Potafes 2026 Hiroshima Returns After 11 Years: Major Portable Audio Event Set for March 21

Another layer comes from the contrast between brand showcases and the tuning-focused ASSY Meeting Light format. While brand booths traditionally spotlight finished signatures—often tuned for immediate impact in show environments—the workshop approach highlights how small changes in acoustic damping, nozzle filtering, or internal volume can shift perceived transient response and upper-mid energy. The MAPro1000 platform is known among enthusiasts for its relatively linear midrange and controllable treble slope, making it a sensible baseline for demonstrating how subjective “detail” is often a function of tuning decisions rather than driver count or exotic materials. This creates an implicit dialogue between manufacturers presenting polished products and a hands-on program that demystifies the same engineering choices.

From a broader perspective, sources frame the Hiroshima event as both a regional revival and a testing ground for how deeply listeners want to engage with the engineering side of portable audio. e☆Earphone’s role extends beyond retail presence into education and platform-building, while Otsuade’s involvement underscores a craft-oriented view of IEM design that contrasts with mass-market narratives. For international brands watching the Japanese scene, the takeaway is clear: the market’s maturity increasingly favors transparency in design philosophy—connectors, tuning logic, and component choices—over headline specifications alone.