Our System at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest

Here's our system at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. We shared Room 1102 with AudioEvo.org, Positive Feedback Online, SonicWeld, Locus Design, MIT and Blackbird Audio Gallery and although this was supposed to be a hospitality suite, it definitely turned into a genuine demo room.

The system consists of the new Funk Firm Saffire turntable, Funk Firm FXR-II tonearm and Transfiguration Axia cartridge (all from Blackbird Audio Gallery), the Unison Research CDE CD player and Unison Research Unico Nuovo integrated amplifier (from Colleen Cardas Imports), cabling from MIT and Locus Design and the magnificent Sonicweld system that includes the Pulserod speakers, Subpulse subwoofers, DEQX PDC digital controller and more.

After a full day of RMAF, comments were extremely positive and the room was full at all times. You can watch a live feed of the room here.

2011 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest

Right now I'm getting ready to attend the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, which will be held October 14-16 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center in Denver, Colorado. I've only been to RMAF once before, in 2008, but it was one of my favorite audio shows of all time. The vibe is friendly there since it's mostly consumers attending, and this show has grown by leaps and bounds since then. Nearly everyone I know in the audio industry will be there.

Since I will be an exhibitor (representing Colleen Cardas Imports) and not a member of the press, I probably won't be able to offer the usual show reports. I will, however, keep my eyes open for anything cool. If you want to stop by and say hello, I'll be in Room 1102 along with AudioEvo.org, Sonicweld loudspeakers, Positive Feedback Online, Locus Designs, Blackbird Audio/Gallery and MIT Cables.

For more information on RMAF, click here.

AudioEvo.Org

"So...have you joined AudioEvo yet?"

That was Dave Clark, editor of Positive Feedback Online, after he met me at CES earlier this month. I thought about it for a minute--I certainly thought I did. I remember browsing the forum and starting the sign-up process. But for some reason the answer wound up being a rather sheepish no. I hadn't joined yet. I'm not sure why I didn't finish the sign-up process. It was a grave misstep on my part. Every audiophile should join.

That's because AudioEvo is one of the rare audiophile/music discussion forums that actually fosters a family-like atmosphere. Many of those other forums may SAY that they're like a big family, but they're still full of bickering and flaming and feuding (okay, much like a real family I suppose!).

But AudioEvo.org maintains a much more professional and pleasant level of discourse. That's because it's full of audio journalists and manufacturers and enthusiastic audiophiles. A lot of these individuals know each other outside of AudioEvo. It's an oasis. You won't find a lot of objectivist vs. subjectivist flaming. You won't find class warfare between those who can afford high-dollar gear and those who maintain that it doesn't get any better than a $129 CD player and a $300 audio/video receiver. It's full of people who LOVE high-end audio, and that love is infectious.

I've met AudioEvo.org co-founder Gavin Fish twice in the last month, and he's one of those guys who "gets it." "Getting it," by the way, is a code phrase for those audiophiles who are having way too much fun listening to music to worry about the gear. I asked Gavin about his objectives and goals for AudioEvo.org:

"AudioEvo.org's is a true audiophile community. Formatted similar to Facebook and LinkedIn, AudioEvo.org enables audiophiles to get and stay connected with music lovers from around the world. We encourage our members to share experiences, engage in discussions, and post photos, videos, and opinions. It's really that simple!"

I've only been a member for a couple of weeks, and I'm already digging AudioEvo. (And not just because I already have the cool t-shirt.) I've joined quite a few audio groups over the years, and sometimes I hang around and sometimes I just can't get into the habit. But when I joined AudioEvo, I received a warm greeting and immediately felt like I was home. Everyone who joins AudioEvo gets the same warm welcome.

If this sounds like a great place to you, then I urge you to check out and even become a member. Just visit audioevo.org for more information.

Little Ol' Me at CES 2011

"How come there are no pictures of you on the Internet?" Colleen Cardas asked me a few months ago. First of all, I'm a bit camera shy. For instance, when I watched the video of myself on The Movie Junkies webcast a couple of weeks ago, I could not stand to watch myself fidget in my chair and stare right into the camera at the worst moments. What a dork. Also, I think those camera thingies steal your soul. Finally, I've been surrounded by photographers throughout my life (my brother Greg is a fairly well-known one), and I can't stand to say "Cheeese!"

Nevertheless, some pics of me were invariably snapped of me over the last few days. I tried to grab their cameras and smash them on the ground, but some of these audio guys are bigger than me. So I suffered through it all.

The first pic is my favorite...the Three Amigos. That's me with Dan Muzquiz of Blackbird Audio Gallery and Bob Clarke of Profundo. I love those guys...embarrassingly so.

The second pic is me and Gavin Fish of MIT Cables. I told you these guys are big. I'm 5' 10", so I'm not that short. But I kept running into guys like George Cardas, John DeVore and Jeff Rowland...you know, guys who could have played in the NBA if they hadn't been sidetracked by audio. Note how Gavin works for MIT Cables, yet we snapped his pictures in front of a poster for Cardas Clear cable. I hope he still has his job on Monday.

Finally, the last pic of moi. It was taken by either Trenner or Friedl. That goofy smile is because I was listening to the Dukes. Enough said. I need another haircut. I actually had a few inches cut off before I went to CES. It wasn't enough.

God, I hate pictures of myself.