SMAC May 2008

[jmathers]

Folks:

The May SMAC meet will be Saturday, May 24 from 1pm-6pm at Jim Elmslie’s place. See my email for specifics.

I’d also like to welcome, with many thanks to AKFest 2008 (mucho thanks Grumpy!!!), twenty-three new members to the group. That puts us over 100 members (and growing). I’m excited by this since at the least it means we are pretty much guaranteed a host for any given month. We welcome you new folks to SMAC.

We need hosts for the summer months – specifically June and July. Please contact me if you’re thinking about hosting. I imagine – though nothing in stone yet – that we’ll have our annual party in August. I usually have this at my place, but would welcome other ideas, particularly since we’ve grown quite abit in the past year. Any ideas???

Hope to see you at the May meet – should be interesting as usual.
Jeff

[jmathers]

You know there's no rule AGAINST discussing the upcoming event here:yes: Jim has an impressive system - although you can't impress the DIYers here if you don't build something yourself ...hey, you can't please everyone:smoke: I'll post the May system here so everyone else can drool:D

SME 30 with V and Jan Allerats MC-1B
AMR CD-77
CTC Blowtorch preamp with Vendetta phono
Atma-sphere MA-1 Mk lll (also JC-1 monoblocks)
Sound Lab M-1
All wire/conditioning is TG Audio, except digital pwr. cord

For obvious reasons...I won't post Jim's address:nono:

AND it appears that we have a June host...thanks Dennis.

How's about July?

AND AGAIN, any ideas for the summer party in August would be much appreciated. I'd like to move the location to somewhere LARGER. There's a few parks in Royal Oak...with electric believe it or not. But help would be appreciated in scouting a spot.

Cheers
Jeff

[Strawman]

You've done a helluva a job with this Jeff, A guy from work was searching Flicr/Royal Oak and came across a picture of me & Tom at your house. A park may be the ticket with this many people as it's grown by leaps and bounds.
Let me know if I can help any for the logistics.
Steve

[Quint]

I think we’re in for a treat at Jim’s. I’ve heard pretty much everything on his system list, and it’s indeed all fantastic gear. Having an idea of his attention to detail, I figure it’ll be pretty mind-blowing.

[Punker X]

Sorry I'm going to miss this one also. I work a handfull of Saturday's a year, thats two meeting in a row.

[jmathers]

You and NOSValves! Our two regular Flint members, and they can't make a Flint meet. WTF? You could always just quit:D

We will miss you:yes:

Especially as we play those new Blue Note 45s through the Jan Allaerts, the SME 30, etc....and the SoundLab M1s. Smokin':smoke:

See you at the next one in June.

Jeff

[Andyman]

You're a cruel master, Jeff...:lmao:

[jeffsab]

New guy here wanting to attend my first meeting. Got the e-mail and I want to know whether it's crucial to get there right at 1:00. I have to drop the kid off at grandma's house and not sure if I can get there on time.

Thanks,
Jeff

[jmathers]

Not critical to arrive right on time. These things are informal....drop in when you can.

Jeff

[zoeinterloper]

Mark my words,
WoW! this meet with Jim and his Hifi from the looks of it, will be a rare event indeed! I will be pack'in some tasty vinyls to spin on this one... The OTL's I know all too well, but the rest of his kit will send me back to rock and roll high school for an edumacation, I'm sure!!!

Happy Listening! :beatnik:

[zoeinterloper]

Sorry I'm going to miss this one also. I work a handfull of Saturday's a year, thats two meeting in a row.

C'mon Punker,

What the hell?
all work and no play makes "X" a...
well I don't know, but anyway, you get my point.
Just take care of your stuff, some how, and show up.
Dude?!
Friends don't let friends miss SMAC meets.

He,he,he!

Happy Listening!:beatnik:

[djnagle]

Hi All, I am looking forward to this month's meet but in prep for the June meet at my place, I only have a crappy cd player and no TT, so if anyone wants to bring there cd or tt, I'd welcome that. I need to hear the diff so I can make a decision to buy a new cd. Cheers. p.s., I just got one of my EV SP-15s reconed and it now sounds better than the other one.

[Squidward]

Hey DJN! I'd be happy to bring along some gear. Newman and I could bring a TT, phono preamp, and digital rig. Let us know, we'd be happy to help. Any chance you want us to bring an amp or two? Careful with the SMAC club, tho, any hint that there will be gear rolling and you're living room will be full of DIY tube gear faster than you can turn around!

[djnagle]

Hi Squidward, bring it all. Sounds like a ball. Will you be at the May meeting? If so, we can talk then. Hopefully, I'll have three systems up and running by the June meet. Cheers.

[grumpy]

I am going to try to make the may meet if life does not throw me any more curve balls.

A very interesting system to be heard for sure !

[jeffsab]

drop in when you can.

Now it looks like that will be next month. My wife decided we need to have a garage sale this weekend. Ugh.

[jmathers]

Garage sale, smarage sale! When do you get to hear a Blowtorch? Never. Put her out by the garage and go up to the store for awhile....say you need change:D

Seriously, no problem, Jeff...we'll see you at the next one.

Jeff

[jmathers]

Folks:

Don't forget the May SMAC meet is THIS Saturday, May 24th from 1pm-6pm.

Hope to see as many of you there as possible:banana:

Jeff

[grumpy]

So far its a go for me. Cannot wait to hear robs vinyl on this rig. :)

[jmathers]

If you want a ride Dave, let me know.

Jeff

[Squidward]

I think I'll be able to make it!

[grumpy]

Quick question. Will we have a music swap at this meet ?

[Andyman]

I'm going to try and make it too, and of course i'll ring up Kegger to see if he wants to ride along.
And let me know on the music swap too.

[jmathers]

Music Swap is a permanent fixture at all meets. But you guys need to keep it going:thmbsp:.

Please ALWAYS bring any notable music to swap at the meet:music:.

Typically, we burn something interesting (not a whole CD - gawd knows we don't want to infringe on copyright regulations) - just something cool you've been listening to or had a chance to sample - various tracks are good. We then SWAP this with someone else who has brought something. Bring some tunes, take some tunes away.

Some folks also bring vinyl albums to swap - that's ok too - and usually it's vinyl for vinyl.

I'd like this to be informal - that is, you talk to someone; you ask if they brought something to swap, and then you swap. We used to have formal drawings for swaps but the way folks come and go this was hard. And I wound up with bunches of music that was basically left over. Fine for me but hardly in the spirit of a swap.

So please take control of this thing. If you have something you'd like to turn someone on to, bring it and swap with someone else. These events are really about the MUSIC:tresbon: A swap is one way to broaden the scope of other people's listening experience. Enlighten each other:smoke:

Jeff

So, short answer, yes, the music swap is on. Bring stuff to swap but realize I won't be orchestrating the swapping.

[dmax99]

Yeah, Its nice not to have to drive 60 miles to go to a meet,I will most certainly be there.

[Andyman]

Cool!!
I'll burn a few tracks to CD for sure.

[Drybasement]

Since it's probably the closest meet that will ever cross my path (and I still have to drive nearly 70 miles) I will be there with bells on. :D

[Andyman]

Looks like Kegger and I are in.
Anybody else who wants to carpool, let me know there's still a couple seats left.

[Kegger]

John would like us to pick him up on the way Andy. itokwu

[Andyman]

No problem; it's actually right on the way.

[Andyman]

FWIW, I'll be bringing a box of classical vinyl that will be gratis to any who want some.

[grumpy]

A fantastic meet with a very gracious host. Topped with a fantastic system. A huge Thanks to Jim for opening his house to us.

To all those that missed this months meet what can I say other then you lost out on the opportunity to hear a top notch system.

Grumpy

[dmax99]

It was indeed a great meet.Incredible setting,with a highly excellent system.We even had that tall skinny guy with the ponytail spinning records.Thanks to Jim.

[Kegger]

Yah you guy's even missed the BALLET exibition!!

[jmathers]

Yep, yep, yep. Kudos to Jim for hosting. Definitely one of the best meets I've ever attended. I don't want to beat a dead horse but if you missed this one, well, you missed a good one.

I'm hoping we got permission to post some pics for other folks to at least see:scratch2:

Many thanks Jim:music: Still got the sound of the Dance of the Flowers going through my head. As well as an unfortunate image of Kegger in a powder blue tutu......:yikes:

:D
Jeff

[Andyman]

Yah you guy's even missed the BALLET exibition!!
Did anyone get any pictures of that...
Trust me, the Windsor Ballet is not in ANY trouble at all.

Another thanks to Jim for his very gracious hospitality. His wonderful home and outstanding system made for a very pleasant Saturday afternoon.

BTW, nice to see so many new faces too!!

[Drybasement]

It most certainly was a good meeting. Impressive system and an equally impressive setting. Thanks for opening up your house to the SMAC guys, Jim.

[djnagle]

Yep, I went home after listening to Jim's system and found ALL the flaws in mine. Thanks for hosting Jim. I had a great time. Cheers.

[Squidward]

Thanks Jim for hosting! It was a really nice system, a really nice place, and a really nice day. Great tunes shared with friends old and new. What more could one ask for?

[jn229]

New guy here. Like to thank the members of S.M.A.C. for their warm welcome at yesterday’s meeting. Especially like to thank Jim for his hospitality………wow what a system!

Jim

[Squidward]

Hey JN! Go post in the "Informal SMAC Roll Call" thread here in the SMAC forum! We wanna know who you are, to put a face with the moniker!

[jelmslie]

I'm sure glad everyone seemed to enjoy Sat., as much as I did hosting the May meet -- hard to beat the combination of good people, weather, and tunes. Thanks for all your comments on the system!

[dlwask]

Kicking myself for missing this one, sounds like Jim set the bar pretty high for SMAC gatherings.

Where's Wiggy with the pics?

[slow_jazz]

Sorry I missed another one... This one sounded like a great one....

[jmathers]

Here's the first of a few pics of Jim's gear.

The first photo shows his SME 30 turntable with Graham Phantom arm and Jan Allerats MC-1B.

The second, the Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) CD-77 player.

And, the CTC Blowtorch pre with Vendetta phono stage (the equally massive separate power supply is not pictured).

More to come.....


Jeff

[jmathers]

Here's a few more:

1. Another view of the Blowtorch.

2. The listening room - with the Sound Lab M1s, Parasound amps, and Atmasphere amps obscured in the center. The Grand Prix Audio racks are on the left, with turntable, blowtorch, AMR player, etc.

3. While not a direct view out of the listening room, this is what the listening room looks out on. Pretty cool place.

Jeff

[grumpy]

Thanks for the pics. They really do not do the system nor the room justice.

[Brian Walsh]

It was a fun get together and great to meet everyone. Jim and I have known each other for several years, both owning Sound Labs, CTC Blowtorches, etc. I brought along some power cords and the Acoustic System resonators and related products used to tune the room and system.

Brian Walsh
Essential Audio ~ Barrington, Illinois