Melbourne, Australia Hi-Fi Show Report - April, 2000

David Wurtz

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The Hi-Fi Show was held at the Melbourne Convention Centre on April 27 - 30, 2000, in conjunction with the Melbourne Home Show. They had about 70 exhibitors of consumer audio and video products. There were approximately 10 Australian manufacturers with their wares on show. Six of these were in special rooms upstairs, out of the way of most of the noise, which made it a little easier to hear their products on display. There were several Hi-Fi shops with home theatre setups trying to compete in the noise level stakes. The main Australian manufacturers in attendance were Redgum Audio, Osborn Loudspeakers, Whatmough, VASS, ME Amplifiers, Ambience Loudspeakers, Melody Valve Amplifiers, and VAF Research. International brands included Bose, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, Sunfire, and Denon.

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Ian Robinson and partner Lindy from Redgum Audio. Ian's amplifiers appeared in many of the stands around the show - a testament to his fine quality amplifiers and CD players. Redgum's new six-channel 120W/ch RMS amplifier is shown on the right. This product will soon be reviewed by Secrets.


Greg Osborn in his home theatre setup. Greg used the latest Sunfire processor and amp with a range of his speakers in a home theatre situation including a 15" sub/centre channel speaker. My ears are still ringing!!!!! Even though there was a panel in the room that seemed to get excited at 25 Hz, his Grand Monument Reference Loudspeakers sounded terrific. They run flat to 20 Hz. I listened, and I believe!


Tony Moore from Ambience was showing off one of their ribbon speaker products in an absolutely magnificent "Rosewood" finish. The timber has been furrowed out by tiny bugs and worms to give it a very interesting appearance. The inset photo shows a close up of the wood grain. Oh, by the way, they sounded great too!


 

The entry to the VASS and ME amplifier display (left photo), and VASS's new ELS5 and ELS7 electrostatic range of loudspeakers (right photo). I am 6' tall (that's me in the photo), and the ELS 5 stands 7' 4". Watch out for the review of these in the coming months.


ME Amplifiers new ME-555 three-channel power amplifier, also to be reviewed in Secrets soon.


 

Well renowned Australian designer Colin Whatmough (left photo) and his wide range of  loudspeakers (right photo).


 

New Australian brand "Melody" Valve amplifiers. They range from under $1,000 AUS up to the $50,000 AUS mono-blocks pictured on the right.

- David Wurtz -

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� Copyright 2000 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
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