An Audiophile's Heaven (or hell??)

Ricardo

So I am in Singapore this week for business and Polkatese recommends that I go to a place where there are a couple of audio stores; I talk about this with a local guy and he says that there is another place that will blow me away. A 4 stories building exclusively dedicated to audio and video. I make some time today and get there one hour before closing time; blown away is not enough; there are probably 100 different stores, from which maybe 20 carry brands such as MBL, Avantgarde, Manley, Krell, Thiel, Plinius, BelCanto, McIntosh, Conrad Johnson, Theta, Jeff Rowland, Mark Levinson, Sonus faber, Dynaudio, Von Schweikert, Musical Fidelity......and a bunch more that I don't remember; the rest, they carry "simple" stuff like Rotel, Arcam, Naim, Denon, Marantz, Monitor Audio, etc.

Now, I have been in this audio thing just for a few years, so I have NEVER been in a real high end store, and here I am, with less than one hour to visit 20 different super high end stores???? Damn...

Long Story short:

-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear.
-A $200M MBL system is something everyone should listen to some day; I liked it so much that I came back.
-Avantgarde horn speakers are AWESOME.
-I learned that Krell makes speakers; didn't like their sound.
-Martin Logan driven by huge Manley tube amps sound superb.
-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear.
-There are monoblock SS amps the size of a small car, with only 50 watts.
-Class A sounds great and gets really hot.
-Thiel speakers driven by bel canto gear sound great.
-Next time I come I need to dedicate a full day to this place.
-Yamaha makes some pretty good (and huge) speakers.
-China run out of names for tube gear; there are thousands of brands. Upper high end stores didn't carry any.
-Don't believe everything you're told; B&W makes some absolutely wonderful speakers.
-If I ever have the money to spend on high end gear, it will be MBL.
-No Polk Audio in Singapore.
-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear and find another hobby.

Some pictures; they did not let me take pictures in all the stores, but this gives you an idea.

Early B.

How do the prices compare to America?

Ricardo

Early B. wrote:

How do the prices compare to America?

No visible price tags and I didn't have the time to ask; just tried to see/listen as much as I could.

madmax

After seeing some of that stuff I bet you will have less of a hard time shelling out some bigger bucks for your next system?

joeparaski

Wow man, lucky you!! I'll take the gear you throw away.:p

Joe

nadams

*camps out behind HTrookie's house*

Willow

HTrookie wrote:

-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear.QUOTE]

how about I Pm you my address

hope you enjoy your trip be it business and pleasure

Serendipity

Where was this in Singapore?

george daniel

is there a light at this seemingly endless tunnel :eek:

AndyGwis

My bro is going to Singapore, may need to have him check this place out for me. Should've asked about the prices. . . inquiring minds want to know

I would be willing to change my trip to Hawaii to become a trip to Singapore and Malaysia, if I knew I could take home some uber sweet gear on the cheap.

Maybe just a nice little integrated. . . is that too much to ask for?

steveinaz

My credo:

If you're shopping for a Camaro, don't test drive a Corvette.

george daniel

steveinaz wrote:

My credo:

If you're shopping for a Camaro, don't test drive a Corvette.

So true

Ricardo

madmax wrote:

After seeing some of that stuff I bet you will have less of a hard time shelling out some bigger bucks for your next system?

I'm feeling differently; right now I feel that I won't spend one more penny on upgrades. My system sounds "fine", and it will continue sounding "fine" unless I spend like $100,000 or more. I heard BIG BUCKS HI-FI and I know I cannot afford it. And believe me...there is a huge difference in what a system can achieve. I recognize that what I heard was in a specially prepared room as to get the maximum out of the system, but systems do have a huge impact on the sound...

Ricardo

appadv wrote:

Where was this in Singapore?

It's called The Adelphi, right by the City Hall. Easy to get there using the metro.

Ricardo

steveinaz wrote:

My credo:

If you're shopping for a Camaro, don't test drive a Corvette.

Too late

hearingimpared

HTrookie wrote:

So I am in Singapore this week for business and Polkatese recommends that I go to a place where there are a couple of audio stores; I talk about this with a local guy and he says that there is another place that will blow me away. A 4 stories building exclusively dedicated to audio and video. I make some time today and get there one hour before closing time; blown away is not enough; there are probably 100 different stores, from which maybe 20 carry brands such as MBL, Avantgarde, Manley, Krell, Thiel, Plinius, BelCanto, McIntosh, Conrad Johnson, Theta, Jeff Rowland, Mark Levinson, Sonus faber, Dynaudio, Von Schweikert, Musical Fidelity......and a bunch more that I don't remember; the rest, they carry "simple" stuff like Rotel, Arcam, Naim, Denon, Marantz, Monitor Audio, etc.

Now, I have been in this audio thing just for a few years, so I have NEVER been in a real high end store, and here I am, with less than one hour to visit 20 different super high end stores???? Damn...

Long Story short:

-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear.
-A $200M MBL system is something everyone should listen to some day; I liked it so much that I came back.
-Avantgarde horn speakers are AWESOME.
-I learned that Krell makes speakers; didn't like their sound.
-Martin Logan driven by huge Manley tube amps sound superb.
-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear.
-There are monoblock SS amps the size of a small car, with only 50 watts.
-Class A sounds great and gets really hot.
-Thiel speakers driven by bel canto gear sound great.
-Next time I come I need to dedicate a full day to this place.
-Yamaha makes some pretty good (and huge) speakers.
-China run out of names for tube gear; there are thousands of brands. Upper high end stores didn't carry any.
-Don't believe everything you're told; B&W makes some absolutely wonderful speakers.
-If I ever have the money to spend on high end gear, it will be MBL.
-No Polk Audio in Singapore.
-When I get home, I will throw away all my gear and find another hobby.

I'll post some pictures when I get home (They didn't let me take pictures everywhere).

er um, he he, excuse me, I'll be right back, I just messed my pants.:o

brettw22

AndyGwis wrote:

I would be willing to change my trip to Hawaii to become a trip to Singapore and Malaysia, if I knew I could take home some uber sweet gear on the cheap.

And as long as the price to convert it from 240v to 120v doesn't make it cost prohibitive.......and as long as you can read the display......that would always be a good thing..........lol

Ricardo

Pictures added. Drooling is for free

madmax

HTrookie wrote:

I'm feeling differently; right now I feel that I won't spend one more penny on upgrades. My system sounds "fine", and it will continue sounding "fine" unless I spend like $100,000 or more. I heard BIG BUCKS HI-FI and I know I cannot afford it. ...

There is still the one piece at a time method. Some day you pick up the speakers when the right deal comes along, later on an amp, etc. Prices can be pretty cheap given a motivated seller at the right time.

Cool pics. Those horns look especially interesting.
madmax

woofiepaws

Wow!

Ironically the WAF improves with the weird shaped equipment. Which I can't afford.

BIZILL

DIBS. i'll take all your old gear for $1000 out the door.

and in your case, it is NOT club polk's fault for your 'upgraditis'. it's trips to other countries.

rskarvan

HT Rookie,
I found that once you've experienced Thiel and Krell, you will ultimately upgrade. Its not a matter of choice. Its just a matter of time.

Ricardo

rskarvan wrote:

HT Rookie,
I found that once you've experienced Thiel and Krell, you will ultimately upgrade. Its not a matter of choice. Its just a matter of time.

That might be true with Thiel, and they are not extremely expensive speakers. These were the 2.4's, maybe mid line? I loved how mids were presented, very real and with an amazing imaging. Krell speakers sounded pretty "normal" (picture 20); nothing that made me want to listen for more than 5 minutes.
For amplification, I am upgrading my Belles to reference, and that should give me all I need for the amount of money I plan to spend on audio (no more )

Now, MBL is a whole new world; as weird as their speakers look, it is the closest I can think of live music. I could have stayed there all night. It was the first place I visited and I went back and stayed there until they closed.
Pretty nice guy that showed me everything and played different types of music even knowing I was not going to buy.

rskarvan

Krell is an amplifier company. The fact that produce speakers is a distraction. The Thiel 3.6's have the nifty mid-range that you are enjoying. Used, they can be found nearly every day at $1850/set.

Someday, I'm going to upgrade to an FPB Krell amp. Someday....

dorokusai

MBL has been turning heads for more than a couple years. The speakers are well talked about in alot of audio circles as it's an amazing and groundbreaking design.

Krell should do what they do best but its only natural to grab another market segment....who hasn't done that?

P.S. Sell everything you own.

polkatese

Whoa, I missed out that place, and I stayed one time at the Swissotel on North Bridge. I tend to drift toward Funan Electronic when I am in that area. Btw, did you go to New Asia bar at Swissotel for a drink?

Thank you for sharing the pics, I am glad that you got to be "educated" on those ultra high-end ****. I am jealous!

When are you heading back?

Ricardo

dorokusai wrote:

P.S. Sell everything you own.

Hmmm...you think I could drive one of those big **** amps to work????

Ricardo

polkatese wrote:

Whoa, I missed out that place, and I stayed one time at the Swissotel on North Bridge. I tend to drift toward Funan Electronic when I am in that area. Btw, did you go to New Asia bar at Swissotel for a drink?

Thank you for sharing the pics, I am glad that you got to be "educated" on those ultra high-end ****. I am jealous!

When are you heading back?

You should definitely go next time you're there.

I might need to go sometime in May; will plan a full day at that place.

The only drink I had was at the Ruffles; went for a Singapore Sling and had a beer :rolleyes:

hearingimpared

Wow Those Pictures Are Really Something To Behold!!!

halo

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Wow! That's some :cool: gear!

del44

Mmmm. that Conrad Johnson gear looks sweet.