Scott visits Singapore

Part One: An Introduction​

THE AIM: Okay folks, to start off with I think I should warn you that this is a long one, and the first of 5 posts. Hopefully you'll find them interesting. If you don't, then enjoy the pictures, although it should also be noted that I'm not exactly David Bailey when it comes to photography, either! The aim of this series of posts is to let everyone know a little bit about HiFi in Singapore, or more specifically, the Adelphi Mall and some of the retailers that lurk within.

Given the recent hoo-ha about Roy Gregory, HiFi+, et al, I thought I'd add a couple of bits. About one of the only useful things that RG seemed to do for me was to raise a bit of awareness of audio gear that you can't find in the average Sevenoaks. Sure, we have a few high end emporiums in this country, but even living in London I can't say I've been into any of them. I can't help but think that most people haven't been to Definitive Audio, Noteworthy, Walrus or Coherent to name only 4. The idea of a place where you can see some really esoteric equipment and heaven forbid actually listen to it without appointment, in a showroom, is almost foreign.


THE REASON: Why would I want to do that? Well I've visited Singapore a number of times on business and I've never seen anywhere like it. I know that we all start with musical satisfaction in mind. If you don't, you are a heathen and should be banished! However, in order to get there we've all kind of accepted that the basic Dixons / Currys mini system probably isn't going to deliver. What people seemed to have been crying out for is choice and a view beyond the sound delivered by the usual names trotted out in the UK. Therefore I felt that you forum members may like this insight into a slightly different way of doing things.


THE COUNTRY: Singapore has around 2 million permanent residents and about the same number of resident, non-naturalised workers. It's not a huge population, around the same size as Scotland. The difference is that all these people are crammed into a small Island about the size of Greater London.


THE HIFI MARKET: Real estate is at a premium, rooms are generally small and home ownership is not the norm, unlike here in the UK. That said, credit is generally easily available and the all pervading influence of western culture is also strong. Given this density, it is surprising that there is no Domestic HiFi industry to speak of, but what does exist is a large, concentrated market of individuals who have a real interest in high quality audio reproduction. That market seems to stretch from the low end mass market retailers, to young (and old) headphone enthusiasts, right up to the highest of the high end. We can't say that people don't have other distractions, gaming, sport, socialising, etc, they're all there, just like in the UK, yet people still seem to be interested. I'd contend that's partly because somewhere like the Adelphi exists for them to go. I'll let you decide what you think...


THE ADELPHI: Like the market, the retailers that support it are also tightly packed and concentrated in one place. The Adelphi is a small 5 floor shopping mall which contains the vast majority of Singapore's specialist HiFi stores. The concentration of so many shops in such a small space is beyond anything I've seen before, maybe Tokyo or some other exotic location comes close these days. In the past Tottenham Court Road may well have been similar, but certainly not any more, not for HiFi anyway.

The brands available range from Kondo to Marantz, from Lyra to Einstein, stopping off at Wavac, Mark Levinson, Linn, Naim, Dynavector, Consonance, Monitor Audio, Esoteric, Goldmund, Gamut Audio Note UK, etc... The list goes on. About the only notable absentee from my point of view was Accuphase who are supported elsewhere in Singapore. Ever fancied trying out Avantgarde horns with Naim Amplification? Or maybe Some WAVAC amps with an Esoteric CD player? Providing you are serious about buying then this can be arranged, all this and more, much more! (insert manic laugh)

I'm going to post 4 more times on this subject, each time highlighting a different listening experience with another retailer. As well as some poorly focused audio porn, I'll be trying to highlight some of the differences between the Adelphi and what I experience in the UK. That's the intro done then, I'll post Part 2 shortly!

The Adephi Mall - courtesy tuong162​

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Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five​

 

Part 2 - New Disc Village

Part Two: New Disc Village​

I'd called into the Adelphi on previous trips but this time I thought that I would take the plunge and do a little more than a few hours of window-licking. First of all, I gained the consent of the ZeroGain mod team and then I approached a small number of dealers and asked if they'd be willing to appear in a feature on t'interweb. I was a little apprehensive because:

a: I'm not so sure I'd want my business appearing in an unregulated way on the web.
b: I wasn't sure if taking pictures of so much HiFi isn't just a bit sad!

My reservations were quickly overcome by the positive response I received from the dealers I approached and I decided I may as well come clean to myself and admit that I am a HiFi Geek. Hell, there's worse things to be, isn't there?

You should also be aware that I don't think Price, Colloms et al have anything to fear from my incisive journalistic technique but then again I'm not asking you all for £3.95 am I? Although I should confess that in attempting to reach the lofty heights of self parody beloved of the audio 'journalist' I did fall into the Gregory Trap. No, it's got nothing to do with Nordost but I accepted a gratuity and it certainly coloured my judgement. But more of that later….

I only had a few hours and wanted to try and get a listen some of the kit that we (or I) would have trouble listening to in the UK. I'd have loved to stop in every shop but it just wasn't possible, so bear in mind that this is just an overview of what the Adelphi has to offer.

Also realize that my impressions are just that, only an impression, they are personal, subjective and in terms of evaluating kit, probably worthless too. Strange rooms, strange systems and limited time don't make for definitive opinions in my experience. What it does make for is a few hours of unashamed geekery.

So, where to start? With the music as always, otherwise what's the point? I had a couple of CDs from my traveling stock but no vinyl, so I popped into 'New Disc Village' to pick up some vinyl. Within the Adelphi there are a few specialist music retailers. Since the music is supposed to be the most important thing about the hobby, this makes perfect sense! At the moment just finding an independent record shop in the UK is a challenge, so finding a few small specialists all in the same place and close to all the HiFi shops was great.

​

While I was browsing I chatted to Ernest Cheong, the proprietor. He has a small but high quality selection of vinyl and CDs. He is also the Consonance Distributor for Singapore and demonstrates a selection of kit along with some LV Avatars in his shop. All this happens amongst the LPs and Digital recordings. I asked him a few questions about his business now and how he sees it changing:


Scott @ ZeroGain.com: Ernest, how have you seen business changing over the last few years?

[answer]Ernest Cheong @ New Disc Village: Well, it hasn't really, not in Singapore, or not for me at least.[/answer]

Scott: What about your clientele, are they young, old, middle aged?

[answer]Ernest: We don't get the very youngest kids in here too often, but say from 25 to 80.[/answer]

Scott: I see you have a fair selection of vinyl, does this represent your sales and how important would you say it is?

[answer]Ernest: Vinyl is still a niche product, but it is an important one, I notice people start with CD systems and as they grow older a number move onto vinyl. Other, older enthusiasts never stopped listening in this way and there is a good selection of releases coming out on vinyl these days.[/answer]

Scott: So if vinyl doesn't make up the majority of your sales, I assume the CD still dominates?

[answer]Ernest: Yes, but here we concentrate on audiophile releases and the biggest sellers are modern asian music titles. SACD is also still a significant part of the market here.[/answer]

Scott: Really? That surprises me; in the UK I don't think it is even a consideration for most people. What about DVD-A?

[answer]Ernest: Not really, never really in the Far East, maybe in America, but not here.[/answer]

Scott: And what about emerging formats, such as high resolution or studio-quality downloads, surely they represent a threat to the conventional market?

[answer]Ernest: For me they are not as competitive as the best releases on SACD / Vinyl, I think when you download a title you have the music but not the performance, I always think that something is missing. I think people will always want something physical to hold and to keep.[/answer]

Scott: Have you heard any of the latest Linn DS or Slimdevices Transporter products?

[answer]Ernest: No, not yet.[/answer]


It will be interesting to see how this affects things for us all, not just Ernest. While the small specialist labels like Linn (other labels do exist) offer high quality downloads I haven't seen any of the majors going for it. As a fan of mainly non- 'audiophile' recordings I get the impression I'll be buying hardware for some time yet. Anyway...


Scott: I've noticed that you stock the Mobile Fidelity series of recordings; I thought that they closed down?

[answer]Ernest: Well the label has been purchased and musicdirect.com are distributing the Master Reference Series recordings and they are of very high quality.[/answer]

Scott: I'm not a fan of purely audiophile music but what about UK labels, and indeed what about the UK 'audiophile' titles?

[answer]Ernest: Well, Linn records are a bit, er, esoteric in their range of music. Naim are very good, I like the quality of recordings and the variety of music.[/answer]

Scott: What could they improve then?

[answer]Ernest: They should remove that 'European Union' sticker from their music - when my customers think EU, they think Italy, France, Spain, where there is such a bad reputation for variable pressing quality.[/answer]

Scott: So in this case you'd call yourself a Eurosceptic?

[answer]Ernest: Yes, ha ha ha. (He did laugh, honest).[/answer]

(Okay, okay, I'm just passing on his thoughts, so no irate mails from Slovakian Jazz studios or Irate Italian disco fans please!)


I left with a 180g Mobile fidelity pressing of 'What's Going On?', 'Disraeli Gears' Japanese edition and 'Music From The Big Pink', a Columbia 180g reissue. Not bad for one shop I thought.

On the Mobile Fidelity releases, I've already got 'Sticky Fingers' and to me it's a bit disappointing, especially at the price. It is too bass heavy and a bit quiet for me. However, that Marvin Gaye recording is outstanding, one of my favourite albums of all time and surely one of the most important too. James Jamerson's flowing bass lines and the backing instrumentation sounds just 'right'.

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Coming up over the next few days, parts 3, 4 and 5, with a visit to some equipment shops!

P.S. I've since been to 'Noteworthy Audio' in Buckingham and not only were they friendly guys they also have a really decent little selection of vinyl.


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LINKS:

New Disc Village: http://www.newdiscvillage.com

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab: http://www.mofi.com

The Echo Loft: http://www.echoloft.com​

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Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five​

 

Great post(s). Looking forward to the sequels!

 

I visited the Adelphi three years ago, awesome place. From what I remember, four flours of hi-fi kit, with a couple of floors above that full of hair dressing and nail salons so that you've somewhere to leave the missus whilst enjoying the sights.
Very nearly bought a set of Bel Canto mono's whilst there as they were half the price of the UK.

 

I spent 2 days strolling about the Adelphi the last time I was in Singapore - loved every minute of it! It was the first time I spotted Amphion Xenons which I bought a year later back in blighty. Also picked up some superb tunes. Cant wait to go back.

 

I'm a sometime visitor to Music Direct in Chicago, if you want vinyl in the US it's the place to visit. Check out their web-site - http://www.musicdirect.com/category/11 -
I've also got Disraeli Gears & What's Going On as part of last year's Universal Japan reissues, absolutely superb quality
Bought a number of MoFi albums, never been disappointed.

Gordon

 

I could have asked so many more profound and relevant questions relating to how music is purchased / acquired and enjoyed. Put simply, this is a pretty traditional shop in an otherwise technologically fast moving environment.

If they can have this in Singapore, why do we struggle so badly in the UK? I mean Piccadilly Records and the others on Oldham St (Vinyl Exchange etc) in Manchester are a decent asset. But in London, there is only really Sister Ray and a couple on new Oxford St in the center.

I like the idea of picking your CD / LP, then sticking it on some half decent kit and listening before buying.

Music Direct is well worth checking out. There's a couple of recent re-issues which are real quality.

Pt 3 to follow tonight.

 

It's a no brainer, esp if you have a flight stopover and are either:

a. on your own
b. with a SWMBO who wants to do other things

Even if you don't want to buy they're happy for you to wander in and have a listen to some of your own music (within reason).

Oh, and prices are pretty reasonable at a rate of 2.3 SGD : 1 GBP, at around 2.5 - 2.8 they get very good.

 

Part 3 - Audionote Singapore

Part Three: Audionote Singapore​

Now I had some Vinyl to listen to I decided to move on to the first shop-borne victim, er, I mean participant. Audionote Singapore is an unashamedly high end enterprise. Curiously enough, although they have some long-standing links with Audionote UK I didn't see any of their equipment on display when I visited. There is a Kondo distributor in the mall, but I didn't go in there. Mind you, I wouldn't normally walk in to somewhere like this because I wouldn't be dreaming about spending so much money. But seeing as I wasn't, I thought it was safe, I didn't seem to be the only one, there were several people browsing and chatting to the sales staff. I know that there is a confidence and a lack of inhibition that comes with being a visitor in a foreign country, but I just can't see this happening over here. I don't think most UK dealers would be so accommodating, but I'd be happy to be contradicted on that!

The proprietor, Mr Cecil Tan has been in business at the Adelphi in his current store for 15 years. He agreed to show me around and let me listen to whatever I wanted.

Scott @ ZeroGain.com: Cecil, this is a stunning location for a shop and it all looks very impressive, is the image central to your business?

[answer]Cecil Tan @ Audionote Singapore: We looked at the market a few years ago and several things became clear to me. The number of customers was shrinking and the number of industry players was declining as the big Japanese companies stopped making serious HiFi. So we decided to move up market where the people who have money will always be willing to pay for real quality.[/answer]

Airtight Badge from Airtight ATM 211, 22w SET Monoblocks​

Scott: When you say real quality I presume you mean sound quality?

[answer]Cecil: Yes, but not just that, these products are real life products and need to be used every day in the home. The Leben range is an example of this; it fits in with our philosophy and the sound is excellent, but the build quality is also extremely good. This makes for long term customer satisfaction, and this is important.[/answer]

Scott: You mentioned long-term satisfaction there, how much of your business is from repeat customers?

[answer]Cecil: I would say around 75% comes from people who we have a relationship with already. [/answer]

Scott: Why do you think these people come back to you time after time?

[answer]Cecil: Well, we try to keep people happy I suppose; we have three complete systems on offer, each of which shows a clear progression in quality. [/answer]

Scott: What do you look to build on first? Imaging? Better definition of certain elements of the spectrum?

[answer]Cecil: Everywhere! To us the systems just sound better everywhere as you move up, otherwise why spend the money? They are all based on vacuum tubes, and this is at the heart of our musical philosophy. I think that people reach a stage in life where they want music to relax rather than energise, and that's where we come in. I also really feel that you have to believe in what you sell, otherwise there is no hope. We believe in our equipment, and we occupy a place where our customers know what they are going to get. [/answer]


I had noticed a real analogue presence in the store, indeed I had been looking previously at an EMT JSD 15 which was in stock, I wondered how important the analogue side of the business is.


Scott: I've been encouraged by the quantity (and quality) of vinyl available in Singapore, you've got lots of turntables, how many of your customers run a turntable?

[answer]Cecil: Most of them have one of some kind, a good turntable is more expensive so it is often the older customers who have stayed with analogue or moved back onto it that have the best set ups.[/answer]

Scott: How old are your turntable customers?

[answer]Cecil: Well most people come to us in their late 20s because then they have some money to spend, and then it ranges up to the 80s. We see people starting with CD these days, and then moving on to a quality vinyl set up as funds allow. [/answer]

Scott: And has this always been the case; that people appreciate the sound of vinyl?

[answer]Cecil: No, certainly not, in fact I am proud that we stayed with analogue through the tough years and saw it through.[/answer]

Scott: The tough years, when was this?

[answer]Cecil: During the mid to late 1990s there was a real decline in people listening to vinyl, we sold hardly anything, but a few of our loyal customers kept faith with us and we kept stocking turntables In fact we were one of the few people in Singapore to do this. Since 2000 we have seen things improve a lot and now sales are very good, our customers are running Vinyl and CD systems, not one or the other. [/answer]

Scott: What's your biggest vinyl seller?

[answer]Cecil: The TW Acustic Raven, certainly the best selling turntable and one of real quality. [/answer]


Despite the large stock list on the website I noticed fewer items in store and only a very few making it into the three demo systems. I was curious about this:

[answer]Cecil: The fact of the matter is that we can only demo a limited number of items at a time, and particularly with speakers, I prefer to showcase only one pair at a time in any system due to sonic reasons. There are however, a number of other models lined up at the side ready for demo if need be. Our policy is to rotate the equipment on demo from time to time so that customers will not see the same items on show every time they walk in.[/answer]

Scott: On the loudspeakers, I only see two kinds here, the Avantgarde and...?

[answer]Cecil: The DeVore, chosen because of their high sensitivity and valve-friendliness.[/answer]

Scott: So how do you choose the equipment you stock, is it done through manufacturer demos or by other means?

[answer]Cecil: Well, we stock products we like as I said before, and we only sell products once we've tried them for some time, but we often identify them at CES.[/answer]

Scott: What about the London Show, do you go to that?

[answer]Cecil: No (laughs) CES and Frankfurt are the biggest, London is not so big. [/answer]


Some customers walked in and wanted to listen to systems 1 and 2 in the main area, so Cecil suggested we start by listening to their current statement system. That didn't seem like such a bad idea at all:

Main demo system: Avantgarde Uno Picco, Airtight 211 SET Monos, Reimyo CDT-777,
DAP-999EX, Airtight Reference Pre, Brinkman Fein phono stage,
Brinkman La Grange/ Triplanar/ Transfiguration Orpheus + Associated Stillpoints,
Shunyata Hydra etc... (grille covers removed for photos)​

The look and feel of the Avantgarde speakers just dripped quality, with their beautifully engineered and sculpted horns and state of the art design fundamentals. All of this is squeezed into such a coherent and musically satisfying package that the design priorities are hard to disagree with. Then, as the room opened I saw they really had grasped the whole system approach and attention to detail in cabling and support terms. We were singing from the same song sheet and I just knew that this was going to be a transcendental listening epiphany.

Oh, sorry about that, I've been reading back issues of HiFi+ and that last paragraph just kind of leapt onto the page. I guess this is part of the creative process, man!

I'm much more of a ‘bass – mid – treble' kind of writer, so don't expect great imagery or eulogies, either the system works on it's own terms or it doesn't. First up was ‘What's going on?' through the Orpheus, LaGrange, Triplanar, Brinkman, Airtight and Avantgarde replay chain.

I've never really heard a good pair of horns before; although these aren't true horns they do have an amazing mid range that makes me think I maybe know what all the talk is about. Marvin Gaye's voice floated out effortlessly and the extension was excellent:

[answer]Marvin Gaye on "What's Going On": I'd been studying the microphone for a dozen years, and suddenly I saw what I'd been doing wrong. I'd been singing too loud, especially on those Whitfield songs. It was all so easy. One night I was listening to a record by Lester Young, the horn player, and it came to me. Relax, just relax. It's all going to be all right.[/answer]

Now this is a bit cringe worthy, but the way the mids and treble reached out, that statement made even more sense than usual, and that on a quick 15 – 20 minute run through!

I was surprised at the imaging which really stood out and I wasn't expecting that at all. Bass was deep and very well extended in such a big room; I guess the pair of active 12" helped there. If I was being critical then I'd say that there was maybe a slight lack of bottom end control and / or drive, despite the active sealed cabs but that would be nitpicking. I say that because there was an effortless nature to the mid band that I don't think I've heard through any other system. What I didn't notice on my short trip was any of the integration issues that people mention with Avantgardes. Although maybe that was due to the acoustically treated listening room and the time spent on set up which we don't normally see at shows. Listening to an ‘Audiophile' quality recording (Dire Straights) showcased the dynamic abilities of the system.

The straight out ‘PRAT' approach is just not what Cecil and his team aim to deliver. Personally I find this refreshing; they aren't trying to be all things to all people. I suppose for the cost you could argue that you'd expect a full balance of qualities, but overall, for me, the minor vices of this system were more than balanced out by the virtues - I'll have two, please!

Main demo system​

[rightnews="http://www.zerogain.com/adelphi/3-4.jpg"]
Avantgarde Uno Picco[/rightnews]

Moving swiftly on to CD through the Reiymo CD / DAC combo I played ‘The Magnificent Seven' from the Clash ‘On Broadway' compilation. The, air and extension of the mid range and treble again stood out. Micro details and the spoken asides of the band were easy to hear and I noticed a few things I previously only picked up on headphones. The Bass line kicked along well and I don't think I'd have any complaints with this sound on this material.

Notice the profusion of supports, footers, and other ‘tweaky' bits in there. This is a contentious issue, maybe not so much in the industry, but certainly on this and other forums where the real world meets HiFi fantasy prices. I have to confess to a healthy degree of scepticism on the effectiveness of many tweaks but actually what do I know? Cecil used the Supercar analogy where we don't all slag off Ferrari for making a $500,000 vehicle which is equally unattainable to most people. He takes a pragmatic approach to the accessories in their systems.

Scott: You've a lot of accessories on there, like many others I think that the world's gone mad when we have a 10 grand power cord and HiFi+ telling us that we can tune our system with different mains products, or should spend on cables like we spend on components. How do you approach the accessories, are they part of the system, or just additions for those that want them?

[answer]Cecil: We like to try what is out there, and we try and we try, if there is no improvement to us, we don't use it. We think all of these things improve the system, the racks and if you notice the feet under the speakers. Yes, the cost can be excessive sometimes; but if there is no improvement to the customer then they don't buy it. [/answer]

This seems fair to me, and noticeably free from the outright eulogising of some well known actors in the HiFi industry.
[clear]clear floated img[/clear]

After Cecil put on that audiophile Dire Straights we took a walk around the best selection of turntables I've seen in one place.

First up, the crazy 47 Labs machine, with potentiometer speed control and that unique, contra-rotating, magnetically levitated dual platter drive system:

47 Laboratory Koma Turntable with Tsurube Ttonearm​

If that seems odd, then take a look at the arm. The sound quality is apparently excellent but the work required keeping it tuned makes the LP12 look like a Rega P3.

47 Laboratory Tsurube Arm​

Cecil's own table was lying on the floor, a classic Luxman 555. He also has the full vacuum suction unit it just isn't pictured here. The Arms are the classic Micro Seiki (on the right) and the knife edge bearing SAEC 407 (12" version).

Luxman PD555 turntable, very rare 12" version of the SAEC WE-308 arm (left)
and Micro Seiki MA-303 arm with Ortofon Kontrapunkt A cartridge (right)​

I'm keen on vintage Japanese equipment myself and later asked Cecil how he thought these arms would compare to more modern offerings:

[answer]Cecil: I feel they are fine as a match for the PD-555 (vintage pairing and all that), but will lose out in a few areas if compared to more modern arms. Firstly, I suspect that the internal wiring and contact points are now oxidized after so many years of life. The bearings are also probably not up to the high standard of some arms that use exotic metals and even rubies for the bearings. Even the arm tubes are probably not as well damped as the top arms in the market now.[/answer]

The Simon Yorke S7 was also sitting there but I didn't get a good enough look at it, an embarrassment of riches obscured what would normally be a centrepiece. I did however get a look at the Triplanar MKVII UII arm on the TW Raven. I seriously want one of these. I also want somebody to give me the cash to buy one too, so if anyone is feeling generous, send a PM. They are pricey.

TW Acustic Raven with Triplanar MKVII UII Arm​

I completely forgot to take any decent pictures of the DeVore speakers, which sounded interesting, any of the Leben kit or the rest of the showroom. I could have spent all day but time was ticking on so I moved onto Jaben Network for something completely different.

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LINKS:

Audionote Singapore: http://www.hifi.com.sg

Leben HiFi: http://www.lebenhifi.com

Avantgarde Acoustics: http://www.avantgardeaudio.com/_wsn/page7.html

Avantgarde Acoustics: http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de

Airtight: http://www.axissaudio.com

Combak: http://www.combak.net

Stillpoints: http://www.stillpoints.us/Stillpoints/Home.html

Shunyata Research: http://www.shunyata.com

TCW Raven: http://www.gtaudio.com/analogue.html

Tri-Planar: http://www.triplanar.com

DeVore: http://www.devorefidelity.com

Transfiguration Cartridges: http://www.moving-coil-cartridges.com/transfiguration-hi-fi-cartridges.htm​

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Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five​

 

Part 4 - Headphones Galore

Part Four: Headphones Galore at Jaben Network​

So far I've talked a little bit about the Adelphi and a couple of retailers within the mall. In order to get a feel for the inclusive nature of the place and the different perspectives on Audio we really have to look at Jaben Network.

Jaben Network is a shop unlike any in the UK (that I know of). According to Wilson (the owner) it's pretty unique in the rest of the world too. Maybe a few examples exist in Tokyo and possibly Hong Kong too, but that's besides the point. For the majority of UK based readers, you won't have seen this before.

Jaben Network is a headphone / earphone shop, a web forum and a social haunt for customers and friends. The clientele are both young and old. Despite the growth of e-commerce it remains a resolutely bricks and mortar retailer, well the store at least, they also have a large web presence, but not everything is available there and the store certainly seems to be a focus.

[answer]Wilson @ Jaben Network: The most important thing is fun, that we are all friends. I know people can always shop around on the internet and probably buy cheaper but here there is friendship.[/answer]

The shop is a tightly packed nest of all things headphone related, from small in-ear buds (earphones) to some of the greatest closed or open back HiFi cans (headphones) that have ever been made. The stock of headphone amps ranges from the smallest Geovibe Ipod amp up to the most esoteric of designs.

A small part of Jaben Network
Inset:AT-W3000 (L) and Beyer DT880 (R)​

I'd been into the shop a couple of times before I e-mailed them to ask if I could visit to write this short piece; and was really pleased when Wilson generously agreed to give me the run of the shop. Crucially, he also gave me the help of his ever useful assistants. They all have a wealth of knowledge and do loads of listening themselves, so they understand how to get the customer what they want. My brief was for the guys to take me from the bottom end of the headphone market (<$75) to the top in logical steps. We used a Graham Slee Novo head amp and a Marantz CD4000 throughout. I listened to the Clash and a bit of Bob Dylan on CD.

As I took my seat to begin, there were several other customers in the shop, all trying different kinds of headphones with their own Ipods, or listening through CD players. I was initially surprised at the amount of money people were spending on headphones just to listen to MP3 but Wilson soon pointed me in the right direction:

[answer]Wilson: Not in Singapore, not the people who come in here at least, they care about quality! Our customers listen to 320Kbs and FLAC.[/answer]

"These people" weren't just the older customers with expensive systems at home, he meant everyone who came into the store.


For the first rung on the ladder I was presented with a plethora of headphones. When I asked the guys which one they recommended they pointed out the cheapest looking pair on display.

The "Bottom End" selection​

The KOSS Porta Pro headphones were a massive surprise. Open and pleasant with good bass extension. I'd be hard pressed to remember what Grado SR80s sound like but I don't think these are a million miles away. Whilst they are a different topology to my in ear Shure SE200 and have a different presentation I'd also go out and say they are just plain better sounding devices. At around 25 GBP you owe it to yourself to try some of these, very impressive:

KOSS PORTAPRO Headphones​

Jumping up in price to $165 I listened to the Alessandro MS1. I've never encountered this brand before. A pro-audio manufacturer they produce this range with a well known audio company. You'll recognise the looks straight away:

Alessandro MS1 with Jaben-network custom wood inserts​

Yes, these are made in conjunction with Grado. They are made to a different spec and tuned to sound different from their equivalent Grado by Alessandro. There's only 3 models and they all have a sound that while based on the Grado, is also quite easy to differentiate. These ones have a set of Jaben-custom wooden inserts. The MS1 are priced between the SR60 and 80. Compared to the Koss the sound was more realistic tonally and the bass was noticeably improved. Maybe my ringing endorsement of the Koss was a bit enthusiastic. From memory and my RS1s I think these have a bit more ‘bite' than an equivalent Grado would.


We then took another jump in price and a change in delivery to a closed back system. The Denon ADH2000 is a popular, mid priced product. The sound was typically closed back, much stronger bass and impact. On the downside there was a trace of top end harshness and I don't think I personally could have lived with these in the long term. I know that ‘Ghetto Defendant' isn't great sounding on CD but my inherent preference for the open back method was becoming more and more obvious.


We next tried a pair of Beyer Dynamic DT880. These weren't really to my taste on the Graham Slee, they sounded thin and uninspiring. The Clash were tinny and Bob Dylan's band had all left the building. When we swapped to the Beyer head amp there was something of a transformation. Mind you, at the price of the amp I would have expected a big change. There was an obvious improvement in the extension and dynamics. It was a much better performance overall. Louder listening was possible and a much greater sense of detail shone through. The Beyer amp has a real synergy with their headphones. Swapping over to the ADH2000 just proved this; I still noticed a harshness that just wasn't there with the DT880s.

Beyrdynamic DT880​

I'm dragging on here so I'll move onto the best bits. When asked for a cost-no object headphone choice from their stock the guys offered 3 different designs. The Grado GS1000, the Denon ADH7000 and the Audio Techica W-5000

Grado GS1000 (L) and Audio Technica W-5000 (R)​

In short, they were all great, ultimately they all show up the source and there was harshness at volumes that I don't get with my RS1s on my system. However, they were all good to listen to.


The Grado first, I own RS1s and I like the "house" sound. I've briefly listened to the GS1000 before and thought they were good, if a touch pricey considering the relatively small differences between them and the RS1s. I think I like them more now, as with the other top end designs they have the knack of blending the best characteristics of open and closed back designs. The size of the drivers no doubt helps the bass response and the treble is simply excellent. Bob Dylan's voice in "Hurricane" was amazing. In comfort terms I found them okay, although I know others just don't get on with them.


I'd get the Denon cans just for the looks; the sound easily matches the appearance. A set of closed back headphones that sound as open and airy as the best open ones that I've heard. Even on the harsher passages there was hardly any trace of that screeching sound which all the closed backs had shown so far. The bass impact and quality was also the best yet by some margin:

The Denon ADH7000​

And finally; the Audio Technica, I don't think you can get these in the UK and they are a truly dynamic design in every sense of the word. From my short listen and what the Jaben staff said, I'd expect them to excel on Classical material and with a better source. However, they did appear a touch less forgiving than the Grados with less bass weight than the Denons. Ultimately they didn't compare well for me. Although a quick 5 minute A-B demo is hardly fair listening conditions.

Audio Technica W-5000 in traveling case, nice velvet​

Once I'd finished testing the patience of Wilson's staff, he showed me a few more interesting things. The first was a pair of Audio Technica L-3000, covered in Connolly Leather, they look great, but because they are a brand new, unused part of a 200 strong limited edition, I thought asking for a listen would be a bit much:

Audio Technica ATH-L-3000​

Another unique piece of equipment is a Sennheiser Orpheus system. It's only in the window, and I didn't even dare ask to hear it, but it is there, one of only 300 ever made. Is this the most expensive headphone system in the world?


Now the last thing Wilson showed me was a strange pair of little in-ear headphones. I was shown them on condition that I held back for 10 days before talking about them. These otherwise unremarkable ‘Crossroads' ear-buds come with different end plugs; they allow the user to tune the sound to their taste. Now that's dedication, and a neat trick to differentiate their product from the sea of available ear-buds.


I've only really scratched the surface here. I haven't mentioned my earlier trips with an Ipod and head-amp, listening to Audio Technica AD2000, open back and Sennheiser HD590 semi open headphones. I didn't touch Stax (although Wilson helps distribute them in Singapore) either, because I just ran out of time. If you are in Singapore and you think you may be interested in some headphones you need to see this place. Also have a look at their forum for some headphone advice too. I'd like to offer my personal thanks to Wilson and all the staff at Jaben Network.


And finally, in a House of Commons confessional moment, I need to declare my interest for the sake of transparency. Before I left Wilson gave me a Geovibe Ipod head amp and the IPOD connecting cable. He wouldn't accept any payment. What a nice guy, it's not as if this will generate a fortune for him, or will it, hmmmm. Thanks again Wilson!

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MANUFACTURERS / STORES LINKS:

Jaben Network's Store:http://jaben.net/shopping/index.php

Grado Labs: http://www.gradolabs.com

Audio Technica: http://www.audio-technica.com

Beyer Dynamic: http://www.beyerdynamic.de/international/

Denon: http://www.denon.co.uk/site/frames_main.php?main=prod&MID=3&action=gdet&sub=2&ver=

Alessandro: http://www.alessandro-products.com/headphones.html

Koss: http://www.koss.com

Graham Slee: http://www.gspaudio.co.uk


FORUMS / INFO LINKS:

Jaben Network: http://www.jaben.net

Head-Fi: http://www.head-fi.org​

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Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five​

 

Part 5 - CD Acoustics and Round Up

Part Five: CD Acoustics and Round Up​

CD Acoustics major in Harbeth speakers and Dynavector Cartridges. Indeed after 21 years of constant support they are one of the oldest Harbeth distributors in the world. One of the perils of being a Harbeth stockist is that once they arrive they usually get sold, so the shop isn't really a true reflection of what they deliver. Despite the lack of any real publicity in their home nation, Harbeth are going strong with consistently good sales overseas. CD Acoustics can sell all that they can order, indeed with two pairs of the 40.1 monitors already sold and another 3 on order (in April 09), business certainly seems to be booming. The owner here was a truly nice chap. We spent a long time chatting.

Dynavector cartridge range​

They also hold Dynavector cartridges and stock the full range of carts up to the XX2 but also has one special item in the store. A customer has special ordered a Dynavector DRT XV1t, not the XV1s but the rarer "t" version.

Dynavector DRT XV1t​

I didn't ask to see it without the guard; the owner hasn't even heard it yet. Apparently he hasn't quite decided what he is going to do with it!! A cracking little shop and the first example I saw of home theatre in the Adelphi.

Once again, time was my enemy and at risk of breaking into yet another sweat I made best speed to my next prospective location, Music by Design. I just wandered into this shop, on spec, explained what I wanted to do and they were excellent. When I arrived there was an audiophile test CD on consisting mainly of a series of drum beats. Seeing my interest the guys suggested I try some real music. Well, out came the CD again and on went The Clash.

Wavac HE-833Ver1.3 150 watt monoblocks CEC top loading CD,
Einstein The Tube line stage​

What a different presentation this setup gave to the last valve based one I listened to. This time, there was less scale, also, the trebles and mids didn't have that silky quality that the Avantgarde and Airtight setup produced. What it did have was timing, bass impact and drive.

Wavac HE-833Ver1.3 150 watt Monoblock​

Maybe it was the all piston speaker system, maybe it was the extra power in the Wavacs, maybe it was the different support and mains treatments (only joking). Whatever the cause, the effect was certainly clear. My personal bet is that the speakers play the biggest part, the amps next and I think the smaller more enclosed listening space also contributes. I found the sound just as enjoyable but in a different way. In the long term I'm sure a clear favourite would emerge but it was good to hear a totally different approach also delivering the goods, (albeit at a much higher price).


For me, the most interesting bit of kit was the Einstein 'Turntable's Choice' phono stage. I just didn't get the chance to listen to it - although the staff were really keen, I didn't have any time left. This is the fully balanced version, 1 chassis and power supply per channel. Note the plug with '150' written on. This is the loading mechanism and the stage comes pre-supplied with your preferred setting or with a number of plugs for a range of cartridges. Nice:

Einstein Audio Turntable's Choice XLR phono stage​

Einstein Audio Turntable's Choice XLR phono stage​

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MANUFACTURERS / STORES LINKS:

Sound Consultants: http://www.soundconsultants.net
(For music by design shop, they are also the Singapore distributor for Wavac)

E-mail for CD Acoustic Equipment: g101623 [at] singnet.com.sg

Dynavector: http://www.dynavector.com

WAVAC Audio: http://www.wavac-audio.jp

Harbeth UK: http://www.harbeth.co.uk

Einstein Audio: http://www.einstein-audio.de

CEC International: http://www.cec-international.de



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Round Up​

Chatting to a few different retailers and listening to some interesting equipment was great. I was struck by the friendliness and openness of everyone. I never mentioned buying anything (I did mention the forum) and they put aside their time to chat and let me listen to music. I don't want to cast aspersions on every single UK retailer but I can't see that happening in many places over here.

All owners talked about the advantages of the Adelphi, although not the norm it is common for people to bring equipment from other retailers into a shop to demo with their equipment. Fancy hearing some Naim with Avantgarde? What about comparing the merits of Mark Levinson and Wavac? Or more realistically (for me at least), you could hear how some Rega R3's stack up against the latest Monitor Audios.

The combination of music retailers and equipment specialists really works and having all these dealers in the same place makes it easy and convenient to browse a huge range of products.

It would be difficult to replicate in the UK, I'm sure rents are higher, customer interest is lower and there probably aren't any suitable facilities. However, the equipment on show makes the Heathrow HiFi show look distinctly amateur in comparison.


One last note from me is that when the exchange rate is good, HiFi in Singapore is a real bargain. However, don't forget to include tax and postage in your calculations. Also, whilst all the dealers would be pleased to sell to tourists in person, they are all supported by manufacturers with strict distribution arrangements. They generally aren't able to sell outside their own market.


That's enough for now, and if you've bothered to read this far then thanks. All this is Singapore from a tourist and from my individual perspective. I'm not an especially critical listener and if most of this seems positive then that's because it was a pretty positive experience!

That's all from me folks, thanks for reading!

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Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five​

 

Great part on Dynavector as i am getting myself a Dynavector
DV20XLCartridge not top of the line but looks good for the price. Great show what we need more off Thanks Noel W.

 

THE COUNTRY: Singapore has around 2 million permanent residents and about the same number of resident, non-naturalised workers. It's not a huge population, around the same size as Scotland. The difference is that all these people are crammed into a small Island about the size of Greater London.



What does that make the 18 million who do live in Greater London, sardines?

 

That's a very good point that,

I shouldn't have compared the size of Singapore to Greater London, as Singapore has only a third of the area of this large conurbation.

Using the ever reliable Wikepedia I can tell you that:

Singapore has a population of: 4.86m and an area of 274 Sq miles

Greater London has a population of 7.512m and an area of 609 Sq miles

Therefore 'wiki-densities' are:

Singapore is: 17275 people per Sq mile,
London is 10596 people per Sq mile

Continuing the sardine analogy then if the glorious citizens of London are the aforementioned bait fish; I would liken Singapore to a kind of smoked mussel, having a suitably higher density in the relevant container.

 

Hi Scott,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I enjoyed reading them.

 

Hi Scott,

Did you note any of the prices? How do they compare with UK prices?

All interesting stuff.

SCIDB

 

What were the 'pistonic' speakers?

 

Markus, like my tech-talk?

I'm not sure, and can't read my handwriting either. They weren't that efficient as I recall becuase I remember asking the staff. Think they may have been German.

 

European and US kit is more expensive than the far eastern stuff in general. I'll try and dig out my notes but from memory:

Once the exchange rate hits 2.5SGD: GBP the prices start to get good. At 2.7 - 2.8 they are very good.

I think the Dynavector XX2 was around 600 quid.

 

A Marten Design Miles 3, perhaps?