Wow, this weekend has left me feeling elated, disappointed, impressed, frustrated, humbled, and very nackered at various parts.
Al has been instrumental in making it work on the day, and of course he conceived the idea too - so a huge thanks to him. Ultimately, what we've learned is that we will be doing the UK diy audio fest again, and it should be an annual event at the least.
The venue was excellent! Acoustically it sucked, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that we made what we could of it, and it still heard some excellent stuff. Ant made this possible and supplied the resources for the presentstion as well - so massive thanks to him as well. It allowed Jan's presentation to be very professional in content and delivery.
I wish we had time for more as I was eager to hear Al's talk on Eagle...
The success of the weekend for me, was in meeting the people and seeing an array of different people that come together in sharing our audio passion.
There was no hint of pretense with people showing off their kit - blue lights and butcracks aside perhaps. And that, along with the informal cosy atmosphere especially on the Sunday when we crammed mostly into the smaller carpeted room, was humbling and inspiring for me.
Before I end my rant and mention some actual audio stuff, I think a quick mention to those that travelled so far - some over 100-150 miles, and Hugo and Jan a lot more (in fact they will just be starting their drive home now maybe).
The hall sounded aweful and we tried fighting it by throwing some carpet underlay and duvet's in various places but it was just a drop in the pond really. The grand lesson was that a room is a fundamental piece of hifi equipment, probably with more effect than changes in source and amps. That's not to say we didn't hear some excellent stuff. The JX92's which even Al succumbed to were gripping in the bass region, were coherent as you mifht expect, and just great to listen to. I was looking for the sub and when I thought I might have found it was told it was the class A amp and there is no sub.
I really liked Al's Audax Sub and OB satellite setup too. I think that took many of us by suprise. Hugo's class A monoblocks sounded excellent - and you might expect that kind of square footage to go for 150-200k in London 😉
I think the Orion's showed a few nice attributes, although as Ant correctly identified, I was disappointed that their true potential as I've heard in a normal living room wasn't realised. The biggest difference other than moving them from the most reverberant hall to the small carpeted pink room was Al's valve preamp. That was a nice little performer and I may have to chase up some PCB's after a little more experimenting. My sound card as a source was truly useless in comparison.
Ant's LGT was stunning in the flesh. I gleamed more info about his spraying methodology by looking at them close up than all the pics I've seen. Very impressive craftsmanship and I hope he perseveres with them (and keeps them!) for the next meet.
All in all there just wern't enough hours to cram in all the permutations of equipment we would have liked. And I'm envious that Al got a private demo room all to himself for the late evening.
One quick apology for those that wanted to do acoustic measurments, but in my haste to pack a van full of gear I forgot the mic preamp and mic wand - so my sincere apologies for those who wanted to make use of this.
I have someone's copy of Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors still in my drive so send me an email and I'll have that posted off.
Finally, I have take some pictures of the equipment which I'll try and post later on today.
V
Al has been instrumental in making it work on the day, and of course he conceived the idea too - so a huge thanks to him. Ultimately, what we've learned is that we will be doing the UK diy audio fest again, and it should be an annual event at the least.
The venue was excellent! Acoustically it sucked, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that we made what we could of it, and it still heard some excellent stuff. Ant made this possible and supplied the resources for the presentstion as well - so massive thanks to him as well. It allowed Jan's presentation to be very professional in content and delivery.
I wish we had time for more as I was eager to hear Al's talk on Eagle...The success of the weekend for me, was in meeting the people and seeing an array of different people that come together in sharing our audio passion.
There was no hint of pretense with people showing off their kit - blue lights and butcracks aside perhaps. And that, along with the informal cosy atmosphere especially on the Sunday when we crammed mostly into the smaller carpeted room, was humbling and inspiring for me.Before I end my rant and mention some actual audio stuff, I think a quick mention to those that travelled so far - some over 100-150 miles, and Hugo and Jan a lot more (in fact they will just be starting their drive home now maybe).
The hall sounded aweful and we tried fighting it by throwing some carpet underlay and duvet's in various places but it was just a drop in the pond really. The grand lesson was that a room is a fundamental piece of hifi equipment, probably with more effect than changes in source and amps. That's not to say we didn't hear some excellent stuff. The JX92's which even Al succumbed to were gripping in the bass region, were coherent as you mifht expect, and just great to listen to. I was looking for the sub and when I thought I might have found it was told it was the class A amp and there is no sub.
I really liked Al's Audax Sub and OB satellite setup too. I think that took many of us by suprise. Hugo's class A monoblocks sounded excellent - and you might expect that kind of square footage to go for 150-200k in London 😉
I think the Orion's showed a few nice attributes, although as Ant correctly identified, I was disappointed that their true potential as I've heard in a normal living room wasn't realised. The biggest difference other than moving them from the most reverberant hall to the small carpeted pink room was Al's valve preamp. That was a nice little performer and I may have to chase up some PCB's after a little more experimenting. My sound card as a source was truly useless in comparison.
Ant's LGT was stunning in the flesh. I gleamed more info about his spraying methodology by looking at them close up than all the pics I've seen. Very impressive craftsmanship and I hope he perseveres with them (and keeps them!) for the next meet.
All in all there just wern't enough hours to cram in all the permutations of equipment we would have liked. And I'm envious that Al got a private demo room all to himself for the late evening.
One quick apology for those that wanted to do acoustic measurments, but in my haste to pack a van full of gear I forgot the mic preamp and mic wand - so my sincere apologies for those who wanted to make use of this.
I have someone's copy of Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors still in my drive so send me an email and I'll have that posted off.
Finally, I have take some pictures of the equipment which I'll try and post later on today.
V
seroxatmad said:
Hi John,
Thanks for sharing your beautifully made headphone amp. It sounded really good and has inspired me. I definately need to build something like that for my Senn's.
Next year the smoke will clear from the servo section and a modded cd63 will be available. 😉
Simon
Simon is being modest here, he showed us all how far we have to go in diy by using a purple LED in his pre. 😉
Yes Al, I think it's safe to say (modesty cast aside here..) that my indigo LED was a star performer on Saturday evening. 
Vikash said:
Yes, that just about sums it up. It was a good venue to be able to meet people and when there were good sounds it was a bonus. Hearing the lovely full-range Jordans gave me another jab that I need to get on with my new loudspeakers (ESg1 ribbon, Jordan JX92S, something big for the bass, all on an open baffle). I was impressed by PM's larger system - his background in pro sound was clearly evident. (And his small system wasn't bad, either!) Vikash's Orions were hindered by their source but clearly had potential. As for the craftsmanship displayed on Ant's work-in-progress, I wouldn't have that patience! Following Jan's presentation on amplifier error strategies, I finally understand how the Quad 405 works. All in all, very worthwhile.
Perhaps next year I'll be able to persuade my chauffeuse that she would like to see Chesterfield, then I can bring something.
Well I had a good time and thought the room (Sunday) wasn't that bad! I walked in as some piano track was playing on the Orions and it was stunning, the most lifelike grand piano I have ever heard. My dad who came along at the last minute also said he thought the Orions were the best speakers he had ever heard, but he was really surprised by the Jordans and what they did (all good).
I was happy my sub managed to hold it's own against such top kit and Simon who I knew would be a good critic seemed to like it, but I wish I'd brought my Jordans to go with it. That would have been good to compare with the MLTL cabinet as well. Next time I will have the space in the car to do so.
Thanks to everybody who turned up and special thanks to those who brought their kit for everybody's pleasure.
I was happy my sub managed to hold it's own against such top kit and Simon who I knew would be a good critic seemed to like it, but I wish I'd brought my Jordans to go with it. That would have been good to compare with the MLTL cabinet as well. Next time I will have the space in the car to do so.
Thanks to everybody who turned up and special thanks to those who brought their kit for everybody's pleasure.
Rich, I thought your sub was great! I am a fan of a bass you can hear and feel, even if it appears to slow the music slightly. It had no overhang and managed to blend with the now-sealed TDLs of Vikash's making. A nice fat bottom, superb! Is there a thread on this project?
Indeed, it was nice to have a dedicated sub there to listen to, shame you didn't have your Jordans to go with it.
Satie's Gymnopedies was an excellent test track for the Orions, I found myself really noting the dodgy mic placement on the recording, something that many systems gloss over.
Satie's Gymnopedies was an excellent test track for the Orions, I found myself really noting the dodgy mic placement on the recording, something that many systems gloss over.
Thanks to Al, Vikash and Ant for making it happen.
I enjoyed the weekend it's great to see the faces behind the avatars.
I had the camera with me but only got one usable pic...
Al's Audax just off extreem left Heretical extreem right.
ZV7T front centre Hugo's class A's each side of the JX92 GM MLTL48 "Toblerones"
Vik's Orion's were immaculate. His former life RTLs are holding up Al's active 2 ways with his sub coffee table centre.
Chris.
I enjoyed the weekend it's great to see the faces behind the avatars.
I had the camera with me but only got one usable pic...
Al's Audax just off extreem left Heretical extreem right.
ZV7T front centre Hugo's class A's each side of the JX92 GM MLTL48 "Toblerones"
Vik's Orion's were immaculate. His former life RTLs are holding up Al's active 2 ways with his sub coffee table centre.
Chris.
Someone should have made a stereo audio recording of the tech presentations. Over headphones it would have been uncannily real ! Maybe next time ?
Where are the other pictures and no mug shots ?
Where are the other pictures and no mug shots ?
Thanks Vik and Al for a great day out and a chance to put faces to names. I was disappointed not to be able to make the Sunday but maybe next time.
Also thanks to Hugo and Jan for their feedback on the valve vs Pass set up that I had on Saturday afternoon, its opened my eyes on one or two aspects.
Regards
Ed
Also thanks to Hugo and Jan for their feedback on the valve vs Pass set up that I had on Saturday afternoon, its opened my eyes on one or two aspects.
Regards
Ed
Vikash said:
I'd like to thank everyone involved for a fantastic weekend, it was great to finally meet you all - cheers Vik for putting up the photos so fast, and to all who experienced (tolerated?) the 'cheap end' of DIY with my grey primer coated KLS9's!
In the true spirit of the event I took a bunch of stuff to sell/trade and came back with more than I started with.. (ahem..)
Feel inspired, must go and finish those projects for the next meet!
-Len.
Couple of things just occured to me...
First, considering hifi is supposedly a 'dying' hobby, there were a lot of young 'uns here. Diyaudio HAS a future!!!
Second, everything I heard -despite the dodgy acoustics- sounded very decent. Contrast that to a 'normal' hifi show.🙂
First, considering hifi is supposedly a 'dying' hobby, there were a lot of young 'uns here. Diyaudio HAS a future!!!
Second, everything I heard -despite the dodgy acoustics- sounded very decent. Contrast that to a 'normal' hifi show.🙂
Hi,
Many thanks to all for a great weekend. I was lucky to be able to attend both days and thought it was well worth the 450 mile round trip! As people have already said, there was some fantastic kit and I really enjoyed meeting and talking with some great folk. Highlights for me? Chris' Jordan-powered Toblerones, Vik's Orions and Jan's talk. Just a thought, but I reckon the dipole speakers sounded more realistic in the very reverberant rooms than did the monopoles - not really more accurate, just more realistic. Did anyone else find that?
Again thanks to everyone - I'll be sure to bring some kit along to the next one 🙂
Keith
Many thanks to all for a great weekend. I was lucky to be able to attend both days and thought it was well worth the 450 mile round trip! As people have already said, there was some fantastic kit and I really enjoyed meeting and talking with some great folk. Highlights for me? Chris' Jordan-powered Toblerones, Vik's Orions and Jan's talk. Just a thought, but I reckon the dipole speakers sounded more realistic in the very reverberant rooms than did the monopoles - not really more accurate, just more realistic. Did anyone else find that?
Again thanks to everyone - I'll be sure to bring some kit along to the next one 🙂
Keith
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