Vacuum State of the Art Conference Report

dcmeigs

I attended the VSAC shindig in Vancouver yesterday. I taked to several speaker builders and saw some amazing equipment.

AMPS

One guy just threw a sheet of plywood on the floor, screwed down the transformers, tube sockets etc and wired it all up. Know what? It sounded great! Think he's married?

Another guy had a oak chicken coop looking thing that probably came from an old phone company application. Maybe AG Bell made it. Any way, he had it filled with ancient tubes, transformers and enclosed in chicken wire. It was hooked to some monster 3 way horns. One a 4 ft long ceramic creature at the 6 ft level, a mid horn and a bass horn that looked like a cross between an igloo and a doghouse complete with a pillow inside. Yes, the sound was amazing. They were playing old tapes of live recordings from Jazz greats on 6 inch reels. Captivating.

CROSSOVERS

I spoke with some speaker builders about crossover design and came away with an interesting prospective. Keep in mind these guys are doing great work. Their opinions can be measured by the sound of their product.

The big caps in the low pass circuit of crossovers are in parallel with the drivers and "out of the signal path" in their thinking. They are using electrolitic caps for this application because they think electrolitics sound "indistinguishable" from the polypropylene caps in that particular application. Caps are sold by the micro farad like gas is sold by the gallon. Using electrolytics in that application would save a bundle.

Of course they are using quality polyproplyene caps in the shunt applications.

It's difficult to make a objective judgement about this because caps take a very long time to run in. You can't just swap them out and listen.

I plan on doing my Monitor 10s in Solen or Dayton metalized film polypropylene in the high pass and electrolitic in low pass just to see how they sound.

DIY SPEAKERS

I meet the bald guys from Two Bald Guys Audio. They have a speaker that is a real head turner. It's a three inch driver mounted in a cabinet designed like an organ pipe. One little driver, period. The sound had me looking under the table for a hidden sub. Take a look for yourself here.

HEAD FI

I suppose I'm the last guy on the planet to hear the Sennheiser HD-650. My birthday is in October guys, mark your calendar.

I'll try to post some photos from my cell phone. I need to go back with my camera.

This is an annual event. There is no excuse for missing if you live near by.

Dave

markmarc

Spent Sunday at VSAC. Fun event, not very crowded so I got a chance to talk to some very passionate tube fans and builders.
If you are within a days drive of any audio event, take advantage and attend. The positive energy is so invigorating to other audio hobbyists.

dcmeigs

Did you meet Keith, one of the Bald Guys? Those guys deserve a Frugal cover shot. I'm going to build a pair of Ziggies. Because I can, not because I need more speakers.

dcmeigs

Here are a few photos of some things you might not have run across at the local audio store.

Mondo Horns, The Amp in a Cabinet, Amp not in a Cabinet and a Cold War Amp.

mrbigbluelight

That's .... awesome !

"You have to roll your own though. Head on down to Wal-Mart and buy a package of Yard Master Patio Cord for $7.44"

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zigmahornet/zigmahornet.html

"Blue Moon" system for $267.44




A bunch of rabid fanatics, willing, able, and anxious to talk about their schtuff; doesn't get much better than that !

dcmeigs

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

A bunch of rabid fanatics, willing, able, and anxious to talk about their schtuff; doesn't get much better than that !

That's what it's all about!

I'm making up some patio wire right now. I'll let you know how it sounds.

I also bought plans and drivers for the Ziggies.

markmarc

DC:
The Ziggi's were very impressive, if I had any talent with cabinet making I'd give it a shot. I brought the wrong camera, a cheap digital instead of the Canon point-and-shoot that does much better with my shaky hands.

Look for A$$A to review some of the manufacturers at VSAC.

Rivrrat

I'm kind of interested in making a pair of those Ziggi's, but I'm a little shy of project time right now.

Still, they are intriguing. I'm thinking our exercise room that we never use.

Polkitup2

God Bless them, but NIMH.

markmarc

Rivrrat:
Sounds like a conversion to a man-cave is coming!

dcmeigs

markmarc wrote: »

DC:
The Ziggi's were very impressive, if I had any talent with cabinet making I'd give it a shot. I brought the wrong camera, a cheap digital instead of the Canon point-and-shoot that does much better with my shaky hands.

Look for A$$A to review some of the manufacturers at VSAC.

I can't wait for your review.

I think I can make quite a few Ziggys out of a sheet of ply. Holler if you want in. I'll have the plans next week.