A chance trip to Goa led me to meet Kishore — a thoroughly charming gentleman and owner of Unbox Audio
. While the invite had always been open, I never expected such a spontaneous plan to actually work out. To my surprise, Kishore responded instantly, checked my wishlist, and made space for us without hesitation.
Since I was with friends, I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate to bring them along — after all, it was our first time meeting, and in such cases, it’s always better to get to know someone one-on-one. But Kishore didn’t just welcome my friends, he went out of his way to ensure they were comfortable — in fact, I think they were treated even better than me!
Before I proceed, I must mention a delightful bonus to this visit — not only did I get to experience Unbox Audio, but I was also informed that Prem was visiting and happened to be there. What luck! Prem has been a mentor to me on the forum, always generous with his guidance and insights. Getting the chance to meet him in person was truly the cherry on top — one of those rare moments when everything just aligns.
The moment I stepped into the Unbox Audio demo room, it was clear this was the work of a true master. The space had everything — Cornwall, La Scala, JBLs, Dynaudio, ATC, MOFI, Tannoys — a dream lineup of legendary gear, all mounted on wheels for quick comparisons. What more could one ask for?
The setup that Kishore and Prem chose to wow us with was the legendary JBL 4343 — and what an experience it was! A vinyl of Shakti was spun, and we found ourselves immersed not just in the music, but also in the spoken word — dialogues that carried weight and nuance.
This, for me, became the absolute highlight of the visit — a live masterclass from Prem on how to gauge a system purely through how it renders the human voice. He has touched upon this on the forum before, but hearing it firsthand, with real-time guidance, changed everything. The way a system conveys voice, he explained, is the true measure of its authenticity. That became our reference point as we then moved to the Tannoy GR and the MoFi 888.
My experience with the Tannoy was, to be honest, a bit underwhelming. Both Kishore and I felt it likely had more to offer — but the entry-level Luxman amp used throughout the demo probably wasn’t the best match. A reminder of just how crucial amp-speaker synergy really is.
We then switched to the MoFi 888 — now this is a different animal altogether. Absolutely fantastic for parties, it can go incredibly loud and doesn't need a subwoofer. It handled electronic, rock, and just about anything we threw at it with ease. The amp definitely influenced its tone, but even with the modest setup, it delivered. At the price Unbox Audio offers, it’s a phenomenal value-for-money performer.
The JBL 4343, however, remained the clear standout — not just in how it delivered dialogues with a guttural, lifelike presence, but also in how musical notes seemed to suspend mid-air, full of depth and spatial clarity. It was a visceral, unforgettable experience.
We were so immersed in the music, the conversations, and the sheer joy of the moment that we completely forgot to take any pictures together. However, my friends did manage to capture a few shots of the system — something to remember the magic by.
. While the invite had always been open, I never expected such a spontaneous plan to actually work out. To my surprise, Kishore responded instantly, checked my wishlist, and made space for us without hesitation.Since I was with friends, I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate to bring them along — after all, it was our first time meeting, and in such cases, it’s always better to get to know someone one-on-one. But Kishore didn’t just welcome my friends, he went out of his way to ensure they were comfortable — in fact, I think they were treated even better than me!
Before I proceed, I must mention a delightful bonus to this visit — not only did I get to experience Unbox Audio, but I was also informed that Prem was visiting and happened to be there. What luck! Prem has been a mentor to me on the forum, always generous with his guidance and insights. Getting the chance to meet him in person was truly the cherry on top — one of those rare moments when everything just aligns.
The moment I stepped into the Unbox Audio demo room, it was clear this was the work of a true master. The space had everything — Cornwall, La Scala, JBLs, Dynaudio, ATC, MOFI, Tannoys — a dream lineup of legendary gear, all mounted on wheels for quick comparisons. What more could one ask for?
The setup that Kishore and Prem chose to wow us with was the legendary JBL 4343 — and what an experience it was! A vinyl of Shakti was spun, and we found ourselves immersed not just in the music, but also in the spoken word — dialogues that carried weight and nuance.
This, for me, became the absolute highlight of the visit — a live masterclass from Prem on how to gauge a system purely through how it renders the human voice. He has touched upon this on the forum before, but hearing it firsthand, with real-time guidance, changed everything. The way a system conveys voice, he explained, is the true measure of its authenticity. That became our reference point as we then moved to the Tannoy GR and the MoFi 888.
My experience with the Tannoy was, to be honest, a bit underwhelming. Both Kishore and I felt it likely had more to offer — but the entry-level Luxman amp used throughout the demo probably wasn’t the best match. A reminder of just how crucial amp-speaker synergy really is.
We then switched to the MoFi 888 — now this is a different animal altogether. Absolutely fantastic for parties, it can go incredibly loud and doesn't need a subwoofer. It handled electronic, rock, and just about anything we threw at it with ease. The amp definitely influenced its tone, but even with the modest setup, it delivered. At the price Unbox Audio offers, it’s a phenomenal value-for-money performer.
The JBL 4343, however, remained the clear standout — not just in how it delivered dialogues with a guttural, lifelike presence, but also in how musical notes seemed to suspend mid-air, full of depth and spatial clarity. It was a visceral, unforgettable experience.
We were so immersed in the music, the conversations, and the sheer joy of the moment that we completely forgot to take any pictures together. However, my friends did manage to capture a few shots of the system — something to remember the magic by.
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