Highend Show in Hyvinkää
More and more often smaller scale Highend HiFi events have emerged to supplement the supply of major annual HiFi exhibitions. This has happened in Sweden, and it is the case in Finland too. In anticipation of the Hifi Expo in Helsinki, 4-6 November 2011, some dealers/importers (Ataria) organised a highend show in the town of Hyvinkää, a 45 min drive from Helsinki. The venue was Hotel Rantasipi (pictured in a winter dress). The rooms were not free from acoustic problems but many of the rooms were more spacious than what we are used to in city hotels. Hence, no traffic jums at the room door, no sweating, no hurry, no urban rush.
Systems presented were rather high-class. All of them probably sound better in dedicated listening rooms but even as such the average sound quality was quite satisfactory. The sonic potential was clearly audible, and that's most important. Below are some images of the systems in no rank order whatsoever.
Hifimesta and Audiopori combined their efforts, and put up a system, in which Audiovector's flagship loudspeaker SRi6 Avatgarde Arreté was driven by battery powered ASR Emitter II Exclusive amplifer, AMR CD-77 CD player (used occasionally as a separate USB-DAC) as the digital source. The analogue system was Brinkmann Balance turntable with Benz Micro Ruby3 cartridge, and ASR Basis Exclusive RIAA stage. All cables from TelluriumQ (Black and Ultrablack) and CorFac (Corfac2). Quality of the sound was immediately obvious even though the room response was not universally flat due to acoustic conditions of the room.
Sound Factor presented Penaudio loudspeakers from Cenya and Sara to the brand new flagship model Sinfonia, fed by EAR Acute CD - EAR 912 preamp - Paravicini M100A mono blocks wired with Kondo KSL-ACz, KSL-LPz and KSL-SPz. The TT was Kuzma Stabi S with Stogi Ref. tonearm, and ZYX R100 Yatra cartridge. The phono amp was 912's internal stage, Paravicini's MC4 Step Up transformers at the input. I had a chance to listen to this system before in another location. This time was even better.
Two distinguished items on the side table: CAT SL-1 preamp, and ANJ Kondo Overture integrated.
The second room of Sound Factor introduced Linn Majik DS-I, a media player and integrated amplifier in a same box, hooked to Majik Isobarik loudspeakers with an active bass section. The music was sourced from Ripnas music server and controlled via iPad. Vinyls were reproduced - naturally - with the classic Linn LP12 turntable. User friendliness of the system was well demonstrated. The half empty small room didn't do justice to the potential of the sound of this system. Good music though!
AVI-Palvelu Arminen played the latest version of their Ceireen speaker, Alica II. Instead of a Visation driver, the speaker now sports SEAS FA22RCZ widebandwidth unit. According to the designer, the difference in sound quality is not minor. The CD was T.A.C. C-60, the amp T.A.C. V-60 integrated. A nice, dry sound.
AH-Hifisystems had three rooms. The first one showed Focal Diablo Utopia loudspeakers, Primare I32 integrated amp, Primare CD32 cd player and Olive 6 HD music server, Pro-Ject X Tension turntable with a classic Ortofon tonearm and cartridge connected to Primare R32 RIAA. The sound should satisfy even the more demanding listeners.
In the second room, AH-Hifisystems had an entry-level, best-buy system featuring SA Mantra 10 loudspeaker on their SA FS3 stands, Primare I22 integrated amp and Olive 4HD music server, cables from VDH.
In the Fischer & Fischer department, the main focus was on Thomas Fischer's new SN510 loudspeaker with NAD M3 integrated amp and NAD M5 cd player. Huge and weighty sound but was it with or without the help of JL Audio F110 subwoofer?
MR Hifi demonstrated the virtues of the classic British sound by means of Harbeth Super HL5-loudspeakers. The electronics came from Plinius (Hautonga amp & CD101 mk II cd player). Relaxed and easy-going.
Hifi Guru celibrated its 25 years in the field of highend business by what they called "so far the most balanced sounding Magneplanar loudspeaker", namely the MG 3.7 panels. The number one source was Clearaudio Innovation turntable with the Universal tonearm, and DaVinci cartridge. The balanced signal was inputted into Burmester Phono 100 prestage, and from there to Burmester 089 CD player, used also as a line-level preamp. The power amps were Burmesterin 036 blocks (bridged). The power conditioner was Burmester 948 and cables from the newest Transparent XL-series. What this system does right, it does so right that it is almost frightening!
Audelec played either tiny Quad monitors or Whaferdale's new Jade 3 loudspeakers, an interesting 3-way closed box system with new drivers. The speakers were driven by Quad Elite-series electronics.
Hifihuone trusted onTotem Acoustic's brand new Fire loudspeaker from the Element series. It has an entirely new mid/woofer and unusual-to-Totem cabinet construction, and quite a promising sound. The electronics came from Lindemann: 825 CD/DAC player, 830S preamp and 855 power amp. In this room visitors had a chance to hear latest recordings (cd's and vinyls) from Stockfish, OPUS 3, IsoMike and Kirkelig.
