The Scalford 'Pie-Fi' Show 2011

edited March 2011 in Other hi-fi gear
After Dave mentioning the idea, thought it would be fun to share some thoughts about the weekend...

I'm very fortunate in that we live only 35 mins or so from Scalford Hall so, as with last year, I decided I'd exhibit again this year. It's truly great fun - no pressure to compete or made to feel inadequate if one's system isn't worth megabucks (as mine most certainly isn't!).

Got to the venue around 2pm on saturday to set my gear up, and was pleased that the rooms were all ready to be occupied. I was just down the corridor from last year's and glad to be on the ground floor again. By 3pm everything was in place, so spent the next hour or so after setting it all up listening to bits & pieces, re-adjusting speaker positions and listening again. Got to a position which I was reasonably happy with although there's a lot of room reaction here - even with the little Royds. Still, it was about as good as it was going to get and with a few 'bodies' in the room during the show it would help to soak up some of the resonance.

I was gigging on saturday evening so had to go home unfortunately, unable to join in with the socialising - although I'm sure my poor liver would thank me for it. :D

Travelled back to SH on sunday morning, arriving just after 8am. Shame in some ways; the roads were nice and dry and largely desterted on the way there, the A607 is a cracking bit of road on a Honda Blackbird but not really in a Pug 107. Still, with the amp and phonostage being left on overnight it was all nicely warmed up so also fired up the 401 and left it spinning all day. Talking of which, the Garrard was bang-on speed all day, no wandering at all so I'm now convinced it's our mains at home which is clearly not good...much as I'd thought. Even with Lord knows how much mains pollution at the Show, it didn't waver a jot.

I didn't really get much chance to have a wander around the Show, but feedback from all the rooms was very positive. There's such a great atmosphere at this event, everyone's friendly, has a good laugh and it's always fascinating (and fun) to experience other people's interpretations of what constitutes a good sound. There's also a vast selection of vintage kit on show, and much of it proving that we haven't come that far in the last 40 years or more.

I'm already looking forward to next year, although I may go back to being a punter rather than an exhibitor. :)

Comments

  • Thanks for this effort Richard - I appreciate your time. I've been reading WW reports and it seems to be a firm part of the 'establishment' now - good thing too. Everyone seems to be glowing with the satisfaction of a job well done.

    Good to see your magic speakers get mentioned again.
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