StereoNET Highlights Room 1313 Among the Best Sounds of the Show
Following our last week’s Hi-Fi show recap, we’re delighted to share that StereoNET has published its full report on the 2026 Melbourne Hi-Fi & AV Expo, with Room 1313 receiving a particularly positive mention - “delivering some of the best sound at the Show.”
2026 Melbourne Hi-Fi Show Recap
The 2026 Melbourne Hi-Fi Show was an incredibly rewarding experience for us, bringing together music lovers, audiophiles, reviewers and newcomers for countless memorable listening sessions. From enthusiastic feedback and repeat visits to in-depth conversations about music and system building, the response to our room exceeded expectations. Visitors were particularly impressed by the synergy of the Gauder, Maxwell, Cen.Grand and Analog Sound components, with many describing the presentation as one of the highlights of the show. Most importantly, the event reminded us that great hi-fi is ultimately about connecting people with music and sharing that experience with others.
The 2026 Hi-Fi Show Demo List: Good Music & Good Hi-Fi
What is the purpose of hi-fi equipment? For me, it comes back to one thing: we are here because we love music. Over the past few weeks I have put together five demo loops for Room 1313 at the 2026 Melbourne Hi-Fi Show, mixing tracks I simply enjoy with recordings that reveal what a system can really do. From Hilary Hahn's Bach to Hugh Masekela, Diana Krall and Lady Gaga, each loop has its own character, with listening notes and Qobuz and Spotify playlists so you can follow along at home.
2026 StereoNET Melbourne Hi-Fi Show
We are excited to share that Angelic Sound is going to the 2026 StereoNET Hi-Fi Expo in Melbourne during 16-18 October!
This year, we have a bigger show room (1313), and even better equipment with premium brands such as Gauder Akustik (speaker), Cen.Grand (source & amp), Analog Sound (tube buffer) and AIM (ethernet cable).
The StereoNET show news is here.
We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne!
Line Magnetic: the engineers behind the sound (long version)
Line Magnetic has earned genuine cult status in the audiophile world, with a devoted global following, and the depth behind that reputation runs deeper than most realise. Its founder, the late Zheng Cai, helped build Cayin, a well-known brand in the international market, from the ground up as shareholder and chief engineer. He mastered the audio transformer, the single hardest component in any valve amp, and spent years preserving the Western Electric masterpieces that shaped cinema and Hi-Fi sound through the 1930s -50s.
That engineering pedigree, not nostalgia, is the story worth telling.
Harbeth NLE-1: Three Months on My Desk
I have owned the Harbeth NLE-1 for over three months now, sitting on the desk in my study as near-field speakers.
The NLE-1 does exactly what a good near-field speaker should. It sits there and delivers the music against a pitch-black background, with a high level of accuracy, never losing a detail however small, and never fatiguing even after long hours of listening. For the first time in ages, after a long stretch of my desk being occupied by Bluetooth speakers, I am finally hearing music in a form close to the original recording, whether it is ABC News, ABC Classic, Qobuz or my Spotify collection.
Spotlight on Tellurium Q Silver III
This week, we’re highlighting a standout review from StereoNet on the newly released Tellurium Q Silver III interconnects and loudspeaker cables — a product line that has quietly become one of the most compelling upgrades in the detailed‑and‑dynamic category of high‑end cabling.
One week remaining: Harbeth + Tellurium Q Black II Bundle
Our Harbeth & Tellurium Q Black II Cable Bundle offer is entering its final week. If you’ve been considering a new pair of Harbeth loudspeakers, now is the moment — the complimentary Tellurium Q Black II 2.5m speaker cable (valued at $720) is included only until the offer closes. It’s a rare opportunity to secure a meaningful upgrade at no additional cost.
Harbeth has landed at Angelic Sound
Our Brisbane studio is now home to one of the most extensive new Harbeth loudspeaker lineups in Australia — from the beautifully compact P3ESR to the precision-engineered NLE-1 active monitor, the studio‑reference M30.3 XD2, the commanding SHL5+ XD2, and the flagship M40.5 XD2. All ready to experience in person.
The Maxwell 909 — Musical Power, Refined
This week, we’re excited to spotlight a component that has genuinely surprised and delighted me in the listening room: the Cen.Grand Maxwell 909 Integrated Amplifier.
While Cen.Grand is widely celebrated for its world‑class digital front‑ends, fewer people realise that the company’s origins lie in high‑end amplification. Chief Engineer Mr. Deng began making amplifiers more than 30 years ago, and the new Maxwell 909 represents the culmination of those decades - an elegant fusion of engineering discipline, accumulated experience, and modern component innovation.
Spotlight on Cen.Grand’s Digital Masterpieces
This week, we’re diving into one of the most talked‑about digital front ends in high‑end audio: the Cen.Grand DSDAC1.0 Deluxe and the GLD1.0 Deluxe media players. Over the past several years, these components have been evaluated by some of the most respected ears in the industry — and the praise has been unusually consistent.
Below is a curated summary of what top reviewers are saying, and why we’re so excited to offer private auditions here at Angelic Sound, paired with complementary brands such as Harbeth and Line Magnetic.
Angelic Sound Now an Official Harbeth Dealer
Angelic Sound is proud to announce that we are now an official Harbeth Loudspeaker dealer, bringing one of Britain’s most respected and musically authentic loudspeaker brands into our curated portfolio. Harbeth’s BBC‑engineered heritage, natural tonal balance, and long‑term listening comfort align perfectly with our commitment to musical truth and premium audio experiences.
POW, POW, POW!
The Cen.Grand GLD1.0 Deluxe Media Player was engineered with a single, uncompromising objective: to deliver the highest‑integrity, highest‑bit‑rate digital audio transmission possible. With modern high‑resolution formats reaching DSD1024, any next‑generation digital source must move data with absolute precision and without compromise.
Despite the abundance of digital interfaces in consumer audio, very few can technically meet these demands.
To overcome these constraints, Cen.Grand developed PoW (Parting of the Ways) - a proprietary transmission protocol engineered specifically for high‑bit‑rate, high‑fidelity digital audio.
The 805 Tube: Power Triode Legacy and Modern Revival
There’s a special kind of excitement that comes with unboxing a new Line Magnetic LM-805IA amplifier. Paired with the Cen.Grand GLD1.0 Media Player, DSDAC1.0 DAC, Atalante 3, and Harbeth P3ESR speakers, even in these early days before burn-in (which typically takes 50–100 hours), the initial sonic results are impressive, showcasing the legendary qualities of the 805 tube.
Goosebumps
At the Melbourne Hi-Fi Show, we assembled a system that drew rave feedback from visitors. The genuine excitement in the room was impossible to miss, and a few listener comments captured the spirit of the weekend:
"I have goosebumps listening to your music!"
"I came back to the show today because my friend insisted that I visit your room. You've done a fantastic job-this is the best-sounding room in the entire show. You really connect me with the music."
That is a wrap!
Angelic Sound is featured in the 2025 StereoNET Melbourne Hi-Fi & AV Show Report & Gallery.
The show organisers praised our room set-up “…the sound was delicate and smooth with lovely mids…the tonal richness of Yo-Yo Ma playing his cello was outstanding. In fact, all natural instruments were reproduced with authentic texture and timbre, as well as tonal integrity. There was a hint of tube warmth, but I found the sound to be uncoloured and neutral, with absolutely no harshness. Big orchestral tracks were reproduced with fullness, dynamics and scale.”
What a Show!
Angelic Sound’s first appearance at the StereoNet HiFi Show was truly unforgettable — an event filled with emotion, challenges, and genuine connection. The team left Melbourne with wonderful memories and immense pride in what was achieved over four vibrant days.
The showcase featured the industry-leading Cen.Grand GLD1.0 music player and DSDAC1.0 DAC as our digital source, seamlessly feeding the celebrated Line Magnetic LM-212 Premium integrated amplifier. Paired with the vibrant orange Focal Sopra No 3 loudspeakers and connected with Tellurium cables, the system delivered a performance that captivated organizers, fellow exhibitors, and attendees alike. Countless visitors described our room as “the best sounding room in the entire show,” praising not only the world-class components but also the thoughtful setup and engaging presentation.
Why PCIe Unlocks a New Level of High-Fidelity Playback – and How It Differs from USB?
Most audio systems today use USB Protocol to transmit data between the music player’s CPU and the Digital Processing Unit. It’s convenient, but the USB protocol was never designed for Hi-End, uncompromising sound. USB works by sending packets of data across a shared bus. If something is delayed or lost, the system resends it — fine for printers or hard drives, but not ideal for real-time music. Those retransmissions and buffering add timing errors, noise, and jitter that blur fine musical detail.
This is why a PCIe-based player like the Cen.Grand GLD1.0 sounds more natural with improved imaging and micro-dynamics that convey the emotion of the music. GLD1.0 departs completely from the USB connection protocol in two ways:
Internally: PCIe protocol is used for the communication between the CPU and the Digital Processing Unit
Externally: POW (Parting-of-the-Ways) protocol is used for connection between GLD1.0 and the DAC (DSDAC1.0 Deluxe-P) - data via Optical Fibre and clock via BNC Coaxial cables.
First Impressions: Line Magnetic LM-212 Premium
At long last, the Line Magnetic LM-212 Premium has arrived! Unboxing this beast was an experience in itself: two massive roller flight cases on casters, each weighing around 90kg, plus two cartons dedicated to the towering 212 vacuum tubes.
Cen.Grand GLD1.0 Deluxe Media Player – Refined Performance, Subtle Mastery
In his recent 6moons review, audio critic Srajan Ebaen described the GLD1.0 Deluxe as:
“Fuller, fruitier and more suave… softer without losing definition, billowy yet substantial… the gap widened with challenging classical works like Bruckner and Tchaikovsky.”