Audio Exotics brings the art and precision of sonic truth to Hi-End Asia

Source: AE. The Engström Tube Suite will be on display at Hi-End Asia this year.

Audio Exotics (AE), a curator of ultra-high-end audio experiences, will be participating for the first time at the Hi-End Asia International Audio Visual Show, unveiling two system philosophies that embody its pursuit of musical purity, emotional truth, and the art of silence - according to AE, “Silence is not the absence of sound — it is the canvas upon which music breathes”.

The Engström Tube Suite with APL technology and Cessaro Horns features Lars 3 power amplifiers, a Monica preamplifier, and a M-Phono stage, paired with the APL Tube DAC and Streamer and voiced through Cessaro Horn loudspeakers. Together, the Engström–APL–Cessaro ensemble defines the art of purity: the natural liquidity of tubes, the serenity of design, and the living poetry of music in motion.

Engström embodies the rare Scandinavian synthesis of technical mastery and poetic minimalism. Each amplifier is designed to be both an instrument of power and a sculpture of sound and form. Hand-built in Sweden, the Lars 3 and Monica exude tonal refinement that balances warmth and transparency, delivering a sound described by reviewers as “liquid, dimensional, and emotionally luminous”. Their aesthetics — glass, copper, and wood in architectural harmony — evoke serenity and purity.

The APL Tube DAC and Streamer, crafted by Alex Peychev Laboratories (APL) in Bulgaria, continues this tradition of emotional digital playback. Its fully discrete tube output stage, handmatched components, and proprietary digital topology transform bits into breath. Anchoring the system are Cessaro Horn loudspeakers, hand-built in Germany, whose dynamics and tonal realism make music feel physically alive, AE said.

The Göbel High End & JMF Solid-State Suite and the Stellavox IDEM mono amplifier expresses the opposite pole of Audio Exotics’ philosophy — the precision of silence and the architecture of control.

Göbel High End loudspeakers from Germany translate material science into emotion. Their proprietary bending-wave driver technology and resonance-optimised construction unveil textures and micro-details that transcend traditional loudspeaker boundaries.

Driving them are JMF Audio electronics from France — precision-crafted amplifiers and converters born from professional mastering heritage. Assembled by hand in the Jura mountains, each JMF component is designed for neutrality, power, and silence. Their amplifiers reveal the full dynamic energy of a recording while preserving the intimacy of a human voice or the decay of a string.

The Pink Faun Ultra 2.16 music transport from the Netherlands anchors the digital stage with ultra-low-noise linear power supplies, OCXO clocking, and modular I²S architecture for true-time playback. Feeding into the Synästec DAC from Germany — a design that marries FPGA architecture with analogue finesse — the result is extraordinary transparency and tonal depth.

Touraj Moghaddam, founder of Vertere Acoustics and one of the visionaries of modern turntable design, will personally present his turntables in both systems. His presence bridges the tactile beauty of analogue with AE’s philosophy of curated listening — a testament that music, when faithfully rendered, unites all forms of technology and craft.

Details

Hi-End Asia will be held from 23 October to 25 October 2025 at level 3, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre. Get tickets from www.hiendasia.com

Audio Exotics has sponsored a premium lucky draw prize for the event, an Ediscreation Fiber Box Mk. II, valued at S$2,500. This advanced fibre isolation system is designed to deliver cleaner, purer signal transmission for the ultimate audiophile experience.

All ticket holders are automatically entered into the lucky draw.

*DAC stands for digital-to-analogue converter; and FPGA for field-programmable gate array. 

Patricia Rox brings signature colour and detail to Asia

Patricia Rox debuted in Europe in 2013 and is already gaining momentum internationally with plans to establish the brand here in Asia, beginning with Singapore. 

The luxury womenswear company creates globally inspired, traditionally handcrafted pieces, and officially launched the brand and its Spring/Summer 2015 The Fantasy Capsule in Singapore recently. 

With exotic, intricate prints and bright, bold colours at the forefront of its designs, Patricia Rox brings one-of-a-kind ready-to-wear and accessories to discerning, sophisticated women. 

The latest Spring/Summer The Fantasy Capsule features vibrant, circus-inspired scarves and buffalo horn and enamel jewellery which transport the Patricia Rox woman back to her whimsical childhood fantasies. The collection is luxurious yet effortlessly chic, and is versatile enough for a resort, travelling or attending a soiree. 

Model wearing the Hera toga
dress with a backdrop of
scarves with the same print.

Patricia Rox is the brainchild of fashion lawyer Patricia Haywood. Gathering inspiration from her love of travel, Patricia has created a brand that brings together traditional techniques and modern ideas to create unique, handmade pieces, and a brand with a mission to make well-crafted pieces available to women everywhere. 

"At Patricia Rox, we go to great lengths to bring women unique and well-made clothing and accessories. Our vision is to bring together some of the most creative people from different regions to create something special, and to make the art of traditional craftsmanship accessible to women worldwide," says Haywood, Founder and Creative Director, Patricia Rox. 

Every scarf and piece of jewellery is handcrafted by skilled and passionate craftspeople. Patricia Rox works with artisans who are the best at their craft and who are skilled at preserving the integrity of the materials used in each piece created. 

Each print is painstakingly hand-drawn by one artist, with some prints taking 200-300 hours to complete. These one-of-a-kind prints are viewed as works of art. This traditional technique translates to smaller runs and limited editions of each design and ensures that each and every piece will be unique and exquisitely crafted. 

With a mission to find the best natural materials like silk, cotton, linen, horn, enamel and pearl from around the world to create unique pieces that are just as unique as the Patricia Rox woman, all materials are ethically and sustainably sourced from only the best suppliers from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Currently, the collection of Patricia Rox scarves is available online at www.gnossem.com, a Singapore based online shopping site for unique and quality fashion from top, independent designers. Outside of Singapore, Patricia Rox is available in Asia at Aman Resorts in Bali, and www.shopzaozao.com in Hong Kong.

An e-commerce site and physical flagship store are in the works.

*All images from Patricia Rox.