Melody’s Music Room is Hong Kong’s newest audiophile haunt

Recently opened in the Sai Ying Pun neighbourhood of Hong Kong, Melody - House of Food & Music features the city’s newest audiophile listening room.

The aptly-named venue is situated in the former premises of Potato Head Hong Kong, which closed in November 2022. For the most part, the venue is unrecognisable, with new mid-century modern fittings across three distinct F&B rooms, including a Bar Lounge complete with a Klipschorn and Altec 9-powered DJ booth.

Its hidden Music Room—inspired by post-war Japanese “listening bars”—will look familiar, though, to former Potato Head patrons, with its overall layout unchanged.

What is new, however, is the revamped soundsystem, as music director Johnny Hiller explains, "I replaced the JBLs with customised Roger Quested / ATC monitors, their legacy model from the late '80s. These speakers were previously installed in Abbey Road Studio 3, where the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Amy Winehouse recorded."

He adds, "I love these monitors, due to their clarity, three-dimensional imaging and analytical nature. In the back, I have some Klipsch La Scalas and Turbosound Passive subs installed. These compliment the main monitors really well, filling in the sound and helping make music sound live."

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Also updated was all-new lighting alongside the room treatment, including soundproofing, acoustic ceilings, bass traps, and even concrete slaps for the turntables that minimise mechanical vibrations and feedback.

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Vinyl-only across the Music Room (which boasts Hiller’s extensive record collection) and Bar Lounge, Melody’s music programme aims to present a 50/50 split between promoter-led events and nights presided by its resident DJs—a roster that features local stalwarts such as DJ Kulu, Roy Malig, and Mixmag Asia’s Arun R.

See what Johnny has to say about the space below.

Mengzy is Mixmag Asia’s Music Culture Columnist, follow her on Instagram.