Recently, I was invited to an audio event, LIVE to TAPE Recording with EB DUET (local duet, Ms.Eve Wong and Mr.Billy Ho), and LUKANG AUDIO (TAIWAN) at BEGINS ACOUSTICS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD. There I got to experience first hand comparison between EB DUET‘s LIVE performance with its recorded performance at both TAPE (R2R) and DIGITAL (HDD DSD).
Consequently, I was exposed to the sound quality of the standmount speakers in used, the LUKANG AUDIO Spoey 230,…
that have the ‘Alluring‘ sound quality that peaked my interest.
LUKANG AUDIO which was founded by Mr.Francis Shih (father),…already an established and trusted four [4] decades ol’ Audio Dealer and Distributor (for a number of known International Audio Brands) in Taipei, TAIWAN. When came the time for the second generation to take part in the family business,…
Mr.Rox Shih (son) suggested that their audio business be expanded to Speakers Design and Manufacture.
Hence in the year 2000, both father and son, with combined decades of exposures and experiences, formed a formidable team to do just that and released their first generation of audiophile speakers, the Lu Kang No.1 and the Lu Kang No.2,…then years later, to the current four [4] models of audiophile speakers (Spoey 230 Floor Stander, Spoey 230, Spoey 200 and Spoey 155), initially for the TAIWAN audio market only. Then time and opportunity came for them to participate and launch their Spoey standmount speakers at the MUNICH HIGH END 2019, and from there to ROCKY MOUNTAIN AUDIO SHOW, GUANGZHOU HI END SHOW, MHES, KL INTERNATIONAL AV SHOW, SINGAPORE HI-END ASIA, etc,…thus sparked a number of positive reviews for the Spoey standmount speakers and…
well-received by audiences in a number of countries; UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Austria, Germany, US, Japan, and so forth.
According to the catalogue of Lu Kang Audio, the Spoey 230 (retail for a pair at RINGGIT MALAYSIA RM 24,750.00 only) is a “Heavyweight, Artisan standmount (bookshelf) speaker Designed and Handcrafted in Taiwan“,…and is their “current flagship standmount speaker” (alternatively, there is the Floor Stand model, Spoey 230 FS). It is known for their “robust build,…with a 1.5” thick MDF cabinet, real wood veneer, High-Quality Danish drivers from Hiquphon by the artisan Mr.Oskar Wronding (an artisanal 20mm tweeter,…where it takes over above 4kHz, restoring output above 8kHz) and AudioTechnology under the stewardship of Mr.Skaaning (premium 230mm bass/midrange,…where it rolls off above 800Hz, with a peak around 620Hz. Here, the bass is thoughtfully tuned, with a broad frequency range and reinforcement from the reflex port. The overall tuning is not focused on achieving extreme low-end reach but rather on delivering a balanced and impactful bass response), and the minimalist hand made and custom three [3] components crossover”.
ENTER THE TAIWANESE SPOEY 230.
With the blessing from Mr.Rox Shih, Ms.Kennix Chua of BEGINS ACOUSTICS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD arranged the same pair of Lu Kang Spoey 230 standmount speakers to be delivered to my Audio Den for review. When I received the said pair of Spoey 230 standmount speakers, I set them on their accompanied stands, positioned them in between the Magico M2 loudspeakers and leveled them with digital accuracy.
The pair of Spoey 230 standmount speakers were connected to alternating audio components throughout the review session;
a) Analogue Sources; DS AUDIO Master 3 Optical Phono cartridge and TB-100 Optical Phono Equalizer, THOMAS SCHICK 12″ tonearm and modified GARRARD 301 turntable, and HYPER SONIC X-4 MC cartridge, VERTERE Reference tonearm, TECHDAS Air Force One turntable and FM ACOUSTICS 223 Phono Linearizer,
b) Digital Sources; VITUS AUDIO Masterpiece CD Transport MP-T 201 and DAC MP-D 201, HIFI ROSE 150B Server/ Streamer, and PIONEER UDP-LX500,
c) Preamplifier; PILIUM AUDIO Ares and FM ACOUSTICS 268C,
d) Amplifiers; LINN Klimax 500 Solo and VITUS AUDIO Masterpiece MP-M201AF,
e) Cables; SKOGRAND CABLES Silverspine, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Markarian 421, TiGLON White Tiger AC and VERMOUTH AUDIO Reference AC,
f) Tweaks and Tunnings; TOMBO AUDIO, etc
THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
Every pair of loudspeakers in my collection/ liking has certain sound quality that I like,…
and I like each pair for possibly very Different Sound Quality.
After hearing but a few tracks through the Spoey 230 in my own audio systems and Audio Den, I realised and confirmed (why) the interest I have in the said standmount speakers. They have certain sound qualities that I truly appreciated in any final transducers (Loud/Speakers),…the ‘Sound of Music‘.
The above connotation, ‘Sound of Music‘ carries a broad meaning and classification. Suffice to mention that one’s ‘Sound of Music‘ of an audio component may not be similar and/ or not dissimilar with another’s.
Here, I found my mind and heart kept saying “Do Not Disturb for I want to listen” to Ms.Masako Kunisada‘s rendition of the song ‘Snow Flakes‘ because it was so pleasantly presented and,…with layer upon layers of details (layered voiceation) being revealed at a comforting (not at a hurried) pace. Her voiceation was natural, relaxed, soothing, detailed and rich (especially at the mid frequencies),…
thus easily enticed one to continue listening Attentively.
I came to remember that listening to that song used to bring me ‘teary eyes’ (eventhough I do not understand Japanese), and that was the case hearing it through the Spoey 230 standmount speakers. Then, I realised that the Spoey 230 standmount speakers have managed to
present a Convincing Voiceation coupled with the Emotions…
poured in by the artist into the lyrics (that I do not understand,…a testament that “Music transcends Understanding“).
At the song ‘Besame Mucho‘, Ms.Eve Wong‘s voiceation was presented with heavier mid frequencies and,…with added dimensions, weight and,…distincted away from the accompanied instrument (she got her personal space and stage to perform, uninterrupted)
Here, she sounded Warmer and more Seductive (Sexy?) than through the other loudspeakers at hand.
As for instrumentation, I found Mr.Billy Ho‘s artistry was magnified and distincted for easier appreciation thus enjoyment. His skill at the strings and the strings’ reactions were presented…
with Contrasting weight, strength and energy accordingly.
At other tracks where there were more accompanied instruments, I found each was equally distincted, separated and spaced from one another within an airy soundstage,…
thus presented the (precise) Soundstaging of the recording event.
Here, I played the SACD version of the above album and found the lead artist, Ms.Lyn Stanley‘s voiceation to sound…
Richer in Tonality, Weightier in Presence and with more Layers of Details.
There was that sensation and feeling that her mouth thus voice, was ‘closer to the recording mike‘. Hence, there was a lingering thought that…
I was hearing more into her voiceation.
The instrumentations from the accompanied Jazz Band sounded bigger, bloomer, richer, weightier, impressed a stronger presence and were well laid out within the spacious soundstage.
The whole presentation was expanded ‘Wall to Wall‘ coupled with Weighty and Deep bass,
that were ‘beyond‘ a supposedly pair of standmount speakers.
Unconsciously, I tend to play at Higher Volume with the Spoey 230 standmount speakers,
not because I have to in order to have a ‘better feel‘ for the music,…
but because they sounded Good even at that Higher Volume.
Here, I was surprised that the Spoey 230 supposedly a standmount speaker (again) was able to…
maintain coherency, stability, vividness, specificity and staging even at higher (than normal) volume.
In addition, playing the above CD album where a full orchestra was engaged to…
deliver the volume, dynamic, depth, power, energy and bass bombardments as per the movie,…
I was again surprised that the Spoey 230 standmount speakers were able to deliver all the aboves, with ‘plenty of spades’.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE AND EAR.
The Lu Kang Spoey 230 standmount speakers may not be imposing in ‘size‘ but they sure can…
surprise anyone with their SUBSTANTIAL SOUND…
that encompassed the meaning and weight of any complex musical passages without compression, and at the same ‘size‘…
pleasantly soothe anyone with the SUBTLEST DETAILS…
that expressed the naturalness, richness, uniqueness, flexibility and expressiveness of the human voice and/ or musical instrument.
It was obvious to me that the Spoey 230 standmount speakers…
spelled ‘SOUND of MUSIC‘ beyond their Size and Price point,…
and testament to the Artisanal Efforts of the father and son team at Lu Kang Audio.
OVERVIEW:
2 Way Bookshelf Speaker
Impedance: 8 ohm
Output Sound Pressure Level: 86.5dB
Unit (Midrange/Woofer): Audio technology 230mm
Unit (Tweeter): Hiquphon 3/4 OW4
Crossover Frequency: Designed and Handcrafted by Lukang Acoustics Dimensions
(H/W/D, mm): 635 x 322 x 305
Weight: 23.0 kg x 2
Finish: Walnut, Cherrywood, Matte Black
Comes with genuine brass insulators (8 pieces)
SPECIFICATION:
Overall Frequency Response: 40Hz to 20kHz.
Low-Frequency Extension ( -6dB ): 37Hz.
High-Frequency Extension ( -6dB ): 33.4kHz (and 31.5kHz).
Driver Details: The Spoey 230 uses a custom AudioTechnology woofer and a Hiquphon OW4 tweeter.
Impedance: 8 ohms, with a minimum impedance of 7.9 ohms at 165Hz.
Sensitivity: 86.5dB/W/m, with a measured sensitivity of 84.1dB/1kHz and 85.9dB average across 500Hz-8kHz.
Ported Design: The woofer is reflex-loaded by a central front-facing port.
Pair Matching/Response Error: 1.2dB for pair matching, ±5.8dB/±5.7dB for response error.