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2010 RMAF Analog Reports + Meet and Greet

The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is quickly approaching. I’m planning to use this thread to capture anticipated analog related information about the show as well as impressions.

The past three years of RMAF visits have been fun, entertaining, and rewarding. I go to the show for many reasons but mostly to meet other music lovers/audiophiles and industry professionals. The diversity of music, equipment, and personalities are very interesting to me. A link to last year's comments can be found here: 2009 RMAF Comments

There should be quite a few interesting things going on at this year’s RMAF. If you haven’t attended the show, you should seriously consider going. I’ll post a few things I anticipate seeing at this year's RMAF in the tread reply below.

I’ve also found out that AudiogoN member Cello has set up a meet and greet on Friday night @ Garcia's Restaurant located across the street from the Marriot. More details to follow. The past two meet and greets in 2008 and 2009 have been very enjoyable. I expect the same from this one as well.

Please feel free to post your attendance plans now and your analog experiences after the show.

I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at the show,
Dre
dre_j
dre_j OP
159 posts
 
My LP count was supposed to stay below 10 for this year's trip. I ended up bringing 18!

I've arrived safely a few moments ago. No issues with airport security. I guess my cleaning fluids are TSA approved.

Looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the event.

Dre
dre_j OP
159 posts
 
Here is the list of LPs I brought along with me:

Linda Ronstadt - What's New
Stevie Ray Vaughn - In Step
Sara K. - Water Falls
Charlie Byrd - The Guitar Artistry
Rossini - I'Italiana in Algeri, Sinfonia
Rickie Lee Jones - Girl at Her Volcano
Ry Cooder - Jazz
Anita Baker - Rapture
Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue
Thorens - 125th Anniversary LP
Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin'
Townshend, Lane - Rough Mix
Tyrone Brunson - Sticky Situation
Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni Letters
Sphere - Flight Path
Solomon Burke - A Change Is Gonna Come
Herbie Hancock - Future Shock

Dre
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
My favorite rooms this year were the Avalon room with the Rowland 625 driving the new Transcendent speaker, the Gamut room and the Playback Designs/DarTZeel room. The VTL/Wilson room was also very good, with the Wilson Sophias sounding as good as I've heard any Wilson sound. Soundsmith always has wonderful analog sound.

All these rooms were very musical and I could be very happy living long-term with any of these systems. However, the Avalon/Rowland combination was my absolute favorite.

Oh, off-site, Soundings had a great Boulder/Vienna Acoustic room.

This was my fifth RMAF and, by far, my favorite. The key to my enjoyment was leaving the rooms that sucked immediately. There's no need to be nice, because all you're doing when you stay a second longer than needed is literally injuring your ears. The truly bad set ups (it's often due to the room, but that's not my problem)can be heard in seconds. Sitting in there for five-minutes just to be nice and just because the people seem nice only hurts your ears. It not a sacrifice worth making.

The best times to go to the best rooms is early Saturday and Sunday, before the crowds really mount. Early you can often have the room to yourself, with the AC off and no one talking or the door constantly opening and closing. I used Friday to scout a bunch of rooms overall and decide where I wanted to spend more "quality time".
dev
832 posts
 
Hi Thom_mackris, so any input in relation to the arms you guys were going to compare?
dev
832 posts
 
Hi Pcosta, so any input in relation to the Raven 10.5 and the Thales arm you were going to look at.

Anything else interesting in relation to vinyl you care to share.

You being an exsperienced AC owner for a while now so you are use to it's over all sound what are your thoughts in relation to the sonic differences compared to the Black Knight.
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