Soundscapes on display

As I had some time on my hands while on the island yesterday, I decided to visit the Northern Audio & Visual Show in Bayan Baru. This year, the venue had shifted slightly from the SPICE Amari Hotel to the SPICE Setia Convention Centre. For a while, I wasn’t quite sure where I was supposed to go: the hotel or somewhere else. Fortunately, I found out in time that the show was being held at the convention centre's ballroom.

Not using the hotel meant the organisers had to build customised enclosures for the exhibitors. Each exhibitor was allotted one enclosure to set up their equipment. While attempts were made to provide some sound-proofing for each enclosure, I felt the results weren't particularly successful. Muffled sounds, music leaking in from neighbouring setups, could be heard quite frequently. Only the exhibitors who were assigned proper function rooms seemed truly satisfied. I stepped into one such room and thoroughly enjoyed the spatial audio demonstration while watching the Live Aid segment from the Bohemian Rhapsody film. It was almost like sitting in a cinema, minus the big screen.

Despite the challenging setup, the exhibitors in the enclosures had certainly brought out their best. There was no shortage of high-end audio and video equipment—each setup easily costing an arm and a leg. I'm sure many of them closed several sales and left the show happy.

As for me, hi-fi equipment is no longer on my shopping list. That time in my life, when I would stretch my budget just to own "the best within reach," is long past. These days, I can't justify spending on luxuries that aren't essential to living. And besides, my ears aren't what they used to be.

So if not to shop, why was I there? Truthfully, I went for the music. I wanted to see—and hear—what new music the exhibitors would be playing to impress the crowds. Every enclosure I entered was blasting pristinely clear music through their multi-thousand-ringgit equipment and speakers. Some were sourced from vinyl records, some from CDs, but increasingly more from streaming services like Tidal and Spotify.

Some setups were so astonishingly clear that the sound sent shivers down my spine. Every high and low note rang out distinctly; every breath from the singer was audible. I came away genuinely impressed by the quality. My Shazam app was kept ready at all times. If I liked what I heard, I'd quickly capture the song and the artist.

At one point, an exhibitor offered to let me play my own music through their system. But why should I, I told him. I would much rather be surprised by his selection than hear something familiar.

It’s safe to say my reason for being at the AV Show was quite different from most of the visitors. I enjoyed it in my own way, and I left with new songs in my playlist and a renewed appreciation for the magic of well-crafted sound.

Finally, I just want to congratulate Wilson Teoh for his unswerving devotion and hard work in organising this year’s AV show on such an impressive scale. This is already the third show he has put together. The first was back in 2022 at the Gurney Hotel along Gurney Drive, followed by last year’s event at the SPICE Amari Hotel. In both cases, visitors moved from floor to floor, visiting different hotel rooms. It was a process that wasn’t always the most convenient, especially with the long waits for lifts.

This year’s event was certainly a step forward. Having everything housed under one roof made it a lot more convenient, even if the customised enclosures weren’t quite as sound-proof as one might have hoped. But all things considered, it was still a remarkable effort, and I have no doubt Wilson will take away valuable lessons for making next year’s show even better. Appreciation to him for keeping the spirit of the AV community in the northern region alive and thriving!