Well, here are the pics from last night. Unfortunately I missed a couple of shots I wish I should have taken advantage of but so it goes.
We had a great turnout. I think there were 16 of us total. We missed a few of our regulars like Tim who is nursing a kidney stone that won't depart quietly (I bet it was that Haggis you had for Thanksgiving dinner), bmed who had to work patching people back together in the ER, Vasu who is MIA, Alex who spent the day with an ill relative, pjchappy who I think we perminently scared off (you would have enjoyed this gathering, it was all about computer based audio which we were all overly impressed with), Kirch who had another commitment, bosterkisco (Dude, we NEED to do a KSHE classics night) and all others that escape my feeble memory at this time.
Before we get to the picks I'd like to thank a few people that made this evening a success.
First Bryan (bpape) for coming to the resue in the small listening room. He brought over tons of room treatments to add to the ones I had. Amazingly it made that tiny bedroom sound pretty darned good with those big floorstanders (and yes you are a miricle worker).
Next, Wayne at Bolder Cable for letting us play with his modified Squeezeboxes. Honest to goodness, the guys that showed up will never think that computer based audio is inferior again. The testament to this was everybodies grumblings saying "Well damn,
this is going to cost me some more money."
Next, Klaus of Odyssey for letting us use the Khartago once again and the guys from Aperion Audio for the use of the 633 T floorstanders.
Next, Sturgus, Mike D, Deadfish and Steve K for bringing some of their gear over. Even though we didn't get to use all of it it was great to have it as backups. Sturgus's CAL DAC saved the Big Fun System from mediocritey. Mike and his Wadia gave a great reference to a true high end CD player.
Of Course, Willie and Mark@martwain for bringing their awesome amplifier creations (see pics below).
...and finally, I'd like to thank my lovely wife for cooking all of the yummie eats and putting up with all of our audio neurosis's's's's.
and now on to the BIG show
The Fleapowered System with Blackmores Yammies doing it doggie style on top.
A little audio porn of Blackmore's Yamamoto up close and personal. Turn On's "I love fat bottles and efficient speakers." Turn Off's "I lothe silicon and crossovers."
Willies Frankenstein taking a dominating stance over the GASsers.
Mark's Skeleton amp taking sloppy thirds and amazing people that size really doesn't make a difference.
.
.
.
.
.
.
this is where you have to imagine Marks big 6BQ5 amp with the copper top is riding on the back of the Fleapowered System (and everybody rather enjoying it too)(sorry I spazzed out and forgot to take a pic).
.
.
.
.
.
....and the more than crowded front end...
Some more close up porn of Mikes Wadia, Sturgus's CAL DAC doing the stock SB3, the NEC swapper and my lonely Tjoeb let to just watch.
Oh, there's my Scotch !
One of Waynes SB2's being done by the AudioNote.
and the red headed stepchild taking a back seat to all the new technology.
and sitting on the other side of the bench, way on the other side of the Group W bench was the the ultra cool Odyssey, Lazarus, Bolder Modded SB2, Aperion speakers and Bryans Sensible Sound Solutions (room treatments) Room. Think really big headphones.
All of the guys being mezmerized as we listened in amazement to all of the different flavors of Squeezeboxes as Mike switches back and forth between them all.
Actually we thought about doing ABX testing but
we don't need no stinking double blind tests. They all sounded the same so save your money and dig our your zip cord and the ICs that came with your $60 DVD player cuz it don't make no difference. Oh, and there is no such thing as break in either.
...and finally
...the winning GAS logo (by a landslide)
I've got my own impressions on the SB's that I'll save for the article (all of which are very positive) so I'll leave it to you guys to comment on the individual pieces.
Oh, and BTW, Lowthers and single ended triodes DON'T do complex music, Rock and Roll or Rap worth a damned so don't waste your time considering them
It was great seeing all the new faces. Thanks to everybody for showing up.
and finally my highlight of the night was when Adrian came into the shop and asked if I could take a look and figue out why his phono stage on his brand new Audible Illusions 3a was making noise. I looked at him dead pan and said in my best hillbilly voice
"wull... I always wunted to werk on one a dem." .....his expression was absolutely priceless.
