Mini-Gathering for New Members - NOW WITH PICS!!

jcrane · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Sep 2007, 04:52 am »

I think I should be able to be there without much trouble. My girlfriend has a bridal and baby shower to attend that day so it looks like I am free to fly solo all night long

Looking forward to some unwind time!

Jamie

BPT · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Sep 2007, 12:59 am »

Scott:
If you have room, I'll come next Sat. Just built a new 5V battery power supply for my SB3 and it sounds quite good (also has 12V out if you have any gear that is so powered). I'll bring it along. Should also have an Empirical Off-Ramp Turbo 2 by then that I can bring (Steve's personal unit that he is loaning me for RMAF--he is not attending this year). Will also bring some new BPT demo discs for everyone and my FIM K2HD CD (new mastering technology from JVC that increases resolution in the Red Book CD format) that is very good (ask Adrian, he's heard it).

On a sad note, our friend John Blaine is going into the hospital for heart surgery--please keep him in your prayers.
Chris
BPT

steve k · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Sep 2007, 01:51 am »

Sorry to hear about John. I know he wasn't feeling well. Our prayers are with him.
steve

Scott F. · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 Sep 2007, 02:28 am »

Sure Chris, come on by

Man, I hate to hear that about John. Sure hope everything goes well.

Scott F. · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 Sep 2007, 01:52 am »

OK Guys,

Just sent everybody a PM with my address and phone number with one exception. Hey Turbo, your Inbox is Full. Once you clean out a message or two, send me a PM and I'll forward my address to you.

Here is the list of guys coming over as best I can tell;

lofreek
Turbo
Bob
Docutech
jcrane
Bryan
BPT
Strugus
Alex

We'll start around 3pm or so and go till whenever. I haven't decided what we'll do for eats yet (Laur-B-Q or whatever) but I'll figure out something between now and then. We've always got the local Pizza joint that doesn't make a half bad pie. If you happen to be a beer drinker, be sure to bring along some of your favorite brews (I don't drink beer). I've got single malts and whiskey's covered. I'll also have soft drinks covered. Bring your favorite stogies too. We may have to smoke them outside as not to run our non-stogy-smoking friends out of the house

When it comes to gear, as I mentioned before, I'd like to keep gear swapping down to a minimum. Unfortunately the speakers in the two main rooms (Blue Room and the Redrum) are huge and are a major event to move. Smaller stuff like DAC's or power supplies are easy to swap out so bring 'em if you want to try them in the systems.

The Blue room will have the usual gear that can be seen on my Systems page. I've tweaked the LP-5 a bit adding a belt drive and raising the motor a couple of inches. The difference was definitely noticeable but those not intimate with my table probably won't hear the difference. I do have the Cartridge Man's Music Maker III cart on the 507. Very, very nice cart. I also picked up some fresh 300B tubes. The Sophia Mesh Plates and also the Carbon Plates. Also, I should have Wayne's latest Power Supply in and partially broken in.

In the Redrum I've got the Altec's being driven by the Consonance Cyber 10 USB amp. It's a KT88 wired single ended. It puts out a monster 12wpc in pentode mode (8 in triode). Very nice sounding. I've also set up the factory modified JoLida 102b driving the Aperion Audio 632LR monitors. Nice little medium powered combo. The sources are the Bolder SB3 the Constantine DAC, Arcam 8se and the Audio Note TT-1 turntable.

Something of note. I'm in the middle of building new crossovers for the Altecs. I did swap out one of the caps for the horn in the stock crossover but as you will likely hear, they still have a way to go. These things may not be the most accurate speakers in the world but I thought they would give everybody a perspective for big, front loaded horns. Cross your fingers, I'll have the new crossovers completed. Those plus another tweak or two will bring the Altec's up to a fairly good performance level. If you can put your bias's aside, these things are tons of fun to listen to.....especially really loud.

In the Grape room is the $1500 Odyssey system and the Pioneer universal disc player. Some of the best sound in the house comes out that little room.

When it comes to music, I've got a pretty varied selection ripped to the server. I'm heavy into Classic Rock and Jazz (40's, 50's, and early 60's). I've got a nice Classical selection on vinyl plus a bit of country, folk, world and even a few rap CD's. There are CD players in each of the rooms though you will quickly find that the Bolder modified SB's blow all of them away. So if you have some specific music you want to bring and you've got it ripped to FLAC (or some other format a SB will read), copy it to a disc and we can load it into the Library. If not, no big deal, the CD players still sound very nice. Oh, if anybody is into them, I still have a couple of SACD players in two of the rooms.

Oh, if you have any concert DVD's you want to drop on the HT rig, We've got that system in the living room too.

Anyway, just wanted to make a quick post to make sure this is everybody that is planning on coming. As usual, if any of the 'regulars' want to drop by, the more the merrier

I'll give this a bump later on this week too.

bpape · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Sep 2007, 01:56 am »

Hey Scott.

I may drop over for a while if there's room. Not sure at this point. Will try to firm up later in the week.

Bryan

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Sep 2007, 02:32 am »

Got the PM Scott. I should be there about 6:00.

"One of those Satuday things at work".

Quote from: Scott F. on 24 Sep 2007, 01:52 am

Oh, if you have any concert DVD's you want to drop on the HT rig, .....

Hmmm, KODO !

or Pink Floyd Pulse. aa

I'll have to get my cigar smokin' buddy at work to hook me up with sompin' sweeet.

Bob

Scott F. · « **Reply #27 on:** 25 Sep 2007, 02:00 am »

Quote from: bpape on 24 Sep 2007, 01:56 am

I may drop over for a while if there's room. Not sure at this point. Will try to firm up later in the week.

Hiya Bryan,

Sure, come on by

(I waited a day or so to give this post a bump)

HEY TURBO Your inbox is full. You need to clean out some PM's so I can send you my address

sturgus · « **Reply #28 on:** 25 Sep 2007, 02:22 am »

Scott, if I get off early enough I will try and stop by.
Sturgus

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #29 on:** 25 Sep 2007, 03:20 am »

Just cleaned out my Inbox, sorry ... I was in Cali the last few days for a big car event.

I'm really looking forward to hearing some new stuff Scott, thanks for hosting. I'd be happy to run the grill if you wanted to do that for the event.

I'll have some of the best cigars in the World to share as well

MerRev · « **Reply #30 on:** 25 Sep 2007, 04:25 am »

thanks for having yet another get-together Scott.

Your house is always fun with something new in almost every room. I haven't heard the Lowthers in awhile & I have been itchin' to. Unfortunately I forgot we have plans this weekend. Please be sure to break in the new guys gently though.

.

-merrev

Scott F. · « **Reply #31 on:** 27 Sep 2007, 12:04 am »

Hey Chris, sorry you can't make it but feel free to come by anytime. Just give me a buzz so I can clean the place up a bit

Sturg, hope you can make it

I forgot to mention, if any of you guys happen to be into headphones and want to bring yours, I've got three different amps you can play with while you are here. First is Alex's Little Dot (tubed), then there is my Slee Solo and then there is that Consonance Cyber 10 USB amp. It has a headphone jack. I've got a couple of pairs of Grado's if you don't feel like lugging yours out.

See you guys Saturday about 3:00

lofreek · « **Reply #32 on:** 27 Sep 2007, 02:21 pm »

Scott,

I play at Westport Plaza until 4pm, and I shall scoot your way soon afterwards. Looking forward to it!

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #33 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 12:32 am »

Well, my new design won't quite be ready for listening Saturday ... so you're off the hook Scott, no speaker swapping

But the top section will be close enough to finished that I'll bring it to show off.

FYI, the top section is a custom CNC'd 10" parabolic waveguide with ScanSpeak 6600 AirCirc tweeters, Seas Excel W22EX Mag Cones running open baffle - bottom will be a 3 cu/ft vented using Focal 10W6452's (probably my favorite 3-way bass driver ever). It should be a pretty unique, and hopefully enjoyable design. They'll be in the BPT booth at the RMAF ... unless they suck

BPT · « **Reply #34 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 01:57 pm »

Scott:
Thanks for hosting, good food, drink, cigars, music and endless conversation about all things audio for 9+ hours at your home. Got to see Turbos hot wheels and some really cool audio gear. We must have been causing trouble because we all got sent to "the wood shed" for 30 minutes or so. The most fun of course, is sharing the hobby and the music with others that are as passionate as I am about high end audio. Turbos new speaker design looks like a winner.
Chris

bpape · « **Reply #35 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 02:07 pm »

Hey Scott.

Thanks again for a fun night. Pretty relaxed and just listening, shooting the bull, and having a good time. Always appreciated. The OffRamp sounded interesting too.

Oh, and please thank Laura for being the wonderful hostess that she always is.

Bryan

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #36 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 03:41 pm »

Quote from: BPT on 30 Sep 2007, 01:57 pm

We must have been causing trouble because we all got sent to "the wood shed" for 30 minutes or so.

Yes, but fortunately no 'spankings' were administered.

Chris, Thank you for the disc and allowing us to hear your PS. Very nice Sir.

Ryan, Chris and Larry, it was good to put the faces with the names and shake your hand. My pleasure to meet you guys.

Bryan, Thanks for answering all my questions man. You're a Helluva trooper, and a big help. I'll put your knowledge to use as finances allow.

Most of all - Scott, Thank you for again inviting us over to invade your home, raid your fridge, eat the fine food you provided, trash your house and listen to your system(S).
Please pass my gratitude on to your family as well. Especially Laura for preparing the food.

Very yummy stuff!
You continue to "raise the bar" for what a two channel rig(S) should sound like. About the time I'm confident I think my room is "ready" for you guys to have a listen, I hear your toys. You can't come over yet....

It's not ready.

Bob

Scott F. · « **Reply #37 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 05:18 pm »

Hey Guys,

Great time last night

Lots of time to visit and get to know some of the newer guys to the group. The guys that made it were (in no particular order) Pete (Docutech), Larry (Lofreek) Ryan (Turbo aka Bat Boy), Chris (BPT), Bryan (bpape), Bob (Bob in StL) and last but not least Alex.

We got a chance to listen to Chris' new battery power supply. It does 12v or 5v so it can accommodate 12v gear like Empirical Audio or the 5v of a SB. Very nice, very clean presentation. We also got to hear the Empirical Audio Turbo Offramp USB (I2S) converter. Very nice. The choices in reasonably priced, extremely good digital are getting plentiful nowadays

Oh, Chris dropped off his latest BPT 2007 Demo Disc that he'll be using out at RMAF this year. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but knowing Chris's earlier releases, this one should be stunning

Ryan brought by the latest version of his open baffle speaker. It uses a waveguide on a Seas (?) tweeter and a Seas mid-bass in an open baffle configuration. The bass cabinet will eventually house a Focal (?) woofer. Looks like it should be a really nice speaker when he gets it completed.

Lofreek was the newest of the members to visit last night. Don't know if anybody got a chance to visit but Larry has a degree in music and plays in a well followed local band, Groovethang.

Thats Larry in the back row with the glasses.

Larry also said he plays in a Fusion Band that features several of the Groovethang band members. Might be a great outing for some of the GAS guys to go listen to Larry play.

If think the newer guys got a good taste of quite a few different system presentations. From the obnoxiously loud but extremely fun Altec's to the monstrous sound coming out of the smallest room in the house, the Odyssey system, I think everybody found at least one system that they could relate to (save the noisy dimmer switches). Hopefully everybody got a fair amount of time in the sweet spot with the big system in the Blue Room. Off axis is just OK but the sweet spot is really the place to be in that system.

Speaking of noisy dimmers, hey Turbo, heres your new avatar....

Hey, that could be one of your first commercial offerings........audiophile dimmer switches. I've tried talking several people into designing and going into production on these things but nobody has taken the bait. Just think of the market out out there, it's wide open because nobody makes one. Heck, you won't just have audiophile market, you'll have the video market too. With all the dimmers in home theaters that dump DC back on the mains and screw up the picture and sound, somebody could make a bloody damned fortune if they could design one that fit into a 2x4 handy box. When you make it big with my idea, all you owe me is all the free dimmer switches I can use in my house

Anyway, Ryan took some pretty cool photos of the system. He got a bunch with different colored, transparent vinyl on the Opera. That and he's got a really cool shot centered on the RCA logo in the Redrum. Hopefully he posts them soon. I'm curious to see them in large format. That and I think you've convinced me that I need to spend some serious money on a new wide angle lens and a decent flash for my Canon. Maybe I can talk my lovely wife into getting that for me at Christmas

And speaking of my lovely wife, a great big thanks goes out to her because without, we all might have starved

She is way too good to me/us

One of these meets, we are going to have to do a vinyl only session. Although we didn't play much audiophile vinyl, I think it was an eyeopener for a couple of people. Not so much focusing on the sound but more so just how many releases from new bands are available.

Thanks to everybody for making the trek out. As always, the house is always open for hanging, listening or if you want to build something up in the wood shop. With two kids being grown and gone and our youngest in college, Laura and I are nearly always just hanging out anyway so we'd love the company. Just give us a buzz and say when.

alexstl · « **Reply #38 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 05:20 pm »

Hi Scott, thanks for a good time and lending me the pair of long ICs I am listening to now. Thank you to Laura as always! That was the best watermelon I have had all summer. And thanks to Chris for lending me the high quality pair of speaker cables to experiment with. Alex

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #39 on:** 30 Sep 2007, 10:48 pm »

Wow, had a great time last night! Thanks so much Scott and Laura.

Lots of eye-openers, mainly as Scott mentioned - that there are so many great modern albums on vinyl. I've been hawking stuff off Ebay today, in anticipation of the Linn Sondek I'm picking up this week. I found a couple Tool recordings on vinyl, and some Nine Inch Nails ... that'll get me up and running

Also, I can say I enjoyed every system at your place. The myriad of ways a designer can reach the end goal of quality reproduction makes the job of being a speaker designer much more difficult - how to set yourself apart?

You've done a great job on all your systems Scott, I especially like hanging out in Redrum ... that room just has a totally cool vibe

Those Altec's were fun to listen to, up to about 93-94db, but above that they became pretty hard ... I'd be happy to help you work on the crossover for those, and hopefully take that edge off.

Oh, and if you need me to seek and destroy noisy switches

I did totally miss listening to Chris' stuff on the Lowther system, his power supply and the Off Ramp ... somebody needs to let me know what they thought of that stuff.

I got some pics up, and will upload a few more. Check 'em out here

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=1214

Scott or anybody else, if you want some of these in high-res, let me know.