Looking for the ultimate in sound, and other good things

Through the last three decades of development, Taiwan has sought to create itself in the image of advanced Western nations. Through the economic miracle, the arduous routine of the agricultural society is now a thing of the past, and Taipei has made considerable achievements in becoming a cosmopolitan modern metropolis. Taste and sophistication have become important to many, and so it is hardly surprising that the International Hi-end Excellence Show, which kicks off today at the Grand Hotel, is expected to attract considerable interest. For people with money to spend, it is an opportunity for checking out some of the choicest items currently available.

The Hi-end Excellence Show (國際HI-END精品大展) started out as the High-End Hi-Fi show catering for those with an interest in high quality stereo equipment, items not generally available from regular household electronics stores. It was unashamedly an event for fanatics looking for the perfect sound. This was back in 1976. Since then, Taiwan has established itself as a serious player in top-of-the-range hi-fi.

This year, the event's organizers, the Taiwan Hi-End Society (藏鋒國際公司), have set the tone for an expanded show by making the venue the Grand Hotel, a symbol of everything imperial and sumptuous. This year the show has expanded from hi-fi, to many other luxury items that are seen as necessary accessories to the good life.

While stereo equipment will still be a major aspect of the show, there will also be cameras, European designer furniture, watches, golfing equipment, wine spectacles and car stereo systems. The labels are present at the show by invitation, receiving the imprimatur of the Hi-end Society as being the best of their kind.

Among the regular participants in the show is Ellison Chen (陳歡), a designer--turned-artist and a stereo system aficionado who has been experimenting with equipment, system configurations and even the design of his Taipei apartment to achieve the best possible sound.

"My wife and children know not to interrupt me when I am listening to music," Chen said. The walls of his flat are piled high with CDs and records, and, although he says he loves music, he also admits, slightly shamefacedly, that he probably likes tampering with his stereo system even more. "Music should be the end, the stereo only the means," he said, "but sometimes it simply does not work out like that."

"You always want to try new stuff. When you hear someone else's system, you want to incorporate that kind of sound into what your have," Chen said.

His current stereo configuration, obtained after going through nearly 300 different stereo sets, comprises a Linn CD-12, Esoteric DV-50, Ayre K-1 pre-amp, a Goldmund 8.2 power amp, Micro 3000 LP player and Genesis 2 speakers.

The sound created by his four 2m-tall Genesis speakers through a Linn CD player puts you right in the pit of the orchestra, the sound resonating through the room as it would in a concert hall.

"Apart from seeking the spirit of the music, you also want the design of the equipment to be beautiful. As people's tastes become more refined, you can see how the design of the equipment changes. The speakers produced by some brands are now virtually works of art," Chen said.

"You have to find the kind of equipment that suits your own taste," Chen went on, pointing out that the products of different countries or brands had different qualities. "You have to understand these differences. For example, crystal sets produce a clear, crisp sound while that of a vacuum tube is broader and softer. As for speakers, the sound from US-made speakers has a strident quality. Those from Italy are more mellow."