What HiFi Show 2023: Top 5 highlights from the show floor

It's not often that you get to experience the best of audio-visual products under the same roof, but that's what the What HiFi Show promises. With a legacy of over a decade, the What HiFi show 2023 brought together the best audio and video products for demos and was attended by audiophiles, professionals and enthusiasts. So, whether you're looking for your next home theatre or want to upgrade your DAC, What HiFi Show lets you experience the best of audio before you make that buying decision.

This year's show was a paradise for AV enthusiasts with home theatre systems and stereo gear from premier brands like Klipsch, Sennheiser, BenQ and more. Here's a look at the top 5 most interesting products that were a highlight for me on the show floor. 

1. Klipsch The Nines McLaren Edition (₹2,11,800)

The Nines McLaren Edition is a Hi-Res bookshelf speaker that pays homage to McLaren's Formula 1 legacy with a genuine wood finish featuring the 'McLaren Orange' livery, Bruce McLaren's #5 car, and his signature.

It's got custom-engineered amplifiers that provides a room-filling sound paired with 1" titanium tweeters and 8" long-throw woofers for crisp and enhanced bass. The Magnetic Pro Cinema Grilles add a premium industrial-style touch, making the Nines McLaren Edition perfect for any space, from home to a man cave or even a garage.

2. Sonic Lamb (₹19,999)

The Sonic Lamb headphones by Rapture are among the most innovative products gracing the show floor at What HiFi 2023. It's the World's first headphone with a built-in subwoofer combining traditional drivers for mids and highs with a proprietary impulse driver that transforms low frequencies into tactile vibrations. The result? An unparalleled immersive experience that replicates the sensation of a subwoofer in high-end speaker systems. It utilizes air, bone, and skin conduction to let you truly feel the bass and low frequencies, making them the sonic sensation they are!

3. Optoma O-MAS RGB Triple Laser Portable Projector

The Optoma ML1080 was also showcased at the What HiFi Show 2023. It's the World's most compact RGB triple laser short throw projector with just around 1 kg weight. It supports 105% BT2020 colour gamut, a sharp Full HD 1080p resolution and 1,200 lumens of brightness for vivid visuals. The ML1080ST's short throw ratio can display a 100-inch image from just five feet away, which is pretty remarkable considering its size and is built featuring hidden screws and a durable translucent top cover crafted using Nanoimprint lithography.

4. Rokid Max (₹89,999)

Making its India debut at the What HiFi Show 2023 was the Rokid Max AR glasses that aim to offer a theatre experience equivalent to a wide 215-inch screen viewed from 6 meters away, making you feel like you're in the best seat at a cinema. It features a sharp 1080p Micro OLED screen sourced from Sony with 600-nit peak brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a wide 50-degree field of view. Rokid Max offers myopia-friendly adjustments from 0.00 to -6.00 degrees, ensuring utmost comfort and visibility.

5. BenQ V5000i (₹5,49,000)

The BenQ V5000i was officially launched at the What HiFi Show 2023. It's a 4K RGB Laser TV Projector that boasts 2500 ANSI Lumens of RGB Laser brightness and powerful 40W speakers. The V5000i offers 95% BT 2020 and 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage for lifelike visuals. Plus, it's a smart projector with a Google-certified Android TV and a sleek design, making it an all-in-one cinematic entertainment solution.