• 
• 

Published on January 9, 2008

Instead, you should perhaps give yourself some great music by investing in a great audio system this New Year.

Imagine: turn your beloved system on, sit down and relax. That's what I call happiness. When it comes to great music, I depend upon my audio system, which consists of a turntable, a CD player and loudspeakers, most of which are limited editions.

In my life-long search for good loudspeakers, there are some I will never regret having added to my collection. My AR3a speakers, for instance, have kept me company for more than a decade, with a stunningly deep bass that tempts everyone to keep listening. Other favourites are the monitor style of the JBL 4312 and the expansive sound stage of the Bose 901. The direct reflecting technology of Bose 901 speakers offers a kind of sound stage that conveys each piece of music from an orchestra or bands in an outstanding manner. My BBC Monitor 3/5a speakers are probably the only small loudspeakers, with their 15-ohm nominal impedance, that I have a hard time matching with an amplifier. They are simply great reference loudspeakers of rare quality.

My Focus Audio FS 68 speakers are perhaps among my best. I often use them as a reference for my test reports, because the FS 68s never tell a lie. In fact, when it comes to pairing them up with amplifiers or CD players, the speakers tell me what is a good component and what is not. Their reputation and popularity led to the recent release of an upgraded version, the FS 68 SE (Special Edition), and the upgrade never leaves us disappointed. Having compared the old with the new by using a variety of CDs and vinyl records, I must conclude the FS 68 SEs are an improvement over the old FS 68s and probably the reason they were upgraded. Overall, the FS 68 SE loudspeakers offer a more expansive soundstage that is surely worth their added expense.

All of these are home-audio loudspeakers, capable of keeping you happy throughout a joyful New Year. Car-audio systems are similar.

On one New Year's Eve, a good friend of mine invited me to dine with him at a great restaurant he knew in Ayutthaya province. At first, I wondered why we had to travel so far. I later figured out that he simply wanted me to comment on his car-audio system on the drive north from Bangkok.

Earlier, I had recommended he replace the loudspeakers in his car-audio system, both front and back channels. This was because in most cases, loudspeakers that come as standard equipment with new cars are of low quality.

 I told him a new set of loudspeakers should match the amplifier in terms of power handling, have a high sensitivity ratio of at least 90 decibels and have only two-way drivers, rather than three- or four-way. His new loudspeakers sounded perfect, because he had followed my advice closely. I only needed to help him balance the fader while travelling to Ayutthaya.

During this New Year period, why not find yourself a new set of loudspeakers for either home or car, as a great gift?

I'm sure they'll afford you a happy New Year.

Wijit Boonchoo

The Nation

Ultimate in Luxury

The Luxury LS 460 is a wonderfully comfaortable car fitted with all mod cons, althoough not necessarily the most fun vehicle to drive.