Like all good audiophiles who comes from East Coast of Singapore, Happy Valley is an out-and-out music lover who enjoys his music with his family and doesn’t mind the living room not being the most conducive for hi-fi (notice the full height wall mirror behind the system). We came to know Happy Valley is about to leave this spacious, lush greenery surroundings and quiet environment to some cold property developers so we hope these pictures would serve up some good memories in time to come.
Happy Valley is one of Modular Audio first supporters. We will always remember how he came to us in numerous occasions auditioning the LS26 which was out-of-the-box (at that time) and checking it out patiently before making that final and precise decision. He is surely one discerning, knowledgeable and well-thought audiophile.
Happy Valley’s system is in a word musical, it has the right amount of everything. Happy Valley preference is good texture, good tone for long term listening. He is certainly no fan of most hi-fi demo discs.
This is the pre-amplifier that started it all - Audio Research LS26. Being the control center and soul of the system, this pre-amplifier very much sets the tone and the stage. Like the top model Reference 3, the new Audio Research sound has abundance of details, excellent extensions, crispy attack and slam. Unlike classic sounding tube gears, LS26 is a hybrid pre-amp that marries the best of tube tonality and texture with solid-state quietness and decisiveness.
The Audio Research Reference 110 power-amplifier is the new addition to the system replacing Krell FPB 300. While in the Audio Research product line, Reference 110 replaces the obsolete VT100 Mk3 but elevated to reference class with higher build and sound quality (new design). Happy Valley found the Reference 110 has a firm grip on the Aerial 10T and the synergy between the pre and power amp is beyond doubt - simply magic. Happy Valley experimented with available 4-6-8 Ohm speaker output load and found the 4 Ohm to sound best with his speakers.
The Audio Research Reference 110 and LS26 is best served balanced and Happy Valley has them married via the formidable PAD AK Limited XLR A highly well-read audiophile indeed.
Serving good music in the valley is this stand-in Krell DVD player which Happy Valley describes is performing below his actual Krell SACD/CDP. Latter player is in the factory (US) for some servicing/upgrading when we visited. In our return trip, it’ll probably be the same (better) system fully supported by hi-fi furniture in a whole new happy home,
