[Vapor Audio]

I'm a STL guy, Ballwin ... just wondering how to become a part of the group.  Are there any get-togethers coming up soon?  I'd love to hear some setups that I'm sure would totally embarass mine, although I enjoy mine as well

A little background, I'm 32, self-employed now as a 'big website' owner and photographer.  I also publish an automotive magazine.  My audio experience started with car audio competitions in the early 90's, then got into home audio more after graduating from college.  Now my system changes so much I dare not even say what I have now, just about every other week I'm burning in a new pair of DIY speakers.  My latest addition is a SB3 that I'd like to get modded.  I'm also in the process of building 8 channels of Greg's SKA GB150D amplifier modules, 4 of which have embedded crossover modules for an actively bi-amped set of mains.  My listening area sucks right now, but I own a piece of land and hope to build a house in the next year ... with of course dedicated audio rooms!

Anyway, the names Ryan.  I hope to meet a lot of you soon

[jcrane]

Welcome Ryan -
Not sure about the next get together as we are getting pretty big and there seems to be more "smaller" happenings as of late so you might catch one of those. Much easier to have 4 or 5 guys over than 30!
Lots of DIY and tubes around here. The SB3 swept through GAS during the last 18 months. Several have theirs modded so I am sure you will get some ideas. Scott does a little reviewing here and there and has some good contacts that allow us the ability to hear quite a range of gear. Not sure what he has going on now.

Once again welcome!

Jamie

[bpape]

Hi Ryan.

Welcome!  Jamie pretty well hit it on the head.  I'm hoping to have a get-together in the next few weeks at my place.  Just some casual listening and to audition a pair of speakers from Selah Audio that Rick was nice enough to ship out to me to let everyone hear.

Keep your eyes on this space and things pop up now and then. 

Bryan

[Scott F.]

Hi Ryan,

Welcome aboard!

Since you live in Ballwin, you live closer to Bryan and myself. Let me be the first to invite you out. As I've mentioned to everybody, my place is always open for anybody that just wants to hang and listen to music. Just drop me a PM if you feel like coming out.

Here is a link to the 12/06 Christmas Bash that will give you an idea of what systems I have up and running (they've changed a bit since then as I have some new gear in for review).
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=898
...and the thread...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=34425.0

[Vapor Audio]

Wow, thanks guys!  I'd like to hear some Selah stuff, see how Rick's designs sound compared to some things I've done using similar drivers.  I've also never heard a SET before in my life, or Lowthers.  Actually, there's a lot I've never heard

Thanks for the offers, and I'll be watching for any official get-togethers.

[sturgus]

Hey Ryan,
I also would like to say welcome. Glad you found us I think you will fit right in. We have just about anything you would like to hear. We go from Tubes and Planers to SS and Open Baffle to DIY and everything in between. Something for everyone.
Look forward to meeting you.
Sturgus

[Vapor Audio]

Glad to hear it!  Probably one reason why I waited this long to announce myself was I hate the elitist attitudes given by so many 'audiophiles'.  It sounds like this group appreciates anything that sounds good, no matter how much is cost. 

My SB3 arrived today btw, man is this thing cool    I've been ripping everything securely in EAC, and converting to FLAC.  In the last  week of preparation I've ripped about 150-200 cd's, with it going pretty much non-stop.  I have another 500-600 to go, then all the work of getting my tags and album art setup. 

The SB3 I think will simplify my setup greatly.  Another addition that did was the Yamaha DVD-C950 universal changer I picked up just last week.  Sonically it's the equal of my modded Denon 2900, and blows away the Yamaha 5 disc cd changer - video quality is close to the Denon, plenty good for me.  But the main thing is that it lets me get rid of two units and replace it with one very thin piece (more room for amps, haha).  Of course, I would have never made the switch if the Yamaha Universal Changer weren't capable sonically, it and the even cheaper DVD-C750 are surprisingly excellent sounding.

Thank you Lord for this good weather!  My woodshop is the back porch, and over the weekend I was able to do lots of routing and sanding on my DIY MTMWW using GR Research drivers.  At this pace I'll have them up and running by Friday.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Ryan, welcome!
I would say it's absolutely manditory for you to make it to Scott's drool factory,...I mean house. aa
He's got more spare parts than I have stuff that works.
All these guys here are very friendly, and helpful. So regarding you comment, "elitist attitudes given by so many 'audiophiles'", NO worries dude. No worries at all.
These guys are great, no B.S. attitudes!

Again Ryan, welcome!
Bob

[bpape]

When you get those GR's done, let me know.  Heard them at RMAF but would like to hear them in a real room instead of a hotel room. 

As for the SB3, you'll want to get it modded - at least the digital side if you have an external DAC.  You might want to contact Alan in our group.  I think he has a Bolder modded ELPAC PS for the SB.  The PS makes a lot of difference on the SB.

Bryan

[Vapor Audio]

Yea, it definately sounds like a laid-back group ... and lots of DIY'ers to toss around ideas with

I have the cabs done for my GR MTMWW's, I'll be cutting holes for the drivers probably tomorrow.  The top half is essentially an A/V3, and I used Danny's 'stock' crossover config, which is also completed and ready to be hooked up.  For the bottom half, which is 2 M-165x drivers, I'm actively crossing them.  I'll just use Harrison F-Mods on the inputs of my 5 channel amp until I get my embedded amp solution completed.  So I might just have them up and running this weekend!

I'm looking forward to getting them done so I can start on the next project.  I have 4 Peerless 5 1/4" HDS Nomex mids, and two sets of tweeters to choose from - Focal TC120TD5's and Raven R2.1's.  Thinking either a transmission line floorstander MTM, or a 3-way MTM with a side-firing 10" or 12" woofer - maybe even something open baffle.  Who knows where they'll go though, I'm out of rooms that need speakers, haha!

BTW, most hotel rooms probably have better acoustics than my current room ... sad but true. 

I have the big Elpac power supply for the SB3, noticable improvement from the stock unit.  My plan is to have it modded, and possibly get the digital path mods done as well.  Right now I'm running it SPDIF into my Yamaha RX-V2500 which does a pretty decent job.  When I use it downstairs I run analog into my Tandberg 2045 receiver (old school).  But in both setups, it sounds better than my Adcom GCD-750.  I want to hear a modded unit in my system before spending a few hundred $$$, money is pretty tight right now.

[Vapor Audio]

Having fun tonight, a local DIY'er buddy is coming over with some Seas 8" drivers that have unknown specs and curves.  So we'll get impedance/phase data from my Woofer Tester 2, and then throw it on a baffle for FR and Distortion testing in ARTA.  Should be fun, and imformative ... oh, and course throw in a 6 of Bully Porter and Guiness into the mix 

[bpape]

Sounds like you'll fit right in.  Wait till the soldering irons come out after a few single malts....

Bryan

[Vapor Audio]

Hey guys, got these finished!

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=37959.0

I'd love to bring them out sometime to show them off, and see what others think.  I'm quite happy with them though

[Scott F.]

Hiya Ryan,

Nice job on the speakers 


Somebody should be having a gathering sometime soon......I think 

[bpape]

Yeah - I'm going to have a get-together soon.  Hopefully on the 24th (think that's the right date for that Saturday).  Amps still aren't here but the pre and the Selah's are broken in pretty well.

Bryan

[Bob in St. Louis]

Nice job on the build there Ryan!  Very nice.

Bob

[sturgus]

Ryan, Those babies look sweet. You are more than welcome to bring them over so we can give them a spin. They look like they may be a little trouble to move around though. Even if you don't bring them your are still welcome.   Hope to meet you soon.
Sturgus

[Vapor Audio]

Yea, can't wait to show them off to somebody other than my wife, 4 yr old daughter ... and cat 

If you read through the build thread you see they were originally Wharfedale cabs, weighed about 35 pounds each at the time.  Now they're 70+ pounds each, and my ghetto veneering job is a bit fragile ... but still I'd love to lug them into somebody else's place, hopefully with better acoustics than my image destroying room.

I also just finished a 2 way bookshelf for my surrounds that GR M-165x woofer and Tang Band 25-669SD tweets.  I haven't got a feel for how they sound yet, just finished them a few hours ago.  But first impression is a nice easy to listen too sound that has surprisingly good bass for a .75cu/ft sealed cab.

The great thing about these GR drivers is how simple they are to cross, just a simple first order with a Zobel that does some shaping too.  Piece 'o cake.

[bpape]

Ryan.

We're gonna be 'hangin' at my house on the 24th.  You're welcome to come over and meet some of the guys.  Watch the thread "gettogether at Bryans" for directions.

Bryan