Bangkok hifi journey step 1

Today is a special day as it's the beginning of the year 2015 and it is also the start of my hifi journey in Bangkok. Initially I was trying to get a pair of Pioneer pure malt from HK. Owing to the difficulty min shipmet, I have decided to search for one set here in Indochina and finally managed to find one brand new old stocks, after much waiting, My speakers have finally arrived 😁

I am really impressed with the Japanese as the speakers were well packed and with two set of speakers cover and even include the spekers wires and instructions booklets.

Given the limited items, I will have to make do with the simple set up. 

To start the running in of my new speakers, 鄧麗君became the first guest of honor and the song 何日君再來 brought back the familiar feeling of home with hifi. Even though the set up is simple and speakers have not been properly run in, the enjoyment of music is priceless. Really glad to have my simple Elekit amplifier together with the Pioneer pure malt speakers to have me start the 2015. There is one more set available. Write to me if you are keen to get a brand new set...

Happy New Year 2015!

Info from the net:

《何日君再來》是中國近代史上受到歡迎的經典中文歌曲，最初是1937年的電影《三星伴月》的插曲，是上海中國化學工業社為宣傳國產的上海「三星牌牙膏」而資助拍攝，歌曲由剛剛成名的周璇主唱，並灌成唱片，由上海百代唱片發行。1939年在香港製作的電影《孤島天堂》中，又由黎莉莉主唱作為插曲。1940年李香蘭在滿洲國灌唱成唱片，由百樂唱片及帝蓄唱片分別發行，結果比周璇原版更風行。李香蘭回日本後，在1952年又唱一次，由哥倫比亞唱片在日本發行。

言者無心，聽者有意。歌曲流行後，本是一首情歌，開始有人鑿穿附會，賦予政治意味，覺得它是盼日軍，是漢奸歌曲；又有人覺得是盼中華民國國軍，是愛國歌曲；又有人覺得是盼中國共產黨，是叛亂歌曲；又有人覺得是盼台灣日治時代重臨，是賣國歌曲。結果在不同時間、不同地方，禁了又禁。

Happy New Year 2015

Start of hifi listening

While waiting for the arrival of my hifi gears, I have started to listen to my Cds using the apartment's mini combo. Not the best but still a pleasure to listen..

Pioneer Pure Malt S-A4SPT-VP

After much deliberation, I have finally settled for a pair of NOS Pioneer Pure Malt VP instead of the Castle Anniversary. The key motivation behind is the unique recycled woods from the whisky barrel, which is both eco friendly and meaningful. To be specific, the Pioneer Japan presents S-A4SPT-VP speaker system is made from Whisky barrel wood, which are almost 50 years old which are in turn made from Oak trees almost 100 years old. The speaker produces a soft, mellow tone that lingers in the air. White oak is one of the world’s hardest woods, which makes this unique cabinet extremely rigid and It suppresses unwanted cabinet vibration and enhances the driver’s performance, contributing to the superbly expressive sound. 

The above features of vintage solid wood are good USPs which have made the speakers appealing. Each pair of speaker cabinets has its own unique wood grain and color. In addition, this high quality oak will continue to change to a splendid deeper color as time goes on. Having the Gold badge LS3/5a and the legendary 755a Fullrange speakers, I am sure this Pioneer VP will join the line of legend  since these have been discontinued.

The speakers with TAD (Technical Audio Devices) technology, 10cm diameter woofer, playback frequency range 50Hz – 40 kHz, 6 Ω impedance measures 154×213×246mm and weighs 3.7kg. 

Given the relatively inexpensive price points, these are really values for money speakers. It's a start of my new hifi journey...

New speakers for Bangkok

After being posted to Bangkok for two months, I think it's time for me to start setting up my hifi system. My precious Gold badge LS3/5a and my 755a speakers are safely back at my home in Singapore and I do not want to risk shipping them here and there.

As such, I have spent several weeks searching for a bookshielf speakers that will fit into my apartment as well as budget. One consideration is the Castle anniversay speakers and another key consideration is a pair of Pioneer Pure Malt.s-A4SPT-VP, which I have always been keen but never really getting into as I have both the LS3/5a and 755a speakers with me then. I am really excited as the hunt for these discontinued speakers is always an interesting journey. Looking back, the Pioneer Pure malt VP was launched in 2007-8, a good 6 years ago...

Some interesting reviews:

ttp://www.pioneer-twn.com.tw/images/960830.pdf

http://www.avmagazine.com/01/pioneer_TAD.htm

http://fareastgizmos.com/media_devices/pioneer_sa4sptvp_pure_malt_speakers.php

http://blog.yam.com/hifihivi/article/12676526

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/campaign/products/pureDistillation.html

Source:http://blog.yam.com/hifihivi/article/13829230

PIONEER S-A4SPT-VP小喇叭大驚奇、先鋒展現70年技術精髓

Tue Feb 12, 2008  4895 
高傳真視聽  @hifihivi

PIONEER S-A4SPT-VP
小喇叭大驚奇、先鋒展現70年技術精髓
文/涂振民


        從事喇叭生產製造已邁入第70年的PIONEER，旗下「Pure Malt(純麥)」系列的揚聲器在1998年首度推出，它的賣點在於揚聲器箱體採威士忌酒桶製成，中間並經過許多繁複、嚴謹的處理過程。由於威士忌酒桶用的是相當堅硬的百年白橡木，並經過50年以上的熟成蘊釀，不會有原木變形彎曲的問題，用於製作音箱能有和諧及自然的聲音，是製作喇叭非常理想的材質。因為酒桶使用一段時間便需淘汰，向來重視環保的PIONEER便與Suntory合作，把淘汰的酒桶回收再利用，製作出性能優異的揚聲器，不過，雖然是廢棄酒桶，中間的處理過程所耗費成本卻高過常見的MDF板。


        就因為回收再利用，讓Pure Malt系列獲得日本資源循環獎，不過相信它的聲音表現才是本刊讀者所重視的，如果您還記得1年前的PIONEER S-A4SPT-PM，當時本刊對此揚聲器抱持高度肯定，因為它在迷你的尺寸下，竟有不輸大喇叭的氣勢，音質更是令人印象深刻，如今新一代的S-A4SPT-VP，外型幾乎如出一轍，價位也相近，但聲音表現居然還能更上層樓，只能讓人不禁感動：「這就是用心做出來的喇叭！」




        先說說這次試聽的S-A4SPT-VP與1年前介紹的S-A4SPT-PM不同之處，外觀上，顏色深淺不同，但尺寸一樣；影響聲音的部份，就是S-A4SPT-VP換上了全新的中低音單體，這只單體有何過人之處？網路上有傳言說這是TAD單體，但其實它只是移植部份TAD的技術，只能說和TAD有血統上的關係，若直接說成是TAD單體的喇叭，恐有誤導之虞。


        TAD(Technical Audio Device)部門是PIONEER於1975年所成立，主要針對專業錄音室，接單生產監聽喇叭，後來TAD技術也運用在家用的Hi-end音響上，但價格相當昂貴，可說是許多發燒友的終極目標。而S-A4SPT-VP移植了TAD的音盆振膜技術，讓這只直徑僅10cm的單體也能再生夠沈、具量感的低頻。


        S-A4SPT-VP外型尺寸154×246×213mm，以書架型喇叭來說，算是相當迷你的尺寸，重量3.8公斤，採二音路二單體反射式設計，內部經過防磁處理，而且為了把中低音單體磁漏降到最低，並以金屬包覆屏蔽，再貼上阻尼材料抑震，磁鐵中央以導管釋放音盆前後運動時音圈室所造成的壓力，內部更填充吸音材料，看得出PIONEER用心之處。前障板搭載2cm半球型絲質軟膜高音單體，中低音單體材質則為TAD技術的特殊紙盆，具有輕量化、高剛性、良好的內部耗損等特性，喇叭背部選用高級的香蕉插喇叭端子，最大承受功率100W，阻抗6歐姆，低頻可達50Hz、高頻則能延伸至40kHz，對應SACD 與DVD-Audio格式碟片不成問題。S-A4SPT-VP算是效率低的喇叭，靈敏度84dB。為了讓用家在搭配居家裝潢時有更彈性的選擇空間，原廠提供深綠與深紅兩色的面網，讓用家自由搭配。


        在前一代喇叭的鋒芒下，讓人很好奇S-A4SPT-VP還有什麼進步的空間，實際聆聽時，那種不輸大喇叭的開闊音場與氣勢還是沒變，沒有刻意突出某一頻段的表現，各頻段音域銜接得非常順暢，在播放本刊測試器材必聽的YG ACOUSTICS的CD測試片時，首曲即以深沈有力大鼓為開場，打著TAD近親名號的S-A4SPT-VP能否通過低頻考驗？答案是肯定的，受限單體尺寸，低頻量感不多，但很低沈，比前代喇叭動態更大，想必這就是與PIONEER頂級EX系列相同材質振膜所達到的效果。偏愛豐沛低頻量感的玩家若仍覺不足的話，不妨再搭配一顆主動式重低音。


        第二首「Schusselwalzer」高錄音品質的鋼琴彈奏曲，S-A4SPT-VP將曲子中豐富靈動的細節一五一十地呈現出來，功力不夠的器材常聽不到完整的聲音，但PIONEER這組喇叭辦到了，再者，鋼琴觸鍵的質感頗佳，聲音細膩柔美，帶有小喇叭難得一見的音樂性，把此曲韻味展現得淋漓盡致。接下來的解析度大考驗，是以民謠吉他為主的「Close to home」，S-A4SPT-VP所呈現的弦音相當細柔，清而不利、入味三分。不知道是不是心理因素作祟，整個試聽過程還真有點微醺感。


        強調每支喇叭均有不同木紋的威士忌酒桶揚聲器S-A4SPT-VP，售價三萬多元，把報廢的橡木酒桶重新利用賦予新生命，音箱背面特地烙上PureMalt的印記，希望它不僅再生高傳真的樂音，更能傳承做為收藏級的揚聲器，值得收藏美聲銘器的愛樂者列入參考。