It was yesterday once more as I hopped from one room to another, ogling at sleek and shiny sound equipment on display during the just concluded Hi-Fi Show at the Manila Mandarin Hotel. Who would’ve thought that audio equipment that used to grace our old Sta. Mesa house two decades ago would make a comeback and reclaim their rightful place in most Filipino audiophiles’ sound racks today?
Turntables, horn speakers, tube sound equipment, long-playing albums (LPs) and other analog sound gear adorned most of the exhibitors’ rooms. Yes, CD players, home-theater gear and other digital gizmos were likewise showcased, but most people I talked to were just too carried away by the sight of sound equipment their grandparents used to own and love. Mind you, most of the gear on display was not really old, but sparklingly brand-new renditions of the technology of yore. There were antiques such as the Garrard and Thorens turntables, which had been resurrected from oblivion and restored to their old, glorious conditions, with respective plinths splendidly refurbished with shiny narra finishes.
Analog renaissance has definitely picked up in the last two years. I’m happy that The Philippine STAR, which has supported the show since its inception three years ago, has in its own small way made it so.
A clear indication that analog fanatics have gained considerable numbers was the turntable seminar (Turntable 101), which Wiredstate (Wiredstate.com) held for its members. The number of those who signed up practically filled the Mandarin’s Mahogany room to the rafters.
WS moderator and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lito Gozum, the designated lecturer, couldn’t believe that people as young as 21 would want to learn how to tweak or align their respective record players. Unexpected, too, was the fact that more LPs were sold than CDs during the show.
Personally, I believe that this year’s is the best Hi-Fi Show thus far. This time around, the organizers, ably led by Tony de Leon, were better prepared and reaped the benefit of having more warm bodies as its base support. As Wiredstate membership expands, interest in the show grows in proportion. From only a handful when the Internet forum began in 2002, Wiredstate membership — single-handedly steered by Francis Sogono, United Laboratories’ vice president for Information Technology — has grown into more than 3,000, not only from the Philippines, but also from foreign shores. And to think that not all of them were able to come!
Free food and drinks endlessly flowed from the Kapihan Ni Mang Johnny. As a tribute to the late Johnny Cruz of Balikbayan Handicrafts, the room where he used to display his audio wares became a meeting place for WS members and visitors alike. There, they sipped coffee, hot cocoa or fruit juice and enjoyed pastries while listening to Mang Johnny’s sound gear, courtesy of the Cruzes.
But for me, this year’s Hi-Fi Show’s greatest achievement was in giving Filipino ingenuity a much-needed lift. Proudly made-in-the-Philippines vacuum tube amplifiers and preamplifiers — such as those displayed at the AMX Audioworks of Andrew Sevilla — SET (single-ended-triode) Lovers of Arnold Cruz, Rene Rivo’s vintage restoration, and those humongous horn speakers at the Harana room fared gamely with their imported counterparts. I overheard a group of friends talking about this Pinoy audio equipment in awe: “They look good, sound good and are affordably priced.”
With due respect to dealers of imported audio gear — some of whom are my friends — it cannot be denied that Philippine-made audio equipment has improved by leaps and bounds, and is slowly getting the credit it richly deserves. Andrew’s product line, for instance, has what it takes to become globally competitive, and so with Harana’s, Rene’s and Arnold’s killer DIY amplifiers and horn speakers. The woodwork of Harana’s horns, for one, speaks well of the passion and dedication to the craft of its creators. The Harana boys, made up of audiophile buddies Eric Flores, Tony de Leon, Ayie Gumabao and Joey Abad Santos, pride themselves as makers of custom-made, handcrafted and neo-classically designed audio gizmos.
The Hi-Fi Show, most importantly, provides a venue for meeting new friends and finding long-lost ones. It may not have the glitz and glamour of other Hi-Fi Shows in New York and even Hong Kong, but what makes the Philippine version worthy is the fellowship exhibited by those who support it. Strong bonds among Filipino audiophiles are soldered stiff, ensuring stability in a community whose growth spins faster each year. This year’s show is much like an SRO (standing-room-only) opera that leaves an appreciative audience wanting more. It certainly deserves an encore and a rerun.
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For comments or questions, e-mail me at audioglow@yahoo.com or at vphl@hotmail.com. You can also visit www.wiredstate.com for quick answers to audio concerns.