Razzle-dazzle

The venue may have changed, but the event has gotten even better. The November Hi-Fi Show, traditionally held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, moves to Dusit Thani Manila Hotel this year with a razzle dazzle of a show that promises to be like no other.

A must-see for audio and videophiles, the show to be held on Nov. 19 and 20, is the penultimate year-ender for music and video lovers. More than 35 dealers will show off a blend of the classic and the newest audio and video gadgets. Entrance, as always, is free so there’s no reason for enthusiasts to skip it. Without doubt, those in search of the latest audio and video equipment to spice up their homes can choose from among the glitziest of gadgets that will be put on display and which can be bought at discounted prices.

Now in its eighth year, the Hi-Fi Show has metamorphosed from a simple get-together of audiophiles trading their wares with one another to an annual event that has become much bigger than what its producers, headed by Tony de Leon, could have imagined. It is the only event where neophytes and first-time visitors can just window-shop and come away with valuable information about the hobby from passionate aficionados. Many hobbyists even have their family in tow as they visit the various exhibit rooms.

The November Hi-Fi Show now serves as a bridge between the industry and its market, with both benefitting from the latest developments in audio-video design and engineering. The show also inspires local manufacturers to produce world-class products that are at par with their foreign counterparts. In this regard, the show has become the principal channel for promoting the growth of the local audio technology. Local DIYers have in fact begun to compete head-on with pricey high-end audio gadgets, with some of them finding a niche market overseas.

And to those who still doubt that turntables and vinyl records still exist, see for yourself and be amazed at how these Jurassic gadgets have been revived using 21st century technology. Revel in the soothing sounds they produce, far better than the Mp3s and downloadable music this generation has grown up with and become accustomed to.

As Tony, the Hi-Fi Show top honcho, sums it up: “I remember a time when listening to music was an event you planned for.

You invited your friends over to listen to the latest Tears For Fears LP, for example. From the unwrapping of the sealed record to its playing, it was a ritual I was only too pleased to go through every weekend. Till now, I still consider the sound from those old LPs unmatched by anything digital or downloaded from the Net. Spinning black vinyl and glowing glass bottles don’t immediately equate to great music reproduction. The steam punk look with its old school mechanical gears, levers and rows of vacuum tubes, to me, seems more of a fashion than technology.”

Tony notes that there are a steadily increasing number of people who have grown up on a steady dose of CDs and later the MP3 who are surprised to discover that a century-old technology still provides the best medium for listening to music. 

“Music in the 21st century is served to us with the convenience of fast food,” he adds, “and a lot of it is just as healthy as French fries. This is why we want to show how this long-forgotten technology has been tweaked and updated at the November Hi-Fi Show 2011. The event is the country’s largest gathering of high fidelity enthusiasts, dealers and hi-fi restorers highlighting these old-world technologies. We will also have on hand the latest in home theater entertainment and digital music servers, as well as the largest collection of vinyl records (new and used) for sale. If you are dead serious about the quality of the music being processed by your ears or feel the need to improve the quality of your listening experience, then a visit to this year’s show is really a must!”

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For comments or questions, please e-mail me at audioglow@yahoo.comor at vphl@hotmail.com. You can also visit www.wiredstate.com or you can tweet audiofiler at www.twitter.com for quick answers to your audio concerns.