[TONEPUB]

I've been talking to a lot of people in the industry lately and I'm really curious as to why
people attend the RMAF.  It's my job, I have to be there and it's always fun to bump into
our readers and line up new reviews for the next year.

But, I'm very curious as to what the show means to you guys!

[TomS]

Jeff,

I voted but there are of course motivations between the lines there too.  First and foremost, I really enjoy meeting people from the various forums, such as AC here.  Just a great bunch of folks to be around.  Not being from the industry, having a chance to interact directly with designers and manufacturers is really special as well.  Despite having to do all the meet and greet for several days, I've found them generally gracious and forthright with philosophies on their gear and answers to the most obscure questions. Should be a good time again this year.

Tom

[JohnR]

You need a vote for "I can't attend boo hoo "

[chosenhandle]

I think it is a great way to get up-to-date on new gear etc. Magazine reviews are a good start, but there is nothing like hearing the gear and chatting with factory people.

However, I have to admit, my second choice in the list is meet up with friends and party. I really like catching up with "long distance friends" and bond with great music and beer.

[TONEPUB]

That's why I think it's such a great show too.

Because there aren't as many dealers as there used to be and some
of the smaller mfrs don't really have dealers, it's a great place to
actually SEE and hear the stuff you've been hearing about.

[dyohn]

I attended the last two but not this year.  Time and money got in the way... but also I really didn't see much new or innovative last year that made me want to go again.

[mgalusha]

It's too bad we can't vote for multiple items.

I very much like hearing things I have not heard and since I DIY some of these are sources of inspiration. I very much look forward to hanging out with folks I've met on the forums and Friday night in the bar is one of the high points of the show. I have gotten a killer deal on show products before though I wasn't looking for that but as they say, I've got a offer you can't refuse. Meeting the manufacturers is also a treat. It's amazing what can be learned if one just takes the time to listen. The first RMAF I spent almost an hour talking with Jack Elliano from Electra Print about amps and transformers. Pretty much worth the price of admission by itself.

This year I'm kind of on the other side. I'm going to help man a room though I'm not directly associated with any of the manufacturers but am friends with one of the local retailers (tweekgeek.com). Not sure which room yet but one of his rooms should have Modwright/Specton/SP Tech Revalations and the other Modwright/Spectron/Analysis Audio, so in either event I will get to enjoy some very fine sound, with any luck that is. Having foot surgery tomorrow morning and I figured it would be better to sit in a room for the show than to try and walk around for three days though it should be pretty well healed by then.

mike

[TONEPUB]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

[lonewolfny42]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

Maybe those that have read the thread might not be attending....

I attend in order to hear what's new equipment wise....

and to meet up with my fellow AC members...

and sample the fine beer selections in the bar....
the dark beers are very good !

See you there Jeff....

[ooheadsoo]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

I think repeat views are also counted.  They are not unique views.

[kenreau]

I would love to attend but don't currently have the time or means. 

I do look forward to seeing the show coverage and checking out the new products and buzz about what was great or not. 

Ken

[ted_b]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

Maybe those that have read the thread might not be attending....

I attend in order to hear what's new equipment wise....

and to meet up with my fellow AC members...

and sample the fine beer selections in the bar....
the dark beers are very good !

See you there Jeff....

+1

And to hear Chris's new collection of tunes!   

[bpape]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

Maybe because a lot of people reading it are actually going to be showing at the show so none of the choices really apply?

Bryan

[Don_S]

how come no one ever votes on these polls?
It's all just for a few laughs.  164 people read this thread
but only 22 have voted.

What gives?

Cuz maybe, like me, they would like to attend RMAF but are not.  Not an option on the poll.

[Bombaywalla]

I've been talking to a lot of people in the industry lately and I'm really curious as to why
people attend the RMAF.  It's my job, I have to be there and it's always fun to bump into
our readers and line up new reviews for the next year.

But, I'm very curious as to what the show means to you guys!

Jeff,
please allow us to select more than 1 option in your survery/poll because I can easily see multiple reasons for attending RMAF. For example when I attended RMAF2007 I went because (1) I was window shopping & (2) I wanted to meet industry personnel & fellow Audiogoners.
I skipped RMAF2008 'cuz I felt that it would have been a repeat of 2007 w/ very little new stuff.

[TONEPUB]

interesting comment!

[Frihed91]

At or as a direct result of attending two RMAFs I have purchased:
1 pr Stirling LS3/5A speakers
1 SinglePower MPX3 SLAM SE - $2100
1 Blue Circle (BC) SBH head amp - $1100
1 BC SBT preamp - $1795
1 pr BC SBM monoblocks - $1995
2 pr Audio Note (AN) Lexus ICs - $390
2 sets AN Lexus speaker cables - $950
1 DeHavilland UV2 preamp - $2500
1 pr Quicksilver Mini-Mites - $1198
Roughly $500 worth of CDs at Twist and Shout in Denver
$114 worth of Paplos' Danger Monkey Coffee
Plus about another $6000 in Denver and Boulder on Hotels, food, and shopping for my wife, myself and 2 grown children.

A number of vendors told me that hardly anyone buys anything at RMAF.  It's full of tire kickers.

Needless to say, Denver rules! (Boulder sucks!)

[Mariusz]

To bad that there is only one option to choose.
I've missed the last show but will definitely attend next year.
•check out new gear
•have fun
•opportunity to audition rare gear
•spend money on good music and potential addition to my nutty hobby collection.

[TONEPUB]

That's certainly reassuring.

I think the most difficult thing for a lot of people in sales to understand is that buying high end audio gear isn't like buying a washing machine.  You probably aren't going to walk in, listen to a pair of speakers for 30 min and just write a check. It's a pretty emotional purchase, you you will probably take more time to make a decision than you would on something else.

Those little Stirlings are awesome, enjoy!

[Frihed91]

I heard the Stirlings in 2006 and I bought the speakers from Doug in the UK a year later.  I heard the deHavilland in 2007 and bought it in November this year after Kara made me a really good offer.  The UV2 is a great preamp.