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A Masterclass for the Senses

An intersection of legendary music, fine wines, and pristine audio.

Tokyo, Japan – True luxury is felt long before it’s noticed. And on July 26, 2026, music artistry, audiophile craftsmanship, and the heritage of the vine converged to deliver a multi-sensory, emotional experience. In the historic and acoustically perfect “Studio 1” of Tokyo’s legendary Onkio Haus, this synergy came to life in an event titled Wines & Waves. It was an aesthetic and sonic immersion to an elite gathering of more than 40 producers, musicians, music-audio media, and audiophiles that blurred the lines between the creation of music and its ultimate appreciation. From the outset, as guests entered this studio – where legendary City Pop, electronic masterpieces, and cinema music classics, including Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” were recorded – there was a palpable atmosphere…Reverence.

For over 50 years, this Ginza landmark has been central to Japan’s most-defining musical moments. Studio 1 was specifically designed not to flatten the sound, but to let it breathe – capturing recordings with absolute fidelity. It was the perfect venue to test a simple premise … What happens when you blend award-winning audio gear, iconic analog and digital recordings, and exquisite wine varietals in a world-class facility full of people who live for them all? The goal wasn’t to pitch products, but to listen. The afternoon was intentionally unhurried. Between the curated range of soundtracks, attendees sampled Sicilian reds, whites, and roses – a pairing that naturally slowed the room down and got people talking about what they were experiencing. It demonstrated how they all demand the same thing – uncompromising truth in sonic reproduction.

Amphion Krypton3X at home in Studio No.1 – Onkio Haus is a legendary studio in the Japanese recording industry and celebrated as the birthplace of City Pop and iconic Cinematic Scores
Award-winning Thorens TD1500 Turntable, Aurorasound HSFA-02 Tube Amplifier and Vida High-End Solid-State Phono Preamplifier, Furutech High-end Audio cables and Power blocks

To achieve the transparency demanded by the room, Amphion’s Krypton3X was the centrepiece of this sonic ecosystem, translating the analog soul of a Thorens TD 1500 turntable, via the pristine HSFA amplifier and VIDA preamp of Aurorasound, and through superb signal integrity of Furutech cable/power-filtering to deliver breathtaking realism. Over glasses of Sicilian wine from the historic Planeta vineyards, guests were treated to an intimate audio masterclass delivered by master audio artisan and audiophile Shinobu Karaki, alongside a living-history interview with legendary keyboardist Philip Woo, (known for his many years on the road with Roy Ayers). Philip’s presence was to inject some authentic musical heritage into the event, bridging the gap between how music is created and how it is experienced.

Shinobu Karaki – Founder, CEO, and Chief Designer of Aurorasound – acclaimed boutique Japanese audio company in Yokohama, Japan. Founded in 2010, it has earned global recognition
Planeta is an influential and prominent wine producer from Sicily, Italy – a premier region for boutique, high-quality vintages. We thank JET Co Ltd for this wonderful pairing

Sitting in front of the system, Philip remarked that the setup didn’t just play the music, it captured the actual energy of the studio. It wasn’t about the “specs”, it was about the specs getting out of the way of the performance. The guests were truly astounded by the breathless realism of this audio ecosystem – especially in the way it brought out the legacy sound and warmth of seminal vinyl recordings. In the words of one hardcore audiophile, “This was a totally new listening experience”. Similarly, editors and journalists from prominent audio publications such as the prestigious PHILE WEB, an industry audio-authority, and the highly popular AOR AGE adult-oriented rock magazines, along with a veteran DJ from FM COCOLO and LOVE FM, were equally blown away by this stunning wall of sound.

Philip Woo – Legendary pianist, multi-keyboardist, composer, producer, notable as one of the first Asian-American musicians to make a massive impact in the funk, soul, and R&B genres
Amphion Krypton3X is our ultra-high-end, flagship three-way floor-standing loudspeaker and our 25-year reference project now in its fifth generation

An Epilogue: There were a few “Easter Eggs” too as guests discovered that the wines were not chosen at random – Planeta Santa Cecilia (Patron Saint of Music) and Planeta Allemanda (Baroque danse) – but to match the sonic theme of the day, and they also received a few wine-tasting techniques as well. As they exited Studio 1, there was one last stop in the famed Studio 7 – the Amphion-powered dual Dolby Atmos 9.1.4 | Sony 360 Reality Audio room – where they could compare the characteristics of the high-end audio experience with the forensic pro-audio environment of a commercial immersive audio workspace. We thank the staff of Onkio Haus and their La Casa Acustica Division, key presenters Shinobu Karaki and Philip Woo, and the team from PDN Audio, Furutech, and Japan Europe Trading Company for supporting this audio adventure.

Onkio Haus Melody-Go-Round (2020) – Music documentary film directed by Hiromi Aihara. Shines a spotlight on Onkio Haus, the legendary recording studio founded in Ginza, Tokyo in 1974
Play It in Woo is an upcoming feature-length music documentary that centres on the life and career of the legendary funk and soul keyboardist Philip Woo

Visit these sites:

To learn more about Onkio Haus
To learn more about Philip Woo and Play It In Woo
To learn more about the Wines of Planeta

And these product sites:

For more information on Amphion’s flagship reference speaker Krypton3X
For more information on the Amps and PreAmps of Aurorasound
For more information on the Turntables of Thorens
For more information on the Cables, Connectors, Power Distributors of Furutech
For more information on Onkio Haus’ La Casa Acustica
For more information on Japan Europe Trading Company JETLC