Our Man In… Hong Kong (not too much audio in Cuba!)

Martin joins Gy8 after a storied career in audio journalism and now distribution. He joined Audio Technique magazine in 2012, quickly becoming a mainstay contributor/reviewer and rising to the role of Senior Editor. Many of you will have seen him treading the corridors in Munich, preparing copy for the magazine’s annual Hi-End Show report.

He recently shifted gears, moving over to the distribution side with DCH in Hong Kong, working with the Esoteric and Tannoy brands, amongst others. But what really fascinated him as a reviewer – and what he demonstrated on the many times we met – was the whole subject of audio accessories and tweaks, set-up tips and techniques, all the small things that can make a real difference. He loves nothing more than taking a deep dive into what works, how it does it and how it shapes the listening experience. Over ten-years working at Audio Technique, a monthly print title that’s the size of a telephone directory and which dominates the Hong Kong scene, he has come into contact with literally thousands of products, many of which don’t penetrate or don’t get picked up by the English Language markets. He’ll be covering those, other products of interest and events in Hong Kong and Japan. Still passionate and still listening, we are really looking forward to his regular contributions.

 

Oyaide NRF-005T Noise Suppression Tape

A Subtle Yet Powerful Solution for Audio Interference

By Martin Leung

From Japan’s well-respected brand Oyaide comes an intriguing product: the NRF-005T. At first glance, it might look like an ordinary roll of adhesive tape, but don’t be fooled—this is no ordinary tape. The NRF-005T is designed to suppress noise and reduce radio frequency interference (RFI) in audio and video equipment. Each roll measures 4 meters in length, is 15mm wide, and it’s remarkably easy to use. Simply cut the tape to the desired length and apply it to electronic components on circuit boards or wrap it around cables. Even a small strip can produce noticeable results.

In reality, the tape’s performance far exceeds Oyaide’s modest claims. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be recommending it to fellow audiophiles. After purchasing a roll, I immediately tried it on power cords, signal cables, and even the ground wire connected to my grounding box—wrapping it twice around each lead—and the improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio was immediately audible. The enhancement was particularly evident when streaming music over the network.

As is becoming increasingly apparent, streaming is inherently vulnerable to various forms of interference, including induced electromagnetic noise and RF radiation. Adding tape collars to the network cables and taping the inside of the switch proved very effective. While the NRF-005T may not eliminate all of these interference issues, it significantly reduces their impact, allowing me to fully appreciate the sound quality of services like Tidal and Qobuz. Considering its modest price, the performance gain is exceptional—an upgrade that delivers far more than its cost would suggest.