lower and have a richer sounding midrange.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 21, 2019, 09:36:34 AM
Very unique, nice looking speaker.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Folsom on December 21, 2019, 10:34:43 AM
Wow, they're a great price too! In the US Pi speakers makes a few things in a similar vein. I actually use something not dissimilar also.
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: S Clark on December 21, 2019, 01:06:16 PM
Interesting how some designs seem to endure.   Altec Valencia 846B

From 1968

(https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/1961783-altec-lansing-846-b-valencia-speakers.jpg)
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 21, 2019, 02:54:27 PM
Interesting how some designs seem to endure.   Altec Valencia 846B

From 1968

(https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/1961783-altec-lansing-846-b-valencia-speakers.jpg)

👍👍
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 21, 2019, 04:38:22 PM
Oh, ho!  :shock:

Yup. I do see the resemblance. I had thought it was a copy er redesign of an old JBL speaker, but I see it is more like this Altec. I went to the LALS-Audio showroom 3(?) years ago. The sales rep suggested that they had consulted with a former JBL engineer for their Classical models.

More show pics are coming...
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 22, 2019, 03:31:32 AM
Photos:

The order is a little mixed up. First photo is three speakers made by LA Audio (Taiwan). I listened to the floor-stander and the big two-way monitor. They both had a similar sound - with the floor-stander sounding fuller. However, both were too forward sounding and there was a lot of sibilance. Listening fatigue would hit very quickly with either pair. The guy (owner?) was very friendly and enthusiastically told me about his different tube amps. I've known about LA Audio for about 3 years, and consider their products mid-fi or entry level hifi. I have no plans to ever purchase any of the LA Audio gear. Sorry, but that's my very subjective opinion.

Second photo is the Yuan Shan Grand Hotel. It's aging, but it was the hallmark hotel for a couple decades before international 5-star hotels began establishing properties in Taipei. This is where the audio show was held.

Photos 3 and 4 are of Stein Music products. The speakers were very impressive sounding - even in a hotel room. I stuck around for 4 songs and wasn't disappointed. The fourth photo is one of the Stein Music Harmonizers that the guy had set up throughout the room. He insisted they make all the difference, and that diffusion and absorption panels are unnessecary if the harmonizers are used. I did not get to listen to the speakers with the harmonizers turned off, so I cannot comment.

Number 5:

I managed to misplace one bag with a half-dozen handouts about speakers or components. One of those handouts described these speakers. Sigh. My memory tells me they're Italian. In addition to the three 3" drivers, there are woofers which play to the sides. I don't know how many woofers nor their size. Very impressive sounding and very expensive.

Numbers 6 and seven:

Medien Soundlabs - https://www.facebook.com/MSLaudio/  This guy has sold variations of this speaker for a few years now. I've visited his room each year for the last three years, so he knows who I am. The cabinets are not braced. They're not really designed to play really loudly, and are best played in a small room. This iteration of them sounded reasonably good. List price is $799, but he told me he'd let them go for ~$650. I don't know who makes the two-way Altec-like speakers ($2000 USD).
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: mresseguie on December 22, 2019, 06:52:08 PM
Last batch of photos and commentary. [Commentary may have to wait until tonite.]

Photos #1 and #2:  Sideways 8 Audio amplifiers, Studer CD player, and third party speaker. The speakers were set in the corners of a very small rectangular room that must have been a huge challenge to make things sound reasonably good. The amp (don't recall which tubes) is $180,000 New Taiwan Dollars ($6000 USD). The audiophile buddy who accompanied me during the show would not shut up for more than 10 seconds, so I formed no impressions of this gear. I came very close to being a 'rude American', but kept my mouth in check. He's one of two 'doorways' to my meeting a helluva lot of manufacturers, leading audiophiles, and well-connected engineers in Taiwan, so I don't want to alienate him.

Title: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Guy 13 on December 22, 2019, 07:19:48 PM

Thanks mresseguie.
Always interesting to see products that are popular on other continents
and products we never herd of.

Guy 13
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: Nick B on December 22, 2019, 11:25:57 PM
Last batch of photos and commentary. [Commentary may have to wait until tonite.]

Photos #1 and #2:  Sideways 8 Audio amplifiers, Studer CD player, and third party speaker. The speakers were set in the corners of a very small rectangular room that must have been a huge challenge to make things sound reasonably good. The amp (don't recall which tubes) is $180,000 New Taiwan Dollars ($6000 USD). The audiophile buddy who accompanied me during the show would not shut up for more than 10 seconds, so I formed no impressions of this gear. I came very close to being a 'rude American', but kept my mouth in check. He's one of two 'doorways' to my meeting a helluva lot of manufacturers, leading audiophiles, and well-connected engineers in Taiwan, so I don't want to alienate him.

I guess enthusiasm gets the best of some guys 😀 ....but I’d rather have listened like you. Thanks for the pics
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: rollo on December 30, 2019, 04:50:49 PM
  Thank you for the photos and doing so for us. Must have been fun.


charles
Title: Re: 2019 Taipei Audio & Art Fair
Post by: rollo on February 17, 2020, 01:56:34 PM
  Thank you for the photos and doing so for us. Must have been fun.


charles


  I guess so.