2018 AXPONA: April 13-15, Schaumburg IL

[Wildcat]

We're about a month away from AXPONA. Still plenty of rooms available around the area (within 2 miles) if you're flying/driving in and not local. (Hotels with rooms display pricing on the map; fully booked hotels have no pricing.)



I take it only a few of us are going?

 

[Wildcat]

Almost two weeks prior to departure, and plenty of rooms remain within a 1.5 mile radius for those show-bound wannabe travelers:



Two weeks from tomorrow, I'm hitting the road. Five hours is a trivial drive.

Maybe next year I should get a full-blown suite so we can have our own AK "hospitality room."

 

[DC]

I like the idea of the hospitality suite - I think you should do it!

Anyway, looking forward to hearing lots of music on great gear. Starting to count down...

 

[Wildcat]

I like the idea of the hospitality suite - I think you should do it!

That idea goes back to the days when my grandfather used to be in the barbershoppers (the Lakeshore Chorus, to be exact). Sometimes we would go with them to the yearly competitions. Near the auditorium, multiple chapters would reserve rooms at a nearby motel to use as hospitality rooms. Which in essence were a way for visitors to hang out at their favorite hospitality room and hear numerous quartets stop in and perform a tune or two. (Or, as an excuse to grab another drink...to say a few folks got "hammered" is putting it mildly. )

Anyway, looking forward to hearing lots of music on great gear. Starting to count down...

I'll have a list of must-see items, plus I will be grabbing photos of quite a few things as I go. I also Instagram a few things as @rekkidcollector if I see anything (or anyone) interesting.

 

[GordonW]

I'll be there, working with VAC and Von Schweikert Audio. Here's what will be in the system:

Von Schweikert Audio (speakers)
• ULTRA 11 loudspeakers
• V12XS Shockwave subwoofers

VAC / Valve Amplification Company (amplification)
• Statement 450iQ mono power amplifiers (x4)
• Statement Phono Stage
• Statement Line Stage

Esoteric USA (digital)
• Grandioso P1 (transport)
• Grandioso D1 (monoblock DACs)
• Grandioso G1 (master clock)
• N-01 (network audio player)

MasterBuilt Audio (interconnects, power cords, speaker cables)
• Ultra Line
• Signature Line

Critical Mass Systems (support)
• Maxxum racks and amp stands

Kronos Audio (analog)
Pro turntable (with SCPS-1 power supply, Black Beauty tonearm and ZYX　High-End Analog Audio Ultimate 4D cartridge)

J-Corder Custom Reel to Reels (tape)
• Technics 1520 tape deck

This is basically the system we displayed at Capital Audio Fest, but with a few tweaks. It will be in the Euphoria Ballroom.

Personally, I've never heard anything like this system before- in some ways, it really redefines what high-end audio is capable of...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Zekeman]

I'll be there Saturday. I usually meetup with some local stereo buds around 4:00-ish in the bar. It'd be nice to figure out who - in attendance - are AK people. I, for one, will likely be proudly wearing my Sansui T-shirt.

 

[Wildcat]

I'll be there, working with VAC and Von Schweikert Audio.

Shweet! I'll make a note to stop by.

I'll probably try to wear something so I stand out a bit...in other words, it'll probably be a sea of t-shirts and polo shirts, so I may do something a little different. (Although it's a good excuse to get out my Cardas "nautilus" t-shirt. ) The rooms do get warm, so, I'll probably lighten up a bit.

 

[Wildcat]

You'll be pleased to know the Speedos and tank tops are staying at home, this trip.

 

[GordonW]

Can't wait I just hope the music selection is better. I mean from last year at Axpona.

We tend to bring more "normal" music. Heck, at Capital Audiofest, the highlights of the show for me, were when we played the Solti Beethoven's 9th, and later, Supertramp's "Crime of the Century" from original master recordings (LP). Both pretty much from beginning to end. I've never heard either like that before.

In fact, after the Solti ended- Kevin Hayes of VAC actually turned around to Damon and Leif from Von Schweikert, and said "Did you know they could do THAT?!"...

When you can get the designer of the gear to actually put aside their engineer's hat and just LISTEN for the sheer pleasure of listening- at a show, nonetheless- then THAT is a true accomplishment, IMHO...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Wildcat]

We tend to bring more "normal" music. Heck, at Capital Audiofest, the highlights of the show for me, were when we played the Solti Beethoven's 9th, and later, Supertramp's "Crime of the Century" from original master recordings (LP). Both pretty much from beginning to end. I've never heard either like that before.

Thank you!!! I hope you can do that at AXPONA also. Many of us appreciate that sort of thing. I'll stop in and say "hello."

That has been a pet peeve of mine at some of the exhibitors--the music. If I never have to hear that flippin' "No Sanctuary" song ever again in my life, I would be very thankful. (That is one tune that will make me get up and leave a room, and there are others!) I remember last year, @DC and I were discussing some of the music we heard...and not all of it was well thought out! (Even the sequencing is critical IMHO--one room, that shall remain nameless, was pretty much running the same demo sequence for the past two years, with jarring changes between songs.)

I'll be carrying my usual USB thumb drive with a few demo tunes on it, in the rare event I can listen to something in a particular room later in the day.

 

[Wildcat]

For me it is DSOTM - man that one was WAY OVER PLAYED!! I will have my kit with me and a portable HD with 2 TB of music

I won't have too much with me--I always have a USB stick and SD card in the head unit in the car (with some of them being hi-res files), a portable hot spot/media server thingy, and headphones with a Dragonfly in case I get the urge. I figure with music going all day long at the show, I'll probably want random conversation and silence at the end of the day.

So no, this isn't my typical boombox-and-six-pack-with-a-hooker weekend trip.

 

[bean_counter]

I'll be there Friday, with my daughter. We live in the SW 'burbs, so it's a fairly easy trip.

 

[Wildcat]

I'm leaving Thursday morning after rush hour. It's just under five hours, door to door, to the Springhill Suites. Barring Chicago traffic, of course. ETA will be about 3pm.

It was horrendous along I-80 last summer on both of my trips, through Indiana and across the Illinois border. I'm hoping that construction mess is long gone. (It appears to be.)

See you there! (Do I need to bring the Cointreau, limes and agave nectar to go with the Reposado? )

 

[Wildcat]

This tequila is just awesome on the rocks.

I like it both ways. I've been looking for the Añejo version of my favorite but haven't found it yet.

My "2112" margarita is legendary on this side of town.

 

[Wildcat]

We have a couple of good booze stores over in Grosse Pointe Woods but I haven't had time to take a trip down there yet. Local stores up and down the road here don't have it.

 

[DC]

If I can manage to survive until Friday...

 

[Wildcat]

If I can manage to survive until Friday...

Sounds like you need my "2112" margarita. My better half was on the warpath this morning, and says she'll need one when she gets home. (Court day; she works in legal aid.) Might as well make a gallon of 'em and spread the joy!

 

[Wildcat]

The newest thing I'll have with me is the new Orquesta Akokan album. No time to clean up the rekkid and do a needle drop, so I'm packing their MP3 download for now. My usual stuff will be in the car already--just adding to the USB stick right now.

 

[04blackmaxx]

Damn I want to go now but im sure the flight will be pricey. I'd likely take monday off work. 160 Rooms listening rooms!? Could it all be done in one day? Schaumberg is a great town I have stayed her for months for work.

 

[rgbeach]

I'll be there on Friday.