Meet at Bottleheadquarters, Bainbridge Island, Saturday, November 19, noon to 4

[Doc B]

We haven't had a party here at HQ in several months. For this one I would like to combine a couple of themes:

First I think it's very overdue that we get the local crew together. I kinda miss the old days when everyone would come over to our place with their latest projects and hook 'em up. Let's do that!

Secondly, for a specific theme for this get together I would like to extend an offer to help folks with kits that may be needing troubleshooting. If you have one, bring it along and I'll sit down with you and figure out what's going on.

We'll have the big multiway system up and running, as well as all the headphone rigs. I'll also figure to have a non-multiway system that we can easily plug a pair of amps into to run them through the paces. (Clark, you listenin' bud?). Bring whatever you'd like to try out, amps, speakers, headphones, you name it.

And of course everyone is welcome to bring some nosh and adult beverages. There's a brewery going in next door that will be open in spring, but for now we'll have to supply our own brew...

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Count me in!  I'll bring the HD-800's and the AC powered Quickie for laughs.

A 20 watt 6550 SE amp being completed by then isn't out the question either.

-PB

 

[Doc B]

A 20 watt 6550 SE amp An SE 845 amp being completed by then isn't out the question either.

-PB

 

[Paul Birkeland]

And a forklift to move it!

 

[Doc B]

I just moved one of these, plus two speaker cabinets, from my garage to my basement yesterday.

About 800 lbs. total, 440 of which was the organ itself. Only took four people. I'm sure we can handle it at this end if you can find some patsies, uh, I mean, friends, at your end.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I will check with the patsies.  Some custom tube amps may have been made in trade for moving help last year...

 

[Mr. Davis]

This sounds like an excellent opportunity to check out the SMACK and the Bottlehead DAC!!

 

[Doc B]

I just got the headphone listening station in the lobby back together yesterday (we took most of it to RMAF). And for now the music server/DAC is the source for the station. So the timing would be very good indeed to listen to them together.

 

[Doc B]

Just a bump to remind everyone of the meet here at Bottleheadquarters this Saturday. Bring your project, your ears and maybe an adult beverage or nosh. We have been slowly and steadily tuning up the main system since the last time we had an open house, and it's sounding pretty good, with a lot better imaging and bass. And we have the headphone listening station fully operational.

 

[Aural Robert]

I'll be driving down from Vancouver Canada. Any other Canucks out there interested in car pooling? I've got room for 2. I live in Surrey and will be leaving ~ 8am on Saturday morning, going via the Aldergrove crossing and then down the I5.

 

[GVSparkchaser]

I had a recent top cap failure on one of my 816s but managed to dig through the many still packed boxes and press my spare into service.  In light of this happy news I will be bringing my 76 Soulsister to the party.  I've never had the opportunity to listen to it on a well voiced system, and welcome the opportunity to hear both it and any impressions of it's character from those of you not afflicted with proud papa syndrome.  I'll also see about bringing some "Olde Frothingslosh".

Scott

 

[Doc B]

I'll have a few items for sale at the meet this Saturday -

The last pair of Straight 8s. These are my own, with the kit cabinets in a sort of light walnut finish, Aurum Cantus G2si tweeters and external passive crossovers on breadboards. Biampable, ready to play, 8 ohms, 96dB sensitivity. This would have been about $1400 worth of kit and upgrade tweeters, the best sounding version of the S8s that I came up with. I'm asking $650. We'll help you load them up and I'll include a pair of replacement ribbons for the tweeters.

A handful of built up C4S and shunt reg boards. These are from various prototypes and such, sold as parts. $5 each.

A Dynaco Stereo 70. No tubes, has cage and manual, all iron tests good. $250
A Dynaco PAS 2 and FM-1, brass faces, missing knobs, definite projects. $40 each
A single Heath W5M, no tubes, does have cage, all iron tests good. $250
Proceeds from these Dynas and Heath help a friend to pay for care of her elderly parent.

Uher 4200 tape recorder - not running. I had this crazy idea that I was going to put this in my Mercedes. Like I don't have enough silly projects. $20

 

[fullheadofnothing]

I am super excited to finally be able to attend a Bottle-meet. Having just moved to Seattle and most of my stuff still being in boxes, I figured I would just be bringing beer, but then I remembered: my wife found my AKG K340s. I think they were packed with her shoes (professional movers make some weird choices...). So I'll be bringing those along for anyone who wants a Smack or Crack at the Electrostats. Oh, and I'll still bring beer!

Also, do people convene on the ferry? From the discussions here, I'm figuring most people will be found near the bar. I'm aiming for the 11:25 from Seattle, and I'll be a walk-on if someone would be so kind as to let me thumb a ride to the HQ.

Looking forward to putting faces to screen-names,
Josh

 

[Doc B]

So I'll be bringing those along for anyone who wants a Smack or Crack at the Electrostats.

Awesome, would really love to hear them.

 

[Doc B]

As mentioned in another thread, we hope to have a proof of concept 300B preamp running by Saturday. We have one channel complete, and it rocks.

 

[jrebman]

Dan, Clark tells me that you're reading my mind .  The answer is an enthusiastic "yes!".

Good timing, eh?

Hope you can try the FP III+ and/or new preamp and the Paramount 1.1s with them too.  Just curious how that will sound.

Have fun,

Jim

 

[Doc B]

Hey Jim,

I figured you wouldn't mind a little review from the peanut gallery before your Nagas ship.

 

[jrebman]

Don't mind at all -- glad to help you and Clark out hoever I can.  Of course my room wiill be a small fraction the size of yours, but no matter, just hope you all have fun with them.

-- Jim

 

[ironbut]

So I'll be bringing those along for anyone who wants a Smack or Crack at the Electrostats.

Awesome, would really love to hear them.

Those 340's are pretty power hungry. Maybe a good candidate for driving with the Paramounts. They can sound awful good (I keep meaning to pick up a pair).

Wish I could be there for this one but it's just not in the cards this time.
Have fun you guys!

 

[Thoburn]

This was my first Bottlehead event. Very fun. Enjoyed meeting everybody and listening to some great music. For me the best music was, without a doubt, David Oistrakh on the big reel to reel. Just awesome. I was sitting center stage listing with the group. There was a bit of chatter. People visiting and commenting on the music. But, When Maestro Oistrakh and his violin took the stage, all the chatter stopped. We all were focused on the music. It was very magical. Thanks Dan and Eileen and all the Bottlehead crew for hosting the event. O, by the way, those Blumenstein Naga's are very impressive. Hard to believe you can get a sound so rich out of such a small driver. Thanks Clark for the demo.