Porta-Fi was in Hong Kong on the 9th of August 2018 to attend the Sony Asia Pacific Exclusive Experience Event as well as the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2018 from the 10th to 12th of August 2018.
The Sony Asia Pacific Exclusive Experience Event was the first time the Asia Pacific market was identified as the launch market for its latest product offerings in personal audio which included; the rejuvenation of the Signature series with the addition of the IER-Z1R In-ear headphones and DMP-Z1 digital music player, the introduction of IER-M7 and IER-M9 – the company’s first offerings to the In-Ear Stage Monitor Headphones market as well as the unveiling of MDR-Z7M2.
Following the official unveiling, the invitees were given 45 mins to experience the new products. Below are photos taken of the new products during the experience session.
The event was attended by media and trade representatives from the Asia Pacific and concluded with a press interview session at the end.
The Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2018 opened on the next day at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dubbed as Asia’s equivalent to the highly acclaimed Munich Hi-End Show, here’s what caught our ears and eyes.
Aroma Audio
Aroma Audio unveiled its latest flagship ACE。無雙 and provided audition sessions on a by-appointment basis. The IEM features a 12-BA configuration with 4 switchable sound signatures, the launch date of ACE is to be confirmed.
Astell&Kern
Astell&Kern has its new blue variant of its Billie Jean as well as the A&futura SE100 M.Chat edition player on show.
audiolab
audiolab also exhibited two new high-end in-ear monitors. The two-driver M-EARS 2D and four-driver M-EARS 4D have been designed by ACS in collaboration with the Audiolab team.
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica showcased its ATH-5000 headphones, an exquisitely crafted luxury audiophile headphone developed in collaboration with Connolly. With a World-wide limited production of 500 units, the ATH-5000 is expected to be available in November at an MSRP of USD 4,000.
Chord
Making its first appearance in a show outside the UK, the Chord Hugo M Scaler was announced last month and will be available in the autumn, priced at £3,495.
FiiO
FiiO announced the FiiO M9 DAP, the latest addition to FiiO’s line of DAPs. The FiiO M9 is expected to be available in mid-September, priced at USD300.
FiiO also released the sale of its latest Bluetooth receiver, the BTR3 following its announcement at KLIAV in July 2018. Dubbed the Portable High-Fidelity Bluetooth Amplifier, the BTR3 is the first Bluetooth receiver to support all wireless sound codecs including aptX LL and LDAC.
Lotoo
Lotoo’s new flagship, the Lotoo PAW Gold Touch was on the show and is the final iteration that would be released to the market. Pre-order is available for the Hong Kong market, international release is to be confirmed.
Meze Audio
Meze Audio showcased the latest pre-production of the Empyrean and RAI Penta. Antonio confirmed that Empyrean’s current outlook is likely to be the final and shared that pre-order is likely to start in a month’s time.
QUAD
QUAD showcased its latest headphones, the ERA-1 headphones for the first time in Asia. Having sold out its first batch in Europe, the company is expected to announce the availability of the ERA-1 in Asia later this year.
