Seoul Audio Show

[thomask]

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It is going to be held from March 3rd to 5th, 2023 at Kangnam, Seoul.

The above video is from the one last year.

It had been 20 years since I had been to that show at Seoul.


But I plan to visit Seoul during this March to see my granddaughter who was born last month.

I will report what is going on there.

It seems to have much more brands than Pacific Audiofest held last year at Seattle.

 

[thomask]

i am flying to Seoul today.

Since it had been 20 years to attend the Seoul Audio show last time, I have high expectation.

I would like to listen to MBL speakers again.

I may be able to attend it on Saturday only, but I will keep you updated if any noticable thing happen.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

I wish I could personally visit Kangnam, in the video you posted, the show looks very good. Be sure to keep us updated on what's going on!

 

[thomask]

I wish I could personally visit Kangnam, in the video you posted, the show looks very good. Be sure to keep us updated on what's going on!

I will be at the show for whole day at Saturday and report what is going on there.

 

[thomask]

I had been to Seoul Audio Show 2023 on March 4th.

I had lot of fun there.

To make long story short, there are several nice turntables which give much more musical sound than digital source.

The best speaker at the show is MBL 101E Mark 2 which really impressed me with organic details, all around soundstage and natural dynamics.

The last time that I had listened to MBl radial speaker was at CES Las Vegas on 2008.

At that time, it sounded beautiful but not with well balanced bass or dynamics.

But this time I almost got shocked.

Lot of other things to report but I need time for organization.

 

[thomask]

The most musical sound is from Blumenhofer horn speaker driven by Airtight Pre and power amp using latest Kronos turntable.



It sounds natural and musical to my ears.

Nice amps and speaker also contribute to it.

But Kronos discovery turntable is the main culprit,

During Pacific audiofest 2022, I like the sound out of Big Genesis driven by Merril Audio amps.

But excellent VPI turntable did play important role.

Shall I get decent turntable instead of upgrading my digital source?

 

[thomask]

This will give overall idea of Seoul Audio Show 2023.

 

[thomask]

I had not had chance to listen to DCS Apex before Seoul Audio Show.

But Vivaldi Apex full stacks including clock, upsampler, transport was available to drive Wilson Alex V. Amp was Audio Research tube pre and monoblocks.

I did attend full 30 minutes demonstration section seated at sweet spot.

Ella Fitzerald's voice sounds real with full details.

This system did what it is supposed to do, that is, extreme details, sharp focus, holographic back to front layering, clean bass and dynamics.

But somehow I could not enjoy the sounds since it sounds too hot or analytical to me.

The history repeats.

22 years ago I had DCS Elgar and upsampler, CEC Tl0x transport and Jadis 500 while living in Seoul, Korea.

I was enjoying Avalon Ascent II but one of Korean audio dealer did make stong recommendation of Wilson Watt Puppy4 to me with offer of special discount.

I accepted the offer out of curiositiy.

But Watt Puppy 4 sounded too hot and analytical at my home driven by Jadis 500 from DCS Elgar direct without pre.

Thus I let it go only after six months.

Then I got B&W Notilus 801 which worked well in my listeing room for two years.


Some people may enjoy Wilson sound combined with DCS but not me.

It depends on personal taste.

 

[thomask]

I saw two Lampi Horizons at Seoul Audio Show.

YG Audio Summit speaker driven by Viola amps using Horizon and Aurender as source sounds very musical and balanced with pleasant details, bass and dynamics.

While I found the sound out of Wilson Alex 5 with DCS Vivaldi full stacks too hot and analytical to my taste, I found YG Summit with Horizon quite enjoyable.

It may not bump my Scaena 3.2 driven by Line Magnetic 508 with source of Dave(modified with Farad 3 Lps) and Mscaler, Aurender N 30.

But I could live with YG Summit while I can not with Wilson Alex 5.

 

[Kenc]

Thomas, this is great stuff! Keep it coming.
I've heard mention of Wilson W/P 4 a couple of times. As I recall, they did not make a model 4 because of some antipathy to this
number in some Asian cultures. I thought they went from the 3/2 to the 5. Was there a model 4?

 

[thomask]

They displayed Goevel speakers at two separate rooms.

The more musical sound is from the Marquis driven by Esoteric Amps and turntable.

Esoteric turntable is something speciall with magnetic gravitation,separate power supply and option of external clock to control servo motor.

They also played Led Zeppelin with and without external clock.

It sounds much more clear and dynamic with external clock engaged,

Turntable cost 80k$ and external clock cost another 25k$ but they are worth the money.

 

[thomask]

Thomas, this is great stuff! Keep it coming.
I've heard mention of Wilson W/P 4 a couple of times. As I recall, they did not make a model 4 because of some antipathy to this
number in some Asian cultures. I thought they went from the 3/2 to the 5. Was there a model 4?

Was t Watt Pupppy 5?

It was 22 years ago, thus not so sure.

 

[thomask]

They also played big Goebel speaker driven by all Ch Precision amps and digital setup.

It sounded decent but lacked some kind of magic!

Goebel driven by Ch Precision amps and Wadax digital setup sounded fantastic during Pacific Audiofest 2022.

But Ch Precision digital setup lacks the magic of Wadax setup.

While I enjoy the sound out of smaller Goebel driven by Esoteric amps and exotic turntable, I did not enjoy the sound out of Goebel driven by all Ch Precision.

 

[Fred Crane]

They also played big Goebel speaker driven by all Ch Precision amps and digital setup.

It sounded decent but lacked some kind of magic!

Goebel driven by Ch Precision amps and Wadax digital setup sounded fantastic during Pacific Audiofest 2022.

But Ch Precision digital setup lacks the magic of Wadax setup.

While I enjoy the sound out of smaller Goebel driven by Esoteric amps and exotic turntable, I did not enjoy the sound out of Goebel driven by all Ch Precision.

Is the show still going on? Any Best of Show predictions?

 

[thomask]

Is the show still going on? Any Best of Show predictions?

It is going on until Sunday 5th of March.

But I have to see my 100 days old granddaughter on Sunday.

I still have lot of things to report for the show.

 

[thomask]

There are several Korean makers of amplifier and speakers on disply during the show.

This gentleman played 3 way horn system(92 db/w) he made driven by tube amps he also made.

It sounded very nice with excellent details and pretty good dynamics.

 

[hogen]

This will give overall idea of Seoul Audio Show 2023.

My opinion is yes, get a decent vinyl player

 

[ecwl]

Interesting. Just found out my flight out of Seoul today is delayed by 2 hours. Perhaps I should check this out.

And even better, I was an idiot when I visited Bongeunsa Temple yesterday and missed checking out the big Buddha statue. Since COEX is right across the street, I can kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Kenc]

Was t Watt Pupppy 5?

It was 22 years ago, thus not so sure.

not sure. I had the Watt Puppy 2/1 (used) and Jadis JA 80's made them sound better than most . Are Korean brands that we know here like Allnic, SoTM, HiFi Rose in showing in Seoul?

 

[thomask]

My opinion is yes, get a decent vinyl player

Lot of vinyls at reasonable price.

Some used ones are selling at 4$ each.




Stylus retipping will be useful if you have expensive cartridge.