Cliffh93
100+ Head-Fier
Folks, will be locking down our meet thread soon, please post any pics, notes etc. here instead. I will get my write up here in a day or so.
Unfortunately noIs that @Jason Stoddard video available online?
If I have enough notice I will see what I can put together for the RDU meet. Cables are easy and headphone stands are fun to build so I am sure I can come up with something. A custom made VU meter box might be a welcome addition to someone who attends. Nothing as elaborate as this one mind you.A huge thank you to @Cliffh93 for organizing this meet, to Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall for hosting us, and to @Jason Stoddard, et.al. & Schiit for sponsoring this craziness that we are all afflicted by!
Background:
This was the first audio-centric meet that I've had a chance to attend and I really had no idea what to expect.
All I knew is that it was local-ish and the announcement stated that "If you plan on attending, please reply here with the gear you plan on bringing". So I made a post, packed up my Schiit, and hit the road!
The SchiitMeet:
I arrived about 30 minutes prior to the official start and it was a hive of activity! There were cables going every which way, Apple's interconnect was being mentioned in conjunction with some colorful adjectives, and "Hey! what's the WiFi password?" quickly followed by "why is it connecting me directly to the router admin page?".
But folks had their DAPs preloaded with FLAC files, the iPads were now connecting, things were coming online, the multibit DACs were getting settled in, the tubes were glowing, and it was game time!
Before you knew it we were all treated by the sound of the mini radials kindly provided by @Paladin79 being driven by an Aegir. We then moved on to the Q150's and finally on to a pair of Triangle BR03's. Was it "critical listening", nah ... Was it "fun"? Oh yeah!
The music and conversations were now flowing freely. Playlists were being swiped through and shared, and I'm now hearing new music with an understanding of why it's important to the person standing next to me. The Head-Fi avatars are being replaced by the people and their stories behind them, exchanges of ideas are being had, and the hobby that brought us all together is vigorously coursing through our veins with every click of the play button.
Call with Jason:
How cool is it to get to spend some time with Jason and discuss anything and everything Schiit!
Here we are, this relatively random group of enthusiasts out in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, getting Jason's full attention for a good chunk of time on a Sunday afternoon. Cliff already covered the highlights in a previous post, but my respect for Jason shot up a whole bunch after he took the time to field our questions and even work through some of the connection issues we had that day.
Following the call with Jason was the lottery for the hand crafted cables, speakers and headphone stand that Tom had put together for the meet. It's a rare treat to witness someone willing to donate their time and handiwork to an event like this.
SchiitMeet Debrief:
The biggest goal for me was meeting the folks behind the Head-Fi avatars and having a better appreciation for who they are as people. But yeah, I also went for the gear, for the Schiit, and for the love of the audio world as a whole.
Personal highlights:
- Folkvangr - @golfbravobravo brought his, I listened, I want to listen more ...
- Aegir - had never heard it in person before and even in a non-optimal listening space it's character was evident
- Onkyo A800 headphones - @Saberpunch brought these with him. He was my table-mate for the event and I learned an incredible amount from him
- Lyr+ - I now want to tube roll this ... I use a Valhalla 2 daily and want to spend some time with the Lyr+ and V2 side-by-side
- ZMF Auteur Classic - The WV contingent brought "all the headphones" with them, I'm already a ZMF fan and ... now I want this one too
I wanted to get my ears on the Rekkr, but it wasn't meant to be that day, perhaps the next time around
Hope to see you all again at the RDU area meet!
Awesome that you could go to the meet! And howdy from an ASU alumni a few generations ago (1980, BSBA).I was one of the App State students (wearing the sweater with the big “A”), and I was so glad everyone there was welcoming to me and my friends. As someone who has just gotten into the hobby over the last year or so, it was incredible that people older than us were thrilled to have us and we’re willing to answer all my questions.
This was my first audio meet up and I already can’t wait for the next one. Being able to hear what different components to a setup sound like was a huge learning experience, and very informative for my next buying decisions (magnius & modius).
I am currently studying industrial design at App State, which made the call with @Jason Stoddard a really cool experience for me. Hearing about all the different types of product development, project management, inventory surplus and shortages, and technical details was very valuable to my education. It’s not often you get to sit down and casually talk with the CEO of a pretty big company and hear about what happens on the inside. Hearing Jason’s passion for what he does and how meticulous he is in every last detail of product development was very inspiring. I also loved seeing a large portion of the Schiit line come together to create all these stacks. I am a huge fan of their design language and the fact that it is done in such a simple yet elegant production process.
I love that Schiit sponsors events like this for people in the hobby of all levels to gather and share a similar passion, and thanks to @Cliffh93 for putting on such a great event and answering some of my pretty novice questions.
I already can’t wait for the next meet in the triangle area!
You are an alumnus, unless you were graduated with a mouse in your pocket.Awesome that you could go to the meet! And howdy from an ASU alumni a few generations ago (1980, BSBA).
Well, crap. I tested and placed out of English so I never had to take any classes in college. Guess I shouldn't have cheated on the test?You are an alumnus, unless you were graduated with a mouse in your pocket.