November Hi-Fi Show Manila

This yearly event has gotten bigger and bigger. It's new home, the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, is a perfect venue, with a few function rooms occupied by the big set-ups and the demo rooms now occupying two floors. 

These Wilsons driven by Plinius amps from Listening In Style are quite impressive and weighty.

In looks and in sound.

The Focal-based system from AVDI is very good indeed. Detailed and neutral.

If I had to choose a cost-no-object system, it would have to be this system from Architectural Audio.

Magico Q5 speakers driven by Hegel amplification with Naim as source. 

It is very realistic, as if the performance is right in front of you. 

Just natural sound, music playback at its best, and what hi-fi should be about.

Proudly Philippine made. 

The Harana Audio brand can stand toe-to-toe with the megabuck imported brands and systems. 

These are built by hand by audio enthusiasts and designers. 

This horn-based system is very dynamic and is being given media coverage.

For the budget-conscious, this Thorens-NAD-PSB system is an excellent choice.

It will make you enjoy music at a fraction of the cost of the top systems in the show.

So will this real-world system from HyperAudio. 

Turntable, laptop, and tubes all  in one rack.

Diminutive speakers that pack a big sound from Raidho.

Attracted quite a bit of attention. Perfect for condos and small listening rooms.

Lots of vinyl being sold as well as several turntables. Analog is alive and well in the audio scene in Manila.

The other usual brands like Acoustic Research, Sonus Faber, Rega, etc were there, and even Moon from Africa made an appearance. New streaming technologies as well as headphones and home theatre were well represented.

Another successful Hi-Fi show, and in my view, the set-ups were among the best sounding in recent years.