This was my first RMAF. I specifically went to audition speakers and meet Frank Van Alstine. My wife and I did that. It was a pleasure to finally meet this "legend", he was very gracious.
We also had the pleasure of getting to know Jim and his lovely wife, and hear his amazing speakers with pretty much the same front end as we have at home. The overall presentation of the AVA/SALK room was IMHO not topped by any rooms we visited. We had one problem, my wife is a very visual person and the HT3's look like coffins to her. (there are personal issues going on in her life right now that greatly magnify this perception). Eventually she asked Jim if he could build us the speakers in a different shaped cabinet. Jim basically said "whatever you want". The speakers at the show were stunning. They were Jim's that he built for himself with a particular veneer that he ran across and there ain't no more. My wife and Jim arrive at a cabinet that should not alter the acoustics from the original shape of the baffle and not freak her out with here coffin issues. We head down to the 2nd floor for another audition, it's 5:55. She decides that the wood is so exceptional on the speakers at the show, let's try to buy them. Back up to the 11th floor as Jim and his wife are locking up for the night and make our pitch. Seems Jim keeps building speakers for himself and they never make it home before someone sees them and wants them. This is the 4th pair he's built from that sheet of veneer and he'd really like to finally get a pair home. We suggested he keep them for the rest of the year and he agreed to that. So come January we'll be making a road trip!! I can't get our pictures from the show to upload or I would show the speakers.
I love music and stereos alot, just like all you, but it's just icing on the cake when the equipment is built by such special, lovely, gracious people like the Salk's and Frank. It was also good to meet the BigRedMachine who invited us to stop in when we make our trip to pick up the speakers!
Those Songtowers are certainly a bargain too!