Montreal Audio Fest – Show Report Part 3

Asona / Pylon / Pathos / Innous / Tibo

Asona is a Canadian distributor of numerous fine hifi brands from around the world.  Inside this room I found several interesting brands that I wasn’t all that familiar with.  The main system highlighted the Pathos Inpol Remix MKII integrated amplifier (pure class A), Pathos Conver to MK2 preamp, Innous Zen Mini  music server and a pair of Pylon Diamond Monitor bookshelf speakers. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to listen to the system, as during my visit to the room, the owner of Asona, Richard Kohlruss, was busy showing his line of wireless Tibo speakers to customers.

On the main system bench, there was also a very modern looking speaker called The Pearl by Cabasse. This active speaker offers wireless, Bluetooth and physical connections for all your sources, and can become a part of a multi-room system.

At the side of the room, a number of other hifi brands were shown in a static display, including Tibo wireless speakers, more traditional looking Cabasse speakers, and Russell K speakers.

Asona / Hegel / Totem

In another nearby room, Asona showcased a great sounding system that every music lover can afford.  At the heart of this system was a Hegel H90 integrated amplifier ($2,200), playing into a pair of Totem Tribe Tower speakers (approx. $6,000).  The sound here was something that everyone could easily love – it filled the room with great energy and musical details, and painted a well defined soundstage.  I reviewed the Totem Tribe Tower last summer and absolutely fell in love with it – you can check out my review here: https://novo.press/adventures-in-sound-with-the-totem-tribe-tower-speakers/

Hegel is a strong line for Asona, so it was no surprise that the company showed several other Hegel models on static displays, scattered throughout the room.

BIS Audio

Walking down one of the main show hallways, I stumbled upon a couple of friendly faces from Montreal-based manufacturer BIS Audio – Bernard and Michèle Brien.  At their booth, BIS Audio displayed their full range of cable and power distributor products.  The booth was so busy, I had a bit of a difficult time capturing a picture of Michèle and Bernard – but I did manage to get this “in action” shot as they were interacting with customers.

BIS Audio introduced a trio of new products at the show.  The first new product Bernard showed me was the BIS Audio VIVAT XLR balanced cable, which features wiring made by a company that produces military equipment, constructed to BIS Audio’s specifications.  This new cable retails for $950 for a 1m pair.

The other two products were attractively priced turntable cables, designed for turntables that offer an interchangeable RCA output cable.  The BIS Audio TBL F-10 is an entry-level RCA cable that includes a ground wire ($130 / 1.3m pair), while the BIS Audio TBL LINK, which also includes a ground wire, offers upgraded connectors and an improved cable geometry ($250 / 1.3m pair).

Here you can see some of the BIS Audio power bars – which I am a big fan of.  In fact, last year, the BIS Audio PowerBIS Maestro power bar found a permanent home in one of my personal systems.  You can check out our review of this unit HERE.

About the Author: Suave Kajko

After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in 2002, Suave turned his attention to his passion for audio, video and technology in general. Through hands on experience with an extensive number of audio video products, Suave provides a real world, expert perspective on the latest products and the technology surrounding them. As an enthusiast, he shows a true passion in his writing that is easy to understand by all consumers. Aside from contributing to NOVO, Suave has also written about audio for special sections of The Toronto Star, Son et Image Magazine (FSI Guide) and appeared several times on television. More recently Suave was interviewed and quoted in articles for the Globe and Mail and MSNBC.com. In 2010, Suave launched the Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show (TAVES), an annual consumer trade show that has witnessed tremendous growth year after year.  In 2014, the show was expanded to include a new technology & innovation pavilion and rebranded as the TAVES Consumer Electronics Show.  As of 2016, the show attracts over 7,600 attendees and exhibitors from around the globe.  TAVES showcases cutting-edge technology and innovation in the most exciting categories: virtual reality, drones, wearables, health & fitness, gaming, audio, home theater, robotics, 3D printing, personal transportation, smart devices and electric vehicles.  For more info, please visit www.taveshow.com.

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