Vienna show report

@yoyoyaya re first two days for trade, this was not communicated well. Great if you know already, but as a first-time visitor, that was not clear at all. Really annoying. I only learned when I wanted to get tickets a month before, and could not do so for Th/Fr.

Even in Vienna airport adds, it only said Hifi Show Th-Sun, no indication that for general public = target audience in public airport it was restricted. So a clear communication failure.

The two-day public restriction exacerbates the crowding problem. Such an organization "feature" sends a clear message of how the industry looks at its customers. It does not leave a favorable impression.

I certainly did not go to every room, many were way too packed. And most were by far too loud so that I did not want to go in there anyway. Maybe volume was more manageable during your private two days, but on Saturday, most cranked it up to 11. Not inviting, rather off-putting.

Maybe as an industry insider you can enlighten your colleagues.

@OP As you know, the show is a ticket only event, so it's self-evident for anyone who wants to attend that once they go to the booking system, if they are non trade, that they can only attend on the two weekend days.

If you thought the venue was crowded, then you will be happy if you never attended Munich! 

In my own experience, as someone who has attended and exhibited at hi fi shows (but re. exhibiting, not at Vienna / Munich), the biggest frustration is that a significant proportion of the attendees will come into a demonstration and then start talking over the music. This is a particular problem where two friends go to the show together and start critiquing the music/equipment the sound. And that applies to experience at both the trade and public days. It also doesn't help in terms of the volume levels, though there is a big disparity across the rooms. Even on the Saturday, I found that lots of the rooms were fine volume wise, but some were way too loud. It's usually that way. Though overall volume levels tend to be a bit higher than what many people listen to domestically. As I said in my original post, the small rooms in Vienna are way too small so everyone is right on top of the loudspeakers - not good.

As regards enlightening colleagues - the show is organised by HIGH END SOCIETY Service GmbH who are essentially a trade fair organiser. 

Ron Sutherland didn’t invent transimpedance, it’s not new but his implementation is. I’m about to find out how good it is - the Little Loco Mk 2 arrives Wednesday. I can’t swing the Dos Loco at the moment.

I’m pairing it with an MSL signature platinum which on paper is a perfect match.

Your Aphelion might not be a perfect match though, You could call Ron, he is very approachable and will give you good advice.

For me the Highlight of the notifications received from the show, was a private mail on a friends return who engaged in a very positive conversation with a Ortofon Technician who has been a very busy person with undertaking R&D for Ortofon and who is a senior member of the teams creating Ortofon's latest released Cartridges.

My friend made info known that really got my interest, especially with my being an Ortofon Fanboy of Cart's produced from the Millennium, through to the early 20's.

These latest offerings from the Mid 20's do seem to have a whole rethink to the fundamental tech being designed and selected for their role in an assembly. It does seem Ortofon has gone above and beyond to produce a Cartridge that as a result of the design now used and quality control support for the assembly. Now offers a Cartridge that is moved forwards as being improved in consistency for being linear as a function. 

I really am pleased my friend made that acquaintance and was able to generate such a level of conversation.

Door's Close - Door's Open and in this matter, I have confidence a Door is Opened.   

My fun while working Vienna was torturing the locals.  Well recognized by their own countrymen (and women), as the least approachable Austrians.  Would make small talk, in fluent German, about the weather or something benign only to watch them move away as if I was mental.  They've personal space issues much like Zurich. 

My long time friend Martin in Innsbruck for decades ran a nice audio shop and always hated working in Voralberg and Vienna because of that shared arrogance. Balance of the country is much friendlier.  Although, Salzburg teeters on the edge.

Perhaps next time you'll go for F1 in Spielberg outside Graz.  Be sure to visit the Styrian Armory in Graz.  Ya!!!