2013 Seoul International Audio Festival

[Washline]

I thought I would share some photos from the Seoul audio show that I attended on March 2 after I got back from a 4-week visit to the US. It ran for three days through the course of the weekend, and this year it came about 6-8 weeks earlier than it ordinarily does (late April usually). Some of the highlights included my first chance to hear the Focal Grande Utopia EM as well as the D'Agostino amps. I was duly impressed with a number of the rooms hosting Korean made gear. I'll be adding photos and comments to this thread over the next few days. I took these with my cell phone (still no camera), so I apologize for the quality at times.

First of all, the Focal speakers, which were paired with SimAudio amplification this time. I was blown away by the size of the Grande Utopias as well as their coherence and ability to reproduce a wide variety of music through the 30 minute demonstration periods. I stayed in this room for 20 minutes, which was the longest I spent in any. I had heard the Diablos last year with Bryston gear, and I was very much hooked on the sound. I also got a chance to see though not hear the Scalas.

[Washline]

Here are some images of the D'Agostino amps. You'll note the second image with B&W's as well as Octave amps in the room.

[Washline]

While I've never been that crazy about the Esotar tweeter in comparison for example with the Focal Beryllium, I've always been very impressed by how well the Dynaudio speakers produce a soundstage with very precise imaging. This was one of the better sounding rooms in the show. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the amplification.

[Washline]

This was for me the best sounding room in the entire show. Local distributor of especially expensive high end gear, Sonoris, also exhibited with Magico speakers. In this room the source was the Orpheus SACD player. I was blown away by this machine. I wish I could afford it.

[Washline]

Another superb sounding room though I'm not as sold on the Magico sound as many others are. It's superb to be certain, but given the plaudits and price, I was expecting a bit more.

[Washline]

The Korean manufactures more than held their own, and for the most part in the value front as well though some of the manufacturers, especially Hemingway cable, I thought were way overpriced. I've felt the same about Soliton cables as well.

Seo Byong Ik produces tube amplification, and the preamps have a very retro Marantz aesthetic going for them. Pretty good sounding overall.

[Washline]

I got a chance to hear the new Alexia in a very crowded and dark room, so I wasn't able to get a good photo. I was however duly impressed with the Alexias as I was with the new Maxx's last year.

[Washline]

Some have been discussing the Codia racks on AA recently. They're very nice although certainly Quadraspire knock-offs at a lower price point. I like the headphone stand and would certainly buy one if I were still using headphones on a regular basis. Here they were shown with Verum power strips and conditioners, another Korean manufacturer.

[Washline]

I'm a big fan of what Simon Lee has accomplished with his April Music series, and I was duly impressed with the room that featured his new ice-powered amp, the Ai700, along with Him Sound speakers in one room and the Marten Coltranes in another. Of the two rooms, I preferred the Ai700 with the Him speakers. The Coltranes never got to the level where the combination impressed me. However, with the Him's I heard one of the best sounds in the show, and I'm strongly considering buying this combination later this year for my downstairs second system.

[Washline]

Powertek has stepped up their aesthetics and top of the line equipment. The black finned Eastern AVR has jumped in price from last years 5000 dollars to 9600 this year. They introduced the all aluminum silver Western AVR at 5500 this year. I've not had a chance to hear the effects of their equipment on a system, but they are popular in Korea. Moses is a newer high end power strip maker.